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An overview on emerging bioelectrochemical systems (BESs): Technology for sustainable electricity, waste remediation, resource recovery, chemical production and beyond

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  • Bajracharya, Suman
  • Sharma, Mohita
  • Mohanakrishna, Gunda
  • Dominguez Benneton, Xochitl
  • Strik, David P.B.T.B.
  • Sarma, Priyangshu M.
  • Pant, Deepak

Abstract

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are unique systems capable of converting chemical energy into electrical energy (and vice-versa) while employing microbes as catalysts. Such organic wastes including low-strength wastewaters and lignocellulosic biomass were converted into electricity with microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Likewise, electrical energy was used to produce hydrogen in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) or other products including caustic and peroxide. BES were also designed to recover nutrients, metals or removal of recalcitrant compounds. Moreover, photosynthetic micro-organisms as well as higher plants were implemented to use solar energy for electricity generation. The diversity on microbial and enzymatic catalysts offered by nature allows a plurality of potential applications. As compared to conventional fuel cells, BESs operate under relatively mild conditions and do not use expensive precious metals as catalysts. The recently discovered microbial electrosynthesis (MES) of high-value chemicals has greatly expanded the horizon for BES. Newer concepts in application as well as development of alternative materials for electrodes, separators, catalysts along with innovative designs have made BES very promising technology. This article discusses the recent developments that have been made in BESs so far, with the emphasis on their various applications beyond electricity generation and resulting performances as well as existing limitations.

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  • Bajracharya, Suman & Sharma, Mohita & Mohanakrishna, Gunda & Dominguez Benneton, Xochitl & Strik, David P.B.T.B. & Sarma, Priyangshu M. & Pant, Deepak, 2016. "An overview on emerging bioelectrochemical systems (BESs): Technology for sustainable electricity, waste remediation, resource recovery, chemical production and beyond," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 153-170.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:98:y:2016:i:c:p:153-170
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2016.03.002
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    9. AlSayed, Ahmed & Soliman, Moomen & Eldyasti, Ahmed, 2020. "Microbial fuel cells for municipal wastewater treatment: From technology fundamentals to full-scale development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    10. Theofilos Kamperidis & Asimina Tremouli & Antonis Peppas & Gerasimos Lyberatos, 2022. "A 2D Modelling Approach for Predicting the Response of a Two-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell to Substrate Concentration and Electrolyte Conductivity Changes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    11. Wu, Shiqiang & Patil, Sunil A. & Chen, Shuiliang, 2018. "Auto-feeding microbial fuel cell inspired by transpiration of plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 934-939.
    12. Hu, Jianjun & Zhang, Quanguo & Lee, Duu-Jong & Ngo, Huu Hao, 2018. "Feasible use of microbial fuel cells for pollution treatment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PB), pages 824-829.
    13. Gómez Camacho, Carlos E. & Romano, Francesco I. & Ruggeri, Bernardo, 2018. "Macro approach analysis of dark biohydrogen production in the presence of zero valent powered Fe°," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 525-533.
    14. Kabutey, Felix Tetteh & Zhao, Qingliang & Wei, Liangliang & Ding, Jing & Antwi, Philip & Quashie, Frank Koblah & Wang, Weiye, 2019. "An overview of plant microbial fuel cells (PMFCs): Configurations and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 402-414.
    15. Jiang, Minhua & Xu, Tao & Chen, Shuiliang, 2020. "A mechanical rechargeable small-size microbial fuel cell with long-term and stable power output," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    16. Raúl Santiago Muñoz-Aguilar & Daniele Molognoni & Pau Bosch-Jimenez & Eduard Borràs & Mónica Della Pirriera & Álvaro Luna, 2018. "Design, Operation, Modeling and Grid Integration of Power-to-Gas Bioelectrochemical Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-15, July.
    17. Anusha Ganta & Yasser Bashir & Sovik Das, 2022. "Dairy Wastewater as a Potential Feedstock for Valuable Production with Concurrent Wastewater Treatment through Microbial Electrochemical Technologies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-34, November.
    18. Yadav, Ashish & Verma, Nishith, 2019. "Efficient hydrogen production using Ni-graphene oxide-dispersed laser-engraved 3D carbon micropillars as electrodes for microbial electrolytic cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 628-638.
    19. Simeng Li & Gang Chen & Aavudai Anandhi, 2018. "Applications of Emerging Bioelectrochemical Technologies in Agricultural Systems: A Current Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-21, October.
    20. Fischer, Fabian, 2018. "Photoelectrode, photovoltaic and photosynthetic microbial fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 16-27.

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