Microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment: A comprehensive review of bioelectrochemical mechanisms, system design, and performance optimization.
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| Title: | Microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment: A comprehensive review of bioelectrochemical mechanisms, system design, and performance optimization. |
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| Authors: | Kumar, Rohan1 (AUTHOR) 23D0283@iitb.ac.in, Banerji, Tuhin2,3 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Biomass & Bioenergy. Jun2026, Vol. 209, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. |
| Subjects: | Microbial fuel cells, Wastewater treatment, Bioelectrochemistry, Process optimization, Systems design, Energy conversion, Electrochemical analysis, Bacteria |
| Abstract: | Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a promising eco-friendly technology for simultaneous wastewater treatment and energy recovery, harnessing microbial metabolism to oxidize organic pollutants while generating electricity. Reported COD removal efficiencies range from 10.2 % to 99 % (mean: 67.1 ± 26.5 %) across influent concentrations of 99–9600 mg/L (mean: 1685 mg/L), with optimal hydraulic retention times of 0.42–12 days (mode: ∼5 days). Peak voltages of 600–1000 mV and power densities up to 900 mW/m2 have been achieved, with >80 % COD removal corresponding to 800 mW/m2, confirming the synergy between treatment and energy recovery. Coulombic efficiency reaches 60–65 % at >40 % COD degradation but decreases at power densities >200 mW/m2, revealing trade-offs between energy recovery and output. Polarization analysis indicates activation losses <10 mA/m2, ohmic losses dominating between 10 and 1000 mA/m2, and concentration losses beyond 1000 mA/m2, underscoring the need for low-resistance, mass-transfer-optimized designs. Electroactive bacteria such as Geobacter sp. and Bacteroidetes sp. dominate MFC consortia, influenced by substrate characteristics. Innovations in catholytes, membranes, catalysts, and electrodes including ferricyanide, Nafion, carbon-based anodes, and doped cathodes—have improved performance but require cost and stability optimization for scale-up. By evaluating electrochemical parameters and wastewater treatment metrics, this review elucidates the key trade-offs and design strategies necessary to advance MFCs toward commercial-scale, energy recovering wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
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