Biorenewable hydrogen production through biomass gasification: A review and future prospects

Progress in microbial fuel cell technology for wastewater treatment and energy harvesting.

The application of bioelectrochemical systems mostly aims to be used for the generation of electricity or chemicals. The quest to generate energy that is both sustainable and environmentally friendly over the last few years has accelerated the growth in research activities in bioelectrochemical cells, namely: microbial fuel cells (MFCs), microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), microbial desalination cells (MDCs), and microbial electrolysis desalination cells (MEDCs). Microbial fuel cells and microbial electrolysis cells are considered the most developed technologies among these various types of bioelectrochemical systems. This investigation, intends to highlight the basic operational characteristics of MFCs and MECs using wastewater as fuel. The prospects associated with this novel technology, along with challenges related to their operation, have all been highlighted in this investigation. The application of bioelectrochemical systems, as well as possible integration with other technologies, have all been critically discussed. Moreover, the current work identified key factors impeding the commercialization of these technologies, including lower efficiencies, mass transfer limitations, porosity, and protonic conductivity. Other factors include the mechanical and chemical stability of materials, along with their biocompatibility. In summary, the application of bioelectrochemical systems futuristically will revolve around energy generation, mitigation of toxic gas emissions, wastewater treatment, bioanalysis, and environmental remediation.

Value added products from wastewater using bioelectrochemical systems: Current trends and perspectives

Recent advancements in the cathodic catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction in a microbial electrolysis cells

Performance efficiency comparison of microbial electrolysis cells for sustainable production of biohydrogen—A comprehensive review

Effects of different substrates on microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) anodic membrane: biodiversity and hydrogen production performance.

Introducing electrolysis to enhance anaerobic digestion resistance to acidification

Effects of Different Substrates on MEC Anode Film Formation and Extracellular Polymer

In this study, voltage was used as a disturbance factor to investigate the relationship between microbial community and methane (CH4) production flux in a microbial electrolytic cell coupled anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD). Metabolic flux analysis (MFA) was used to explore the relationship between the CH4 metabolic flux produced and the microbes. The results showed that both methane production flux and hydrogen production flux changed significantly upon voltage disturbance, while the voltage disturbance had little effect on acetic acid production flux. The maximum CH4 production flux under 0.6 V disturbance was 0.522±0.051, which increased by 77% and 32%, respectively, compared with that of the control group under 1.0 V (0.295±0.013) and under 1.4 V (0.395±0.029). In addition, an average of 15.7%±2.9% of H2 (flux) was used to reduce CO2 to produce CH4 and acetic acid, and an average of 27.7%±6.9% of acetic acid (flux) was converted to CH4. Moreover, the abundance of Lachnospiraceae significantly affected the flux of acetic acid. The flux of CH4 production is positively correlated with the abundances of Petrimonas, Syntrophomonas, Blvii28, and Acinetobacter, and negatively correlated with the abundances of Tuzzerella and Sphaerochaeta. The species that affected the flux of H2 and CH4 were similar, mostly belonging to Bacteroides, Clostridium, Pseudomonas and Firmicutes. Furthermore, the interspecies interaction is also an important factor affecting the MEC-AD methanogenesis flux.

Sixia Yang

Papers

Effects of different substrates on microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) anodic membrane: biodiversity and hydrogen production performance.

Introducing electrolysis to enhance anaerobic digestion resistance to acidification

Effects of Different Substrates on MEC Anode Film Formation and Extracellular Polymer

[The relationship between methane production metabolic flux and microorganisms in a microbial electrolytic cell coupled anaerobic digestion].