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Electro-Microbiology as a Promising Approach Towards Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability

Author

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  • Jafar Ali

    (Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    Research Center for Environmental Material and Pollution Control Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Aaqib Sohail

    (Research Group Biomarkers for Infectious Diseases, TWINCORE Centre for Clinical and Experimental Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany)

  • Lei Wang

    (Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China)

  • Muhammad Rizwan Haider

    (Research Center for Environmental Material and Pollution Control Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China)

  • Shahi Mulk

    (Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    Research Center for Environmental Material and Pollution Control Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Gang Pan

    (Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Campus, Southwell NG25 0QF, UK)

Abstract

Microbial electrochemical technologies provide sustainable wastewater treatment and energy production. Despite significant improvements in the power output of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), this technology is still far from practical applications. Extracting electrical energy and harvesting valuable products by electroactive bacteria (EAB) in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) has emerged as an innovative approach to address energy and environmental challenges. Thus, maximizing power output and resource recovery is highly desirable for sustainable systems. Insights into the electrode-microbe interactions may help to optimize the performance of BESs for envisioned applications, and further validation by bioelectrochemical techniques is a prerequisite to completely understand the electro-microbiology. This review summarizes various extracellular electron transfer mechanisms involved in BESs. The significant role of characterization techniques in the advancement of the electro-microbiology field is discussed. Finally, diverse applications of BESs, such as resource recovery, and contributions to the pursuit of a more sustainable society are also highlighted.

Suggested Citation

  • Jafar Ali & Aaqib Sohail & Lei Wang & Muhammad Rizwan Haider & Shahi Mulk & Gang Pan, 2018. "Electro-Microbiology as a Promising Approach Towards Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-30, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:7:p:1822-:d:157538
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    Cited by:

    1. Raúl Mateos & Ana Sotres & Raúl M. Alonso & Antonio Morán & Adrián Escapa, 2019. "Enhanced CO 2 Conversion to Acetate through Microbial Electrosynthesis (MES) by Continuous Headspace Gas Recirculation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Jiayin Ling & Yanbin Xu & Chuansheng Lu & Weikang Lai & Guangyan Xie & Li Zheng & Manjunatha P. Talawar & Qingping Du & Gangyi Li, 2019. "Enhancing Stability of Microalgae Biocathode by a Partially Submerged Carbon Cloth Electrode for Bioenergy Production from Wastewater," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Jiyun Baek & Changman Kim & Young Eun Song & Hyeon Sung Im & Mutyala Sakuntala & Jung Rae Kim, 2018. "Separation of Acetate Produced from C1 Gas Fermentation Using an Electrodialysis-Based Bioelectrochemical System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-12, October.
    4. Tian, Hailin & Li, Jie & Yan, Miao & Tong, Yen Wah & Wang, Chi-Hwa & Wang, Xiaonan, 2019. "Organic waste to biohydrogen: A critical review from technological development and environmental impact analysis perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).

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