Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are the most useful technologies for energy production and wastewater treatment due to their low cost and support of the environment. In this study, the membrane fouling and their effects on power generation were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results demonstrate that proton exchange membrane (PEM) was affected by biofouling in a two-chamber H-type MFC, which would significantly affect coulombic efficiencies (CEs), and maximum power densities leading to reduced power generation. The power densities of both rice straw and potato peels were 119.35 mW/m² and 152.55 mW/m², respectively. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) showed substantial accumulation of bacteria and their end-products forming a thick biofilm on the surface of PEM leading to a decrease, if not, preventing the passage of protons from the anode side toward the cathode side. The decline in power generation may result mainly from the biofouling, not of electrodes but, of PEM membrane from both sides (Anode and Cathode) because of improper regular PEM cleaning.

微生物燃料电池（MFCs）由于其低成本和对环境的支持，是用于能源生产和废水处理的最有用的技术。在这项研究中，使用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）研究了膜污染及其对发电的影响。结果表明，质子交换膜（PEM）受两腔H型MFC生物污损的影响，这将显着影响库仑效率（CEs）和最大功率密度，从而导致发电量减少。稻草和马铃薯皮的功率密度分别为119.35 mW / m ²和152.55 mW / m ²， 分别。扫描电子显微镜（SEM）显示细菌大量积聚，其​​终产物在PEM表面形成厚的生物膜，导致减少（如果没有减少的话），防止质子从阳极侧流向阴极侧。发电量下降的主要原因可能是由于不适当的定期PEM清洁，造成了生物污染，而不是电极的生物污染，而是来自两侧（阳极和阴极）的PEM膜的生物污染。