Sustainable power generation from bacterio-algal microbial fuel cells (MFCs): An overview

Beenish Saba, Ann D. Christy, Zhongtang Yu and Anne C. Co

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017, vol. 73, issue C, 75-84

Abstract: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical devices that allow the harvesting of electricity generated during anaerobic respiration of selected bacterial species. This technology shows promise in both wastewater treatment and sustainable bioenergy conversion applications. Bacterial respiration occurs in the anaerobic anode compartment of the MFC, and is electrochemically coupled with electron acceptors in the MFC's aerobic cathode compartment. This paper summarizes the published results of bacterio-algal MFCs. The use of microalgae in MFCs has gained interest primarily due to algae's ability to photosynthesize atmospheric CO2, producing both biomass and oxygen and thereby facilitating the cathodic reaction. These phototrophic microorganisms can serve as biocatholytes in MFCs because the oxygen produced is an electron acceptor for the electrons harvested from the anode compartment. The bacterio-algal MFC can provide multiple benefits including 1) power generation, 2) wastewater treatment, 3) algal biomass cultivation and pigment production, 4) carbon dioxide assimilation, and 5) oxygen production. This review article summarizes not only successful published results of bacterio-algal fuel cells but also highlights critical operational parameters and their effect on power generation and output efficiency.

Keywords: Bacteria; Algae; Microbial fuel cells; Operational and electrical parameters (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032117301259
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:rensus:v:73:y:2017:i:c:p:75-84

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 600126/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.01.115

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is currently edited by L. Kazmerski

More articles in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().