From Waste to Watts: Updates on Key Applications of Microbial Fuel Cells in Wastewater Treatment and Energy Production

Salma Elhenawy, Majeda Khraisheh, Fares AlMomani, Mohammad Al-Ghouti and Mohammad K. Hassan
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Salma Elhenawy: Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Majeda Khraisheh: Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Fares AlMomani: Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Mohammad Al-Ghouti: Environmental Science Program, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Mohammad K. Hassan: Center of Advanced Material (CAM), Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: Due to fossil fuel depletion and the rapid growth of industry, it is critical to develop environmentally friendly and long-term alternative energy technologies. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a powerful platform for extracting energy from various sources and converting it to electricity. As no intermediate steps are required to harness the electricity from the organic substrate’s stored chemical energy, MFC technology offers a sustainable alternative source of energy production. The generation of electricity from the organic substances contained in waste using MFC technology could provide a cost-effective solution to the issue of environmental pollution and energy shortages in the near future. Thus, technical advancements in bioelectricity production from wastewater are becoming commercially viable. Due to practical limitations, and although promising prospects have been reported in recent investigations, MFCs are incapable of upscaling and of high-energy production. In this review paper, intensive research has been conducted on MFCs’ applications in the treatment of wastewater. Several types of waste have been extensively studied, including municipal or domestic waste, industrial waste, brewery wastewater, and urine waste. Furthermore, the applications of MFCs in the removal of nutrients (nitrogen and sulphates) and precious metals from wastewater were also intensively reviewed. As a result, the efficacy of various MFCs in achieving sustainable power generation from wastewater has been critically addressed in this study.

Keywords: microbial fuel cells; energy production; wastewater treatment; bioelectricity; waste-to-fuel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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