Naturally occurring biofilms are sought after for tremendous applications. Here eggshell membranes, biofilms separated from eggshells – a bio-waste – having a thickness of ∼50 μm, are shown for their potential in alkaline and acidic water electrolysis. Chemical modification by quaternization leads to an enhanced anion exchange performance of the eggshell membrane, which is on par with a commercial anion exchange membrane (Fumasep FAS-50). Morphological studies show a dense network of interconnected porous fibers in the eggshell membrane, providing considerable mechanical strength and flexibility (stress and strain at failure ∼2 MPa and ∼60%, respectively) to the membrane. The anion (OH⁻) and cation (H⁺) exchange capacities of the functionalized eggshell membranes are compared with those of the commercial membrane using chronoamperometry studies conducted with a homemade water electrolysis cell as well as with a membrane electrode assembly set-up. Studies show the potential of this low cost membrane in commercial anion and/or cation exchange membrane-based energy technologies.

中文翻译：

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蛋壳膜基水电解池

天然存在的生物膜在巨大的应用中受到追捧。在这里，蛋壳膜是从蛋壳分离的生物膜（一种生物废物），厚度约50μm，具有碱性和酸性水电解的潜力。通过季铵化进行的化学修饰可提高蛋壳膜的阴离子交换性能，这与市售的阴离子交换膜（Fumasep FAS-50）相当。形态学研究表明，蛋壳膜中紧密相连的多孔纤维网络，为膜提供了相当大的机械强度和柔韧性（断裂时的应力和应变分别为〜2 MPa和〜60％）。阴离子（OH ^- ）和阳离子（H ⁺）使用自制的水电解池以及膜电极组件进行的计时电流法研究，将功能化蛋壳膜的交换容量与市售膜的交换容量进行了比较。研究表明，这种低成本的膜在基于商业阴离子和/或阳离子交换膜的能源技术中的潜力。