Wastewater substrates in microbial fuel cell systems for carbon-neutral bioelectricity generation: An overview

Increasing environmental pollution along with fossil fuel depletion is demanding essential energy solutions. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) utilize waste resources containing biodegradable matter that plays a vital role in green “carbon–neutral” bioenergy production. MFC technology involves the multidisciplinary approach of microbiology, electrophysiology, electrochemistry, and process engineering, etc., with vast opportunities and challenges. The substrate is one of the most significant factors influencing the performance of MFC. The shift from synthetic and simple substrates towards different types of industrial wastewater with a higher level of organic matter positively impacts a crucial role in harvesting “green electricity” in MFCs. Some of the ultimate challenges and future perspectives on the energy recovery from the effluents utilized in MFCs are witnessed along with the technological progression over the years.