Engineering Challenges of the Microbial Electrolysis Cells for Stable Performance

Keeping in mind the global warming and acute shortage of energy resources, microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) looks to be a very important sources of green energy. MECs work on the principle of conversion of organic matter into hydrogen, hydrogen peroxide, acetate methane, ethanol, formic acid and other sources and forms of energy by the electrochemical bacteria. MECs do not cause much environmental pollution. To date, MECs are the most efficient and cleanest source of H2 production. However, MECs are still in their embryonic stages, and it faces many technical and engineering challenges in their scaling-up and wide range applicability. This book chapter provides a brief account about the basic principle, composition, kinds, and nanomaterials used in the manufacturing of MECs. This book chapter also through light on some of the engineering challenges and hurdles faced by MECs for stable and reliable performance. The data collected here will help the researchers and engineers in the better understanding of MECs because it not only contains data about the challenges faced by MECs but also provides suggestions about overcoming those obstacles. At the end of the chapter, a brief conclusion is provided about MEC and its future prospects.