{"title":"Constructed wetland microbial fuel cell as enhancing pollutants treatment technology to produce green energy","authors":"Iryna Rusyn , Julio César Gómora-Hernández","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108468","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The persistent challenge of water pollution, exacerbated by slow progress in ecofriendly technologies and accumulating pollutants, underscores the need for innovative solutions. Constructed Wetland Microbial Fuel Cell (CW-MFC) emerges as an intriguing environmental technology capable of adressing this issue by eliminating contaminants from wastewater while simultaneously producing green energy as an additional bonus. In recent years, CW-MFC technology has gained attention due to its sustainability and promising prospects for a circular waste-free industry. However, due to various technological and biological challenges, it has not yet achieved wide-scale application. This review examines the current state of CW-MFC technology and identifies both biotic and abiotic strategies for optimization through operational and structural improvements affecting biocomponents. Our review highlights several key findings: (1) Plants play an important role in reducing the system's inner resistance through mechanisms such as radial oxygen loss, evapotranspiration, and high photosynthetic flow, which facilitate electroactive bacteria and affect redox potential. (2) Plant characteristics such as root porosity, phloem and aerenchyma development, chlorophyll content, and plant biomass are key indicators of CW-MFC performance and significantly impact both pollutant removal and energy harvesting. (3) We expand the criteria for selecting suitable plants to include mesophytes and C3 pollutant-tolerant species, in addition to traditional aquatic and C4 plants. Additionally, the review presents several technical approaches that enhance CW-MFC efficiency: (1) design optimization, (2) use of novel materials, and (3) application of external electrical fields, aeration, light, and temperature adjustments. CW-MFCs are capable of nearly complete elimination of a wide range of contaminants, including organic matter (84 % ± 10), total nitrogen (80 % ± 7) and phosphorus (79 % ± 18) compounds, metals (86 % ± 10), pharmaceuticals (87 % ± 7), dyes (90 % ± 8), and other complex pollutants, while generating green energy. We hope our findings will be useful in optimizing CW-MFC design and providing insights for researchers aiming to advance the technology and facilitate its future scaling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 108468"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Biotechnology advances","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0734975024001629","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The persistent challenge of water pollution, exacerbated by slow progress in ecofriendly technologies and accumulating pollutants, underscores the need for innovative solutions. Constructed Wetland Microbial Fuel Cell (CW-MFC) emerges as an intriguing environmental technology capable of adressing this issue by eliminating contaminants from wastewater while simultaneously producing green energy as an additional bonus. In recent years, CW-MFC technology has gained attention due to its sustainability and promising prospects for a circular waste-free industry. However, due to various technological and biological challenges, it has not yet achieved wide-scale application. This review examines the current state of CW-MFC technology and identifies both biotic and abiotic strategies for optimization through operational and structural improvements affecting biocomponents. Our review highlights several key findings: (1) Plants play an important role in reducing the system's inner resistance through mechanisms such as radial oxygen loss, evapotranspiration, and high photosynthetic flow, which facilitate electroactive bacteria and affect redox potential. (2) Plant characteristics such as root porosity, phloem and aerenchyma development, chlorophyll content, and plant biomass are key indicators of CW-MFC performance and significantly impact both pollutant removal and energy harvesting. (3) We expand the criteria for selecting suitable plants to include mesophytes and C3 pollutant-tolerant species, in addition to traditional aquatic and C4 plants. Additionally, the review presents several technical approaches that enhance CW-MFC efficiency: (1) design optimization, (2) use of novel materials, and (3) application of external electrical fields, aeration, light, and temperature adjustments. CW-MFCs are capable of nearly complete elimination of a wide range of contaminants, including organic matter (84 % ± 10), total nitrogen (80 % ± 7) and phosphorus (79 % ± 18) compounds, metals (86 % ± 10), pharmaceuticals (87 % ± 7), dyes (90 % ± 8), and other complex pollutants, while generating green energy. We hope our findings will be useful in optimizing CW-MFC design and providing insights for researchers aiming to advance the technology and facilitate its future scaling.
期刊介绍:
Biotechnology Advances is a comprehensive review journal that covers all aspects of the multidisciplinary field of biotechnology. The journal focuses on biotechnology principles and their applications in various industries, agriculture, medicine, environmental concerns, and regulatory issues. It publishes authoritative articles that highlight current developments and future trends in the field of biotechnology. The journal invites submissions of manuscripts that are relevant and appropriate. It targets a wide audience, including scientists, engineers, students, instructors, researchers, practitioners, managers, governments, and other stakeholders in the field. Additionally, special issues are published based on selected presentations from recent relevant conferences in collaboration with the organizations hosting those conferences.