Review of the principal mechanisms, prospects, and challenges of bioelectrochemical systems

Abstract

Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) are commonly utilized to generate green electricity, chemicals, and materials through bioelectrocatalytic processes. Over the years, the growing interests in low carbon energy, wastes valorization and the sustainable bioremediation of environmental pollutants have generated interests in BES such as microbial fuel cells (MFC) and bioelectrochemical fuel cells (BFC). The MFCs are the most advanced BES that can ensure the microbial conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy. Therefore, this article seeks to review and present valuable literature on the fundamental operational principles, mechanisms and understanding of BES such as MFCs. It seeks to highlight the schematics of these systems along with the processes and mechanisms such as the oxidation of organic substrates ranging from acetate compounds to complex mixtures. Furthermore, the prospects, challenges, and future applications of BES technologies are presented. The findings indicate that BFCs and MFCs are hampered by low efficiencies, energy output, mass transfer, porosity, and proton conductivity of the electrode and membrane materials along with mechanical strength, scalability, biocompatibility, and chemical stability. However, BES could potentially impact on clean energy production, greenhouse gases mitigation, wastewater treatment, bioanalysis, biosensors, and environmental remediation in the future.

Potential of Utilization of Renewable Energy Technologies in Gulf Countries

“…Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are becoming some of the most promising technologies to produce renewable energy from waste [26]. Over the past decades, BESs have gained substantial interest due to their inherent sustainability and renewable characteristic [24]. BESs are devices that use electrochemically active microorganisms to catalyze electrochemical reactions to produce bioenergy in various types by using organic matter inside wastes [27].…”

“…are considered to be the possible solutions for catering to human needs in this region. Recently, bioenergy in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) has gained extensive interest due to its crucial sustainable and renewable characteristics [24]. Preliminary research in the area of bioenergy has been initiated in the Gulf region [25].…”

Metagenomic Analysis Reveals Microbial Interactions at the Biocathode of a Bioelectrochemical System Capable of Simultaneous Trichloroethylene and Cr(VI) Reduction

“…Recently, there has been an ever-increasing interest in biocatalyzed reduction at the cathode (i.e., microbial electrolysis cells, MECs) of many pollutants, including TCE or Cr(VI) ( Palma et al, 2018 ). These systems require an electrode acting as an electron donor (cathode), an electron sink (anode), and microorganisms driving reactions to exploit energy from toxic contaminants ( Modin and Aulenta, 2017 ; Ivase et al, 2020 ). Several studies have demonstrated that MECs, under controlled potentials, may rapidly enhance RD by establishing dechlorinating consortia growing on the biocathode ( Aulenta et al, 2007 , 2011 ; Verdini et al, 2015 ; Zeppilli et al, 2019 ).…”

The Future of Carbon Dioxide Chemistry

“…Different BESs have been proposed, such as microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), microbial fuel cell (MFC), microbial desalination cell (MDC), enzymatic biofuel cell (EBC), microbial reverse‐electrodialysis cell (MRC), microbial solar cell (MSC), and microbial electrosynthesis cells [50] . Among them the MFCs are the most investigated.…”