Basic Electrochemical Concept of Microbial Electrolysis Cell

Global concerns over the reliance on unsustainable fossil fuels have resulted in the demand for alternative resources. At the same time, the problem regarding wastewater management parallel to emerging industrialization is also becoming more serious. These two emerging scenarios led to the establishment of a multipurpose technique such as microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) with the ability to generate energy and applicable for wastewater treatment. The MEC is an environmentally friendly biochemical system based on waste-product conversion, designed to generate hydrogen or non-polluting by-products from biodegradable waste using electrochemically active bacteria. In this chapter, further basic introductory information of the MEC is presented. This chapter consists of two main sections including the first section which is dedicated to the definition, background, and importance or advantages of MEC. Meanwhile, the second section then outlines the brief concept in the MEC system particularly in terms of general components and basic electrochemical reactions that occurred during the process.