Effect of Design and Other Parameters of Microbial Electrolysis Cell for Industrial Wastewater Treatment

Waste is considered as a useful resource. Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) as a novel carbon–neutral technology have replaced the conventional methods in treating industrial wastewater loaded with organic matters that could be converted to value-added products. MEC has proved to have diverse applications in industrial effluent treatment, biosynthesis of compounds such as hydrogen peroxide, methane, hydrogen, nutrient recovery, pollutant removal, and biosensing. However, this technology to be used in the circular industrial wastewater treatment for meeting the huge global energy demand is still in its infancy. The various parameters such as architectural design of the reactor and optimizing its working parameters such as feedstock, inoculum, electrode material and design, pH, temperature, and applied potential need to be standardized for the best output. Designing reactors operated using solar power or less electricity would be a real breakthrough. Similarly, choosing the apt electrode materials and its size to volume ratio of the reactor, reducing internal resistance, and experimenting with the inoculum type and time may reduce the current hindrances in the progression of this technology for industrial applications. The huge capital cost is an impediment, which if addressed with less capital expenditure and improved treatment efficiency and thereby an increased energy yield, then this fascinating technology may serve as a futuristic technology to solve the universal pollution problem and energy requirements and thereby ensuring sustainability.