A Review of the Status of Microbial Fuel Cells and Their Applications in Wastewater Treatment

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Department of Energy Engineering and Physics, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Energy Engineering and Physics, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract
Due to the rising energy demands in recent years, energy resource management has become essential. This upward trend in energy consumption can be attributed to the industrialization of countries, population growth, and the modernization of human lifestyles. Additionally, the development of urbanization and industry has led to an increase in the production of industrial and urban wastewater. The growing use of fossil fuel resources and the increase in wastewater production have prompted global environmental concerns, necessitating alternative solutions for managing these issues. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) present a highly promising solution for wastewater treatment and clean energy production. The chemical energy of wastewater components is converted into electricity by bacteria and can be considered a reliable source for producing clean and biological electricity. This process simultaneously treats wastewater and generates green electricity, which can reduce the emissions of environmental pollutants. Although the use of this technology is still not feasible on a large scale due to economic challenges and low output power, it is anticipated that the widespread use of this technology will be facilitated by advancements in this field. In this paper, microbial fuel cells are introduced from various perspectives, including their components and different structures. Furthermore, their applications in various sectors and industries have been comprehensively reviewed, and suggestions for the future have been presented. Overall, this research can be considered a comprehensive reference for further studies in this field.

Keywords

Subjects


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  • Receive Date 10 July 2024
  • Revise Date 24 December 2024
  • Accept Date 09 January 2025