Pathway towards the commercialization of sustainable microbial fuel cell-based wastewater treatment technologies

Mohammadreza Kamali, Yutong Guo, Tejraj M. Aminabhavi, Rouzbeh Abbassi, Raf Dewil and Lise Appels

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2023, vol. 173, issue C

Abstract: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged and implemented as eco-friendly technologies with the potential for simultaneous removal of contaminants from (waste)waters and generation of bioelectricity as a green and renewable source of energy. However, little evidence is available for large-scale applications of these technologies due to technical and economic issues related to the fabrication and performance of the MFC components (i.e., anode, cathode, and proton exchange membrane). Herein, numerous innovative approaches are discussed with the potential to (a) enhance the overall efficiency of MFCs for electricity generation and treatment of polluted streams and (b) reduce the costs of electricity generation with these technologies. In this regard, application of waste-driven carbonaceous structures (e.g., biochar, carbon nanotubes, and graphite-based materials), coupled with novel fabrication techniques such as three-dimensional (3-D) printing, are emphasized to develop cost-effective production of MFCs. The development of sustainable integrations of MFCs with technologies such as anaerobic digestion, constructed wetlands, and cathodic Fenton reactions are critically reviewed for practical applications of MFCs, especially in staked configurations to optimize electrical energy output. Novel applications of MFC-based technologies, such as household bioelectricity generation units, are discussed to mitigate pollutants in their generation source. Research opportunities are discussed to fill-up the existing gaps towards the implementation of MFCs in sustainable wastewater treatment applications.

Keywords: Microbial fuel cells; Carbonaceous materials; 3-D printing; MFC-Based technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032122009765
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:173:y:2023:i:c:s1364032122009765

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.2022.113095

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 ().