Scalability of microbial electrochemical technologies: Applications and challenges

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Electrochemistry
• Microbiology

Background:

• Microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) offer in situ energy harvesting and resource recovery during wastewater treatment.
• Scaling METs from laboratory to practical applications faces significant bioelectrochemical, economic, and engineering design limitations, with most research confined to benchtop models.
• Despite limitations, pilot-scale demonstrations and industrial applications are emerging, indicating progress towards practical implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the challenges associated with scaling up microbial electrochemical technologies (METs).
• To highlight successful field trials and onsite applications of METs.
• To assess the commercial readiness of METs for inexpensive and sustainable applications.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on MET scaling-up challenges.
• Analysis of data from field trials, including a 1.5 m³ bioelectric toilet and a 1000 L microbial electrolysis cell.
• Examination of recent advances in membrane/electrode modification and microbe-electrode interactions.
• Evaluation of the feasibility of electrochemical redox reactions for practical MET applications.

Main Results:

• Significant progress has been made in overcoming scaling limitations for METs.
• Successful field trials and pilot-scale demonstrations by startup companies indicate METs' readiness for industrial effluent treatment.
• Advances in materials science and understanding of microbial-electrochemical interactions are paving the way for practical applications.

Conclusions:

• Microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) are transitioning from laboratory research to practical, scalable applications.
• The commercialization of METs is feasible, driven by ongoing technological advancements and investment in pilot projects.
• METs present a sustainable and cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment, energy harvesting, and resource recovery.