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Application of Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment: An Overview and Future Perspectives

Author

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  • Bhim Sen Thapa

    (Department of Biological Sciences, WEHR Life Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Soumya Pandit

    (Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Sanchita Bipin Patwardhan

    (Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Mumbai 410206, Maharashtra, India)

  • Sakshi Tripathi

    (Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur 208024, Uttar Pradesh, India)

  • Abhilasha Singh Mathuriya

    (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi 110003, India)

  • Piyush Kumar Gupta

    (Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
    Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun 248002, Uttarakhand, India)

  • Ram Bharosay Lal

    (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi 110003, India)

  • Tanmoy Roy Tusher

    (Department of Biological Sciences, WEHR Life Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
    Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail 1902, Bangladesh)

Abstract

Pharmaceutical wastewater (PWW) is rapidly growing into one of the world’s most serious environmental and public health issues. Existing wastewater treatment systems carry numerous loopholes in supplying the ever-increasing need for potable water resulting from rises in population, urbanization, and industrial growth, and the volume of wastewater produced is growing each day. At present, conventional treatment methods, such as coagulation, sedimentation, oxidation, membrane filtration, flocculation, etc., are used to treat PWW. In contrast to these, the application of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for decontaminating PWW can be a promising technology to replace these methods. MFC technologies have become a trending research topic in recent times. MFCs have also garnered the interest of researchers worldwide as a promising environmental remediation technique. This review extensively discusses the flaws in standalone conventional processes and the integration of MFCs to enhance electricity production and contaminant removal rates, especially with respect to PWW. This article also summarizes the studies reported on various antibiotics and wastes from pharmaceutical industries treated by MFCs, and their efficiencies. Furthermore, the review explains why further research is needed to establish the actual efficiency of MFCs to achieve sustainable, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective wastewater treatment. A brief on technoeconomic impacts has also been made to provide a glimpse of the way these technologies might replace present-day conventional methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhim Sen Thapa & Soumya Pandit & Sanchita Bipin Patwardhan & Sakshi Tripathi & Abhilasha Singh Mathuriya & Piyush Kumar Gupta & Ram Bharosay Lal & Tanmoy Roy Tusher, 2022. "Application of Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment: An Overview and Future Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:14:p:8379-:d:858560
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Trapero, Juan R. & Horcajada, Laura & Linares, Jose J. & Lobato, Justo, 2017. "Is microbial fuel cell technology ready? An economic answer towards industrial commercialization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 698-707.
    2. Escapa, A. & Mateos, R. & Martínez, E.J. & Blanes, J., 2016. "Microbial electrolysis cells: An emerging technology for wastewater treatment and energy recovery. From laboratory to pilot plant and beyond," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 942-956.
    3. Birjandi, Noushin & Younesi, Habibollah & Ghoreyshi, Ali Asghar & Rahimnejad, Mostafa, 2020. "Enhanced medicinal herbs wastewater treatment in continuous flow bio-electro-Fenton operations along with power generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 1079-1090.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kalpana Sharma & Vandana Singh & Soumya Pandit & Bhim Sen Thapa & Kumud Pant & Tanmoy Roy Tusher, 2022. "Isolation of Biosurfactant-Producing Bacteria and Their Co-Culture Application in Microbial Fuel Cell for Simultaneous Hydrocarbon Degradation and Power Generation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Ong, Samuel & Al-Othman, Amani & Tawalbeh, Muhammad, 2023. "Emerging technologies in prognostics for fuel cells including direct hydrocarbon fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    3. Shan Ren & Pei Song & Haichun Cheng & Chao Liu & Rongsheng Chen, 2022. "Enhanced Treatment of Decentralized Domestic Sewage Using Gravity-Flow Multi-Soil-Layering Systems Coupled with Iron-Carbon Microelectrolysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, October.

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