Microbial fuel cell system: a promising technology for pollutant removal and environmental remediation

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 27; no. 7; pp. 6749 - 6764
• Main Authors: Wu, Qing, Jiao, Shipu, Ma, Mengxing, Peng, Sen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.03.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biochemical fuel cells; Bioelectric Energy Sources; Chemical energy; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Electricity; Electrodes; Emissions control; Energy; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental cleanup; Environmental Health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; Environmental restoration; Environmental Restoration and Remediation; Environmental science; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; Groundwater; Groundwater treatment; Microorganisms; Organic chemistry; Pollutant removal; Pollutants; Remediation; Renewable energy; Review Article; Sludge; Soil pollution; Soil remediation; Soil water; Solid waste treatment; Solid wastes; Waste to energy; Waste treatment; Waste Water; Waste Water Technology; Wastewater treatment; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Microbial fuel cell; Environmental remediation; Pollutant degradations; Wastewater treatment; Bioelectrochemistry; Biosensor
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-07745-0

The microbial fuel cell (MFC) system is a promising environmental remediation technology due to its simple compact design, low cost, and renewable energy producing. MFCs can convert chemical energy from waste matters to electrical energy, which provides a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for pollutant degradations. In this review, we attempt to gather research progress of MFC technology in pollutant removal and environmental remediation. The main configurations and pollutant removal mechanism by MFCs are introduced. The research progress of MFC systems in pollutant removal and environmental remediation, including wastewater treatment, soil remediation, natural water and groundwater remediation, sludge and solid waste treatment, and greenhouse gas emission control, as well as the application of MFCs in environmental monitoring have been reviewed. Subsequently, the application of MFCs in environmental monitoring and the combination of MFCs with other technologies are described. Finally, the current limitations and potential future research has been demonstrated in this review.