Comparative performance evaluation of novel polystyrene membrane with ultrex as Proton Exchange Membranes in Microbial Fuel Cell for bioelectricity production from food waste

•Use of novel polystyrene membrane (PM) as PEM in MFC, which uses waste thermocol.•Performance of PM & Ultrex is compared and membrane characteristics are analysed.•Cost of proposed novel polystyrene PEM is very less as compared to ultrex.•Maximum PD and CE for polystyrene PEM MFC was 29.19 mW/m2 and 10.29%.•Comparable performance and huge cost saving can be beneficial for scale-up of MFC. The present research envisages developing a novel polystyrene membrane as Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) which was prepared by using thermocol packaging waste material. The performance of this novel membrane was evaluated by comparing it with the commonly used ultrex membrane in two-chambered Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) treating food waste leachate. The COD concentrations were varied from 500 mg/L to 2000 mg/L. The maximum power density and current density when polystyrene and ultrex membranes were used were found to be 29.19 mW/m2 and 38.39 mW/m2; and 174.61 mA/m2 and 238.27 mA/m2 respectively at 1500 mg/L COD concentration. The maximum Columbic Efficiency (CE) was found to be 10.29% for polystyrene and 11.80% for ultrex membrane respectively. SEM, EDS and FTIR analysis techniques were used to determine the characteristics of the membrane.