Statistical investigation of pivotal physical and chemical factors on the performance of ceramic-based microbial fuel cells

Abstract The performance of four different commercial ceramic separators is inspected using response surface methodology (RSM). The thickness (A), porosity (B), SiO2 (C), and Al2O3 (D) contents of ceramics are statistically significant (P-value<0.05) for both responses of the maximum power density (MPD) and the coulombic efficiency (CE). The interactions of AB and AC have significant influences on the MPD. For highly porous ceramics, including the unglazed wall ceramic (MFC-UGWC, 30.45% porosity) and Yellow ceramic (MFC-Y, 28.9% porosity), the MPD and CE are boosted by raising the thickness of membranes. The MPD and CE values have been enhanced from 225.07 to 321.11 mW/m2 and from 51 to 68%, respectively, by thickening the UGWC from 3 to 9 mm. Similarly, the power performance and CE of the MFC-Y have been grown by 32% and 148.6%, respectively. However, both the MPD and CE responses have been reduced from 106.89 to 57.65 mW/m2 and from 29 to 18.3% for the denser unglazed floor ceramic (UGFC, 11% porosity) as a consequence of thickness increment from 3 to 6 mm. Furthermore, the chemical composition of ceramics has a crucial impact on the overall performance. Richer ceramics in SiO2 are utilized, the higher performance is achieved.