Abstract
The recycling and treatment of wastewater using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) has been attracting significant attention as a way to control energy crises and water pollution simultaneously. Despite all efforts, MFCs are unable to produce high energy or efficiently treat pollutants due to several issues, one being the anode’s material. The anode is one of the most important parts of an MFC. Recently, different types of anode materials have been developed to improve the removal rate of pollutants and the efficiency of energy production. In MFCs, carbon-based materials have been employed as the most commonly preferred anode material. An extensive range of potentials are presently available for use in the fabrication of anode materials and can considerably minimize the current challenges, such as the need for high quality materials and their costs. The fabrication of an anode using biomass waste is an ideal approach to address the present issues and increase the working efficiency of MFCs. Furthermore, the current challenges and future perspectives of anode materials are briefly discussed.
Highlights
Improper wastewater treatment is a serious threat to the maintenance of a green environment for human beings
There are many materials that can be used to fabricate a perfect anode for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) which depend upon a larger surface area by increasing extracellular electron transfer efficiency through a biofilm
Several research groups from around the world have carried out research on using anode electrode materials to increase energy production and enhance the rate of pollutant removal, especially metals and organic dye pollutants, using MFCs (Table 3)
Summary
Improper wastewater treatment is a serious threat to the maintenance of a green environment for human beings. The anode is one of the most important parts of an MFC and provides the necessary surface area for bacterial growth These bacteria generate electrons and protons and transfer to the anode. The authors studied the applications of graphene derivatives as electrodes part of the MFC approach. The authors studied the applications of graphene derivatives as electrodes and compared their performance in terms of the anode and cathode electrode. Graphene derivatives with metal/metal conductive nanoparticles or conductive polymer-based composite materials areoxide usednanoparticles as anodes to or enhance the polymer-based composite materials are used as anodes to enhance the working efficiency of working efficiency of MFCs. The large surface area and excellent conductivity of composite materials. Modified cathode (left) (reproduced from Reference [9] with Elsevier’s permission)
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