A desulfurization fuel cell with alkali and sulfuric acid byproducts: a prototype and a model

Abstract

This work aims at the simultaneous recovery of energy and chemical products from waste and effluent gases. The feasibility of a sulfite/air fuel cell with alkali and sulfuric acid byproducts has been demonstrated by a prototype continuous flow cell and its mathematical model. A 2-D mathematical model is built successfully. The effects of NaOH concentration, Na₂SO₃ concentration, and flow rates on the fuel cell performances have been particularly investigated. The highest open cell voltage is 0.94 V. The sulfite/air self-driven fuel cell can achieve a maximum discharge current density of 20.07 mA cm⁻² at 20.4 °C. The highest power density is 1.23 mW cm⁻² at 9.87 mA cm⁻². The simulation results are well coupled with that of experiment. Such a strategy has shed a light on cell's scale-up and further development towards commercialisation.