Microbial fuel cells as pollutant treatment units: Research updates

Quanguo Zhang; Jianjun Hu; Duu-Jong Lee

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.006

Microbial fuel cells as pollutant treatment units: Research updates

Bioresour Technol. 2016 Oct:217:121-8. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.006. Epub 2016 Feb 6.

Authors

Quanguo Zhang¹, Jianjun Hu¹, Duu-Jong Lee²

Affiliations

¹ Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomass Energy, Henan Agricultural University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China.
² Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomass Energy, Henan Agricultural University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China; Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan; Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chungli 32023, Taiwan. Electronic address: djlee@ntu.edu.tw.

PMID: 26906446
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.006

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are a device that can convert chemical energy in influent substances to electricity via biological pathways. Based on the consent that MFC technology should be applied as a waste/wastewater treatment unit rather than a renewable energy source, this mini-review discussed recent R&D efforts on MFC technologies for pollutant treatments and highlighted the challenges and research and development needs. Owing to the low power density levels achievable by larger-scale MFC, the MFC should be used as a device other than energy source such as being a pollutant treatment unit.

Keywords: Environmental applications; Microbial fuel cell; Technical obstacle.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Electricity
Electrodes
Environmental Pollutants / isolation & purification*
Research*
Wastewater

Substances

Environmental Pollutants
Waste Water