Using a glass fiber separator in a single-chamber air-cathode microbial fuel cell shortens start-up time and improves anode performance at ambient and mesophilic temperatures

A shorter start-up time and highly negative anode potentials are needed to improve single-chamber air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Using a glass fiber separator reduced the start-up time from 10 d to 8 d at 20 °C, and from 4 d to 2 d at 30 °C, and enhanced coulombic efficiency (CE) from <60% to 89% (20 °C) and 87% (30 °C). Separators also reduced anode potentials by 20–190 mV, charge transfer resistances by 76% (20 °C) and 19% (30 °C), and increased CV peak currents by 24% (20 °C) and 8% (30 °C) and the potential range for redox activity (−0.55 to 0.10 mV vs. −0.49 to −0.24 mV at 20 °C). Using a glass fiber separator in an air-cathode MFC, combined with inoculation at a mesophilic temperature, are excellent strategies to shorten start-up time and to enhance anode performance and CE.