Integrating microbial electrochemical technologies for methane to bioelectricity and water splitting to impart self sustainability to wastewater treatment plants
Abstract Rapid development in microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) such as microbial fuel cell (MFC) and bio photovoltaic (BPV) has led to a significant enhancement in electricity production from wastewater at lab scale; however, their laboratory performance is not replicated when these are scaled up. In this review, the scaling up challenges in METs and the low current output are highlighted. Integration of anaerobic digester (AD) with methane fed MFC and BPV, named as AMMB, is proposed as a sustainable alternative. In AMMB, wastewater is treated in AD first and the biogas generated is used as substrate in methane fed MFCs. Similarly, the BPV is integrated to capture the overall carbon dioxide produced, which is also fed with the soluble organic fraction from effluent of AD after removal of the suspended particles. Feasibility and future challenges of AMMB are examined and presented based on stoichiometry and comparison with presently used technologies to impart sustainability to wastewater treatment.