An Overview of Microbial Fuel Cells within Constructed Wetland for Simultaneous Nutrient Removal and Power Generation

N. Evelin Paucar and Chikashi Sato
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N. Evelin Paucar: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8060, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA
Chikashi Sato: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8060, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-30

Abstract: Water, energy, and food are indispensable for sustainable economic development. Despite nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, being essential for plant growth and thus food supplies, those present in wastewater are considered an environmental burden. While microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are receiving much interest, combining wastewater treatment with an MFC has emerged as an option for low-cost wastewater treatment. Among others, a constructed wetland (CW) coupled with an MFC (CW-MFC) has the potential to provide a low carbon footprint and low-energy wastewater treatment, as well as nutrient and energy recovery from wastewater. Findings from this review show that the organic and nutrient removal and power generation by the integrated CW-MFC systems are affected by a number of factors including the organic loading rate, hydraulic retention time, system design, plant species, dissolved oxygen, substrate/media type, influent feeding mode, electrode materials and spacing, and external resistance. This review aims to summarize the current state of the CW-MFC and related technologies with particular emphasis on organic and nutrient removal, as well as on the bioenergy recovery from different wastewaters. Despite the benefits that these technologies can offer, the interactive mechanisms between the CW and MFC in the integrated system are still unclear. Further research is needed to fully understand the CW-MFC and related systems. The results of this work provide not only an overview and insight into existing knowledge but also the future direction of the CW-MFC technologies.

Keywords: microbial fuel cell; constructed wetland; hydroponics; wastewater treatment; electricity generation; nutrient removal; low carbon footprint; energy recovery; future direction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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