Towards disposable microbial fuel cells: Natural rubber glove membranes

Natural rubber from laboratory gloves (GNR) was compared to cation exchange membrane (CEM) in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). GNR-MFCs immediately generated power indicating the availability of proton transfer pathways in the material, which is contrary to previous research using condom natural rubber membranes. Under bi-directional resistance sweeps, CEM-MFCs produced higher power but were less stable than GNR. Stability proved the valuable trait over 96 h periods under fixed resistances where GNR-MFCs produced 26% higher power than CEM-MFCs and reduced COD by 88% compared to 73% achieved with CEM. Anolyte conductivity increased more significantly for CEM but at the same time pH levels were more marked, a factor that may have contributed to instability. Under composting conditions, GNR samples degraded 100% after 285 days whilst GNR-MFC membranes were still intact and operational after 493 days. This innovative research could lead the way in producing inexpensive, disposable MFCs with controllable degradation.