Development of Reasonably Stable Chitosan Based Proton Exchange Membranes for a Glucose Oxidase Based Enzymatic Biofuel Cell

Chitosan based reasonably stable membranes were prepared as polymeric electrolyte and separator for enzymatic fuel cell applications. Glucose oxidase (GOx) bioanode centered biofuel cell with the developed chitosan membranes performed much better in stability with high current densities than that of the biofuel cell utilizing a 125 mu-thick perfluorosulfonic acid-type membrane (i. e. Nafion (R) 115). Proposed chitosan membrane structural stability was enhanced by employing cellulosic support materials and chemical crosslinking. The effects of pH, buffer type, buffer concentration, temperature on the manufactured chitosan membranes along with the biofuel cell system were investigated. The biofuel cell operation parameters were optimized for the current density and stability aspects and more than 3 mA cm(-2) current density was acquired from the cell at optimum conditions. Operational half-life of the chitosan membrane was found as higher than the half-life of the GOx immobilized bioanode. Therefore, this result indicates that chitosan membrane structural stability was not a limiting issue for the biofuel cell lifespan.