Applications of Microbial Electrolysis Cells in Anaerobic Digestion

This chapter explores the application of microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) in anaerobic digestion (AD). The overview of AD and MECs is defined, and the integration of these two technologies is discussed in terms of their advantages in treating biogas and producing high-value products. The fundamentals of this integration are explained in detail, along with the effect of the parameters such as feedstock type, temperature, hydraulic retention time, pH, voltage applied and electrode. Next, the existing configuration for the system integration is also discussed comprehensively. Lastly, the challenges and future prospects emphasise the technical inadequacy, economic feasibility and environmental aspects.