ABSTRACT

The increase in the industrial revolution, urbanization, and deficit in crude oil resources urged scientists to look for sustainable and renewable energy resources. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bio-electrochemical devices that convert the chemical energy of bio mass into electrical energy utilizing microorganisms as biocatalysts. MFC is an enthralling technology, and it has many important applications. There are different designs of MFC currently in use, each having their pros and cons; however, the stacked MFC is so far generating the highest power output. Different factors, discussed in this review, contribute toward the efficiency of the process. An ample amount of research has been done to convert the theoretical framework of MFC into a practical application; however, the later still remains a big challenge. A plethora of technical problems is in the way for MFC to be driven toward up-scaling and real-world applications. This review discusses electron transfer mechanisms in MFCs and important factors affecting the performance of MFC. Reactor design is a main limiting factor in MFC technology, and this review also focuses on recent improvements in reactor designs and modifications. Moreover, some main applications of MFC technology, limitations, recent advancements, and future prospects are discussed.

摘要

工业革命，城市化进程的发展以及原油资源的短缺促使科学家们寻找可持续的可再生能源。微生物燃料电池（MFCs）是生物电化学装置，利用微生物作为生物催化剂将生物质的化学能转化为电能。MFC是一种令人着迷的技术，它具有许多重要的应用程序。当前使用的是MFC的不同设计，各有各的优缺点。但是，到目前为止，堆叠式MFC产生的功率最高。本文中讨论的不同因素会影响流程的效率。为了将MFC的理论框架转化为实际应用，已经进行了大量研究。但是，后期仍然是一个巨大的挑战。对于MFC来说，将大量技术问题驱动到向上扩展和实际应用中。这篇综述讨论了MFCs中的电子转移机制以及影响MFC性能的重要因素。反应器设计是MFC技术中的主要限制因素，本文的重点还在于反应器设计和改进方面的最新改进。此外，讨论了MFC技术的一些主要应用，局限性，最新进展和未来前景。