IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i4p963-d1593217.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Microalgae-Assisted Microbial Fuel Cell for Treatment of Difficult Waste Streams

Author

Listed:
  • Paulina Rusanowska

    (Department of Environment Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 117, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Marcin Dębowski

    (Department of Environment Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 117, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Marcin Zieliński

    (Department of Environment Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 117, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

Abstract

Microalgae microbial fuel cells (pMFCs) are distinguished by their ability to combine waste utilization with the simultaneous recovery of energy and valuable materials. The generation of high current density is linked to the efficient electron transfer to the anode via the anodic biofilm and the high photosynthetic activity of the microalgae cultivated in the cathode chamber. This review explores the impact of wastewater type on energy production and wastewater treatment. Additionally, it discusses the challenges related to microalgae growth in the cathode chamber, the necessity of aeration, and the sequestration of carbon dioxide from the anode chamber. The efficiency of microalgae in utilizing nutrients from various types of wastewater is also presented. In conclusion, the comparison between wastewater treatment and energy balance in pMFCs and conventional wastewater treatment plants is provided. On average, MFCs consume only 0.024 kW or 0.076 kWh/kg COD, which is approximately ten times less than the energy used by activated sludge bioprocesses. This demonstrates that MFCs offer highly efficient energy consumption compared to traditional wastewater treatment systems while simultaneously recovering energy through exoelectrogenic, bioelectrochemical processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Paulina Rusanowska & Marcin Dębowski & Marcin Zieliński, 2025. "Microalgae-Assisted Microbial Fuel Cell for Treatment of Difficult Waste Streams," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:4:p:963-:d:1593217
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/963/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/963/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wetser, Koen & Sudirjo, Emilius & Buisman, Cees J.N. & Strik, David P.B.T.B., 2015. "Electricity generation by a plant microbial fuel cell with an integrated oxygen reducing biocathode," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 151-157.
    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. Marcin Zieliński & Łukasz Barczak & Paulina Rusanowska & Joanna Kazimierowicz & Marcin Dębowski, 2024. "Comparison of Biohydrogen Production by Tetraselmis subcordiformis During Cultivation Using Soil-Less Agricultural Wastewater and Effluent from Microbial Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Marcin Zieliński & Paulina Rusanowska & Magda Dudek & Adam Starowicz & Łukasz Barczak & Marcin Dębowski, 2024. "Efficiency of Photosynthetic Microbial Fuel Cells (pMFC) Depending on the Type of Microorganisms Inhabiting the Cathode Chamber," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-14, May.
    5. Ahmed, Shams Forruque & Mofijur, M. & Islam, Nafisa & Parisa, Tahlil Ahmed & Rafa, Nazifa & Bokhari, Awais & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Indra Mahlia, Teuku Meurah, 2022. "Insights into the development of microbial fuel cells for generating biohydrogen, bioelectricity, and treating wastewater," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Barbara Włodarczyk & Paweł P. Włodarczyk, 2020. "The Membrane-Less Microbial Fuel Cell (ML-MFC) with Ni-Co and Cu-B Cathode Powered by the Process Wastewater from Yeast Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Nitisoravut, Rachnarin & Regmi, Roshan, 2017. "Plant microbial fuel cells: A promising biosystems engineering," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 81-89.
    3. Vera, Sergio & Pinto, Camilo & Tabares-Velasco, Paulo Cesar & Bustamante, Waldo, 2018. "A critical review of heat and mass transfer in vegetative roof models used in building energy and urban enviroment simulation tools," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 752-764.
    4. Li, Yan & Williams, Isaiah & Xu, Zhiheng & Li, Baikun & Li, Baitao, 2016. "Energy-positive nitrogen removal using the integrated short-cut nitrification and autotrophic denitrification microbial fuel cells (MFCs)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 352-360.
    5. 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.
    6. Renata Toczyłowska-Mamińska & Mariusz Ł. Mamiński & Wojciech Kwasowski, 2025. "Microbial Fuel Cell Technology as a New Strategy for Sustainable Management of Soil-Based Ecosystems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-31, February.
    7. Marcin Zieliński & Łukasz Barczak & Paulina Rusanowska & Joanna Kazimierowicz & Marcin Dębowski, 2024. "Comparison of Biohydrogen Production by Tetraselmis subcordiformis During Cultivation Using Soil-Less Agricultural Wastewater and Effluent from Microbial Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-15, October.
    8. Kim, Jung Hwan & Park, I Seul & Park, Joo Yang, 2015. "Electricity generation and recovery of iron hydroxides using a single chamber fuel cell with iron anode and air-cathode for electrocoagulation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 18-27.
    9. de Jager, Pim & Groen, Daniel & Strik, David P.B.T.B., 2023. "Long-term performance of pilot-scale tubular plant-microbial fuel cells in a brownfield-constructed wetland," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(P2).
    10. Apollon, Wilgince & Kamaraj, Sathish-Kumar & Silos-Espino, Héctor & Perales-Segovia, Catarino & Valera-Montero, Luis L. & Maldonado-Ruelas, Víctor A. & Vázquez-Gutiérrez, Marco A. & Ortiz-Medina, Raúl, 2020. "Impact of Opuntia species plant bio-battery in a semi-arid environment: Demonstration of their applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    11. Farahmand Habibi, Maryam & Arvand, Majid & Sohrabnezhad, Shabnam, 2021. "Boosting bioelectricity generation in microbial fuel cells using metal@metal oxides/nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    12. Antonopoulou, G. & Bampos, G. & Ntaikou, I. & Alexandropoulou, M. & Dailianis, S. & Bebelis, S. & Lyberatos, G., 2023. "The biochemical and electrochemical characteristics of a microbial fuel cell used to produce electricity from olive mill wastewater," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    13. Wang, Chin-Tsan & Pal, Pushparaj & Wang, Xin-Chang, 2025. "EM waves-based microbial fuel cells integrated to improve performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PA).
    14. 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.
    15. Van Limbergen, T. & Bonné, R. & Hustings, J. & Valcke, R. & Thijs, S. & Vangronsveld, J. & Manca, J.V., 2022. "Plant microbial fuel cells from the perspective of photovoltaics: Efficiency, power, and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    16. Han, He-Xing & Shi, Chen & Yuan, Li & Sheng, Guo-Ping, 2017. "Enhancement of methyl orange degradation and power generation in a photoelectrocatalytic microbial fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 382-389.
    17. Wang, Chin-Tsan & Huang, Yan-Sian & Sangeetha, Thangavel & Yan, Wei-Mon, 2018. "Assessment of recirculation batch mode operation in bufferless Bio-cathode microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 120-126.
    18. Ullah, Zia & Zeshan,, 2024. "Effect of catholyte on performance of photosynthetic microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and energy recovery," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    19. Sanjeet Mehariya & Rahul Kumar Goswami & Pradeep Verma & Roberto Lavecchia & Antonio Zuorro, 2021. "Integrated Approach for Wastewater Treatment and Biofuel Production in Microalgae Biorefineries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-26, April.
    20. Rusyn, Iryna, 2021. "Role of microbial community and plant species in performance of plant microbial fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:4:p:963-:d:1593217. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.