Membran Polistirena Terfluorinasi untuk Aplikasi pada Microbial Fuel Cell

Abstract

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a fuel cell that utilizes microbial activity as a source of its energy. The microbe used was from cow’s rumen liquid. The higher numbers of microbe, the higher the microbial activity . The electrolyte used in the MFC system was a fluorinated polystyrene membrane (PSf). Synthesis of PSf was done by using triethylamine trihydrofluoride with various composition, namely 5, 10, and 15%. Based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) result, fluorine atoms has been substituted into the aromatic ring of the polystyrene. The results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) states that the PSf membrane is a nonporous membrane so that is good to be used as an electrolyte in fuel cell. Proton conductivity test shows that membrane of 5% PSf has the highest proton conductivity. The PSf membrane can be applied in MFC system well. It known according to the value of potential difference generated by PSf 5, 10, and 15%, which are 8, 12, and 15 mV, respectively.