Modelling and EIS characterization of a tubular microbial fuel cell with slip-casted ceramic membrane

A 3D mathematical model has been applied to a tubular MFC with ceramic separators that were fabricated by slip-casting. The system features a carbon felt anode and a carbon-based cathode with a mixture of activated carbon and carbon black as catalyst. Electricity generation and substrate removal were first experimentally investigated with the cell operating in fed-batch mode. The cell was also characterised using polarisation experiments and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies (EIS). Experimental results were used to calibrate the model and obtain the kinetics parameters for biofilm formation, as well as bioelectrochemical and electrochemical reactions. The model has been solved to represent the system under the conditions used in the experiments with a good fitting of the data. The evolution of biofilm thickness and profile of concentration of substrate with time calculated with the model are presented and discussed. The model was also used to simulate different scenarios and has been proven to be a versatile tool for designing and optimising the investigated system.