ABSTRACT
In an era of climate change, alternate energy sources including living microorganisms and nonliving renewable resources are gaining interest. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have the potential to simultaneously treat wastewater for reuse and to generate electricity using living microorganisms. Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have the potential to generate biohydrogen along with water treatment. Different types of wastewater including domestic and industrial types can be treated through these routes. Although the MFC and MEC technologies have generated interest in the simultaneous treatment of wastewater generation of electricity and hydrogen, respectively, understanding of these technologies is still limited and many fundamental and technical problems remain to be solved. This chapter includes a comprehensive and critical review on several aspects of MFCs and MECs such as electron transfer mechanisms, functioning of mediators, configuration of MFCs, reactor design, components of MFCs, and role of microorganisms in the performance of MFCs. Research and development work being carried out around the world on these technologies as well as future prospects is also reported.
