Advances in bioelectrochemical systems for bio-products recovery

ABSTRACT

Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) have emerged as a sustainable and highly promising technology that has garnered significant attention from researchers worldwide. These systems provide an efficient platform for the removal and recovery of valuable products from wastewater, with minimal or no net energy loss. Among the various types of BES, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a notable example, utilizing microbial biocatalytic activities to generate electrical energy through the degradation of organic matter. Other BES variants include microbial desalination cells (MDCs), microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), microbial electrosynthesis cells (MXCs), microbial solar cells (MSCs), and more. BESs have demonstrated remarkable potential in the recovery of diverse products such as hydrogen, methane, volatile fatty acids, precious nutrients, and metals. Recent advancements in scaling up BESs have facilitated a more realistic assessment of their net energy recovery and resource yield in real-world applications. This comprehensive review focuses on the practical applications of BESs, from laboratory-scale developments to their potential for industrial commercialization. Specifically, it highlights successful examples of value-added product recovery achieved through various BES configurations. Additionally, this review critically evaluates the limitations of BESs and provides suggestions to enhance their performance at a larger scale, enabling effective implementation in real-world scenarios. By providing a thorough analysis of the current state of BES technology, this review aims to emphasize the tremendous potential of these systems for sustainable wastewater treatment and resource recovery. It underscores the significance of bridging the gap between laboratory-scale achievements and industrial implementation, paving the way for a more sustainable and resource-efficient future.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Bioelectrochemical systems
• electricity
• product recovery
• power density
• wastewater treatment

Acknowledgements

The authors also acknowledge the assistance of Ms. Sakshi Guleri during the preparation of this manuscript. Neeraj Kumar Singh, Abhilasha Singh Mathuriya, and Smriti Mehrotra initiated manuscript preparation. Abhilasha Singh Mathuriya, Anoop Singh, Soumya Pandit, and Deepak Jadhav helped in the writing and editing of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Authors duly acknowledge the grant received from the Life Sciences Research Board, Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) [File No. LSRB/81/48222/LSRB-368/BTB/2020] and Department of Science and Technology [File No. CRD/2018/000022] for the accomplishment of this work.