The goal of this study was to synthesize and evaluate the use of alkalizing membranes for acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment using microbial fuel cells (MFC). Two membranes with a concentration of 2% agar-agar, each with a concentration of 5 and 10 g/L of eggshell (ES) were synthesized, membrane 1 (M1) and membrane 2 (M2), respectively. The membranes were dehydrated at 70 °C during 24 hours up to reach a dehydration degree higher than 95 %. Afterwards, their performance was evaluated in a dual chamber MFC during three weeks by duplicated. Municipal wastewater was used as anolyte while AMD was used as catholyte. Additionally, the membranes were immersed in AMD during two months. The membranes did not increase their thickness when they were immersed in AMD. Also, no changes in its physic structure were observed. On the other hand, the two membranes evaluated in cell increased the pH of AMD from 2.2 to 2.6. This change of pH managed the precipitation of some metallic minerals, especially on the surface area of the membranes exposed to AMD. Moreover, ca. 47 and 66 % of SO42- were removed from the AMD for the cell equipped with the M1 and M2, respectively, whereas a NO3- removal value of 80 % was achieved in both cells. Finally, the MFC equipped with M2 reached the biggest volumetric power recorded, 88 mW/m3. Therefore, the alkalizing membranes synthesized with ES displayed encouraging results for the AMD treatment and could be considered as membranes for dual chamber MFCs.

https://zoom.us/j/98045583911?pwd=V3F4TkNuWEF0d3R0c1NKNEFkS0pydz09