Microbial Electrochemical Technologies for Used Water Treatment

Microbial electrochemical technologies allow generating electricity or valuable chemicals while removing contaminants from domestic and industrial wastewaters. Having been demonstrated in the laboratory decades ago, these technologies are now being deployed at a large scale in relevant environmental conditions. In this chapter, pilot-scale (>100 L) microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) treating real waste streams are categorized and analyzed in terms of material selection, architecture, electrochemical performance, and water treatment efficiency. Results from this analysis enable the identification of the most effective approaches toward scaling up while highlighting current constraints and proposing novel solutions to overcome potential limitations. As more studies focusing on engineering microbial electrochemical technologies at scale become available, a route for their implementation in the water and wastewater infrastructure can be envisioned, accelerating the shift toward more sustainable practices for waste management and valorization.