Chapter 10 - Desalination through microbial desalination cells and remediation of organic pollutants

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) utilize microorganisms as biocatalysts, which simultaneously facilitate wastewater treatment and electricity generation. An MFC, which is modified to desalinate brine water, is known as a microbial desalination cell (MDC) in which wastewater treatment, electricity generation, and desalination simultaneously take place by captivating the energy content of wastewater as a resource. In recent times, MDC has proven to be a promising technology for saltwater as well as wastewater treatment. This chapter primarily aims at providing insights into the basic principle of MDCs and their different reactor configurations. Later, an extensive discussion is delivered on the bioremediation of organic pollutants using MDCs.