Electrochemical Parameters of Microbial Fuel Cells Based on the Micrococcus luteus Strain, New Ion-Exchange Membranes and Various Sugars

— We studied the physicochemical and electrochemical characteristics of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with a new proton-exchange membrane. It was synthesized on the basis of zeolite-doped polyvinyl alcohol cross-linked with sulfosuccinic acid (PVA-SSA-BEA). An MF-4SK industrial membrane (Plastpolymer, Russia) was used as a comparative sample. Various sugars were added as substrates (glucose, arabinose, galactose, xylose). The role of the bioagent was performed by the strain Micrococcus luteus 1-i. MFCs with PVA‑SSA-BEA and MF-4SK membranes showed rather close electrochemical characteristics. A higher electricity output was performed with the addition of glucose, galactose, the lowest—with the use of xylose. The data obtained indicate that the proposed PVA-SSA-BEA membrane is promising for use as an alternative to proton-exchange membranes widely used in fuel cell technology.