A review on self-sustainable microbial electrolysis cells for electro-biohydrogen production via coupling with carbon-neutral renewable energy technologies

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 320; no. Pt B; p. 124363
• Main Authors: Yang, Euntae, Omar Mohamed, Hend, Park, Sung-Gwan, Obaid, M., Al-Qaradawi, Siham Y., Castaño, Pedro, Chon, Kangmin, Chae, Kyu-Jung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Bioelectric Energy Sources; Biohydrogen; Carbon; Electrodes; Electrolysis; energy; Hydrogen; hydrogen production; Microbial electrolysis cell; microbial electrolysis cells; oxidation; Photo-assisted microbial electrolysis cell; production technology; Renewable Energy; Self-sustainable; Technology; Thermodynamic barrier; thermodynamics; Microbial electrolysis cell; Photo-assisted microbial electrolysis cell; Thermodynamic barrier; Biohydrogen; Self-sustainable
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124363

[Display omitted] •Theoretical consideration of self-sustainable MECs for H2 evolution.•Key challenges that must be overcome for the real application of self-sustainable MECs.•Efforts us far to achieve self-sustainable MECs and enhance H2 production yield.•Future perspectives for self-sustainable MECs for industrial use. Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) technology is a promising bioelectrochemical hydrogen production technology that utilizes anodic bio-catalytic oxidation and cathodic reduction processes. MECs require a lower external energy input than water electrolysis; however, as they also require the application of external power sources, this inevitably renders MEC systems a less sustainable option. This issue is the main obstacle hindering the practical application of MECs. Therefore, this review aims to introduce a self-sustainable MEC technology by combining conventional MECs with advanced carbon–neutral technologies, such as solar-, microbial-, osmotic-, and thermoelectric-powers (and their combinations). Moreover, new approaches to overcome the thermodynamic barriers and attain self-sustaining MECs are discussed in detail, thereby providing a working principle, current challenges, and future perspective in the field. This review provides comprehensive insights into reliable hydrogen production as well as the latest trends towards self-sustainable MECs for practical application.