Different membranes with varied molar concentrations of graphite oxide (GO), 'in situ' polymerized sulfonated polystyrene (SS) and glutaraldehyde (GA) cross linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), have been analyzed as an effective and low cost nanocomposite barrier in single chambered microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The synthesized composite membranes, namely GO(0.2), GO(0.4) and GO(0.6) exhibited comparatively better results with reduced water uptake (WU) and swelling ratios (SR) over the native PVA. The variation in properties is illustrated with membrane analyses, where GO(0.4) showed an increased proton conductivity (PC) and ion exchange capacity (IEC) of 0.128 S cm(-1) and 0.33 meq g(-1) amongst all of the used membranes. In comparison, reduced oxygen diffusivity with lower water uptake showed a two-fold decrease in GO(0.4) over pure PVA membrane (similar to 2.09 x 10(-4) cm s(-1)). A maximum power density of 193.6 mW m(-2) (773.33 mW m(-3)) with a current density of 803.33 mA m(-2) were observed with GO(0.4) fitted MFC, where similar to 81.89% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was removed using mixed firmicutes, as biocatalyst, in 25 days operation. In effect, the efficacy of GO incorporated crosslinked PVA and SS nanocomposite membrane has been evaluated as a polymer electrolyte membrane for harnessing bioenergy from single chambered MFCs. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.