Advances in Microbial Fuel Cell Technology: Survey of Organic Substrate Utilization and Microbiological Approaches

Authors

Abdulrahman Itopa Suleiman, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, School of Applied Science, Kogi State Polytechnic, P.M.B 1101, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria
Ahmad Abdulrazaq Itopa, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, School of Applied Science, Kogi State Polytechnic, P.M.B 1101, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria
Mustapha Omenesa Idris, Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Prince Abubakar Audu University, P.M.B 1008, Anyigba, NigeriaFollow
Agada Isaac Eva, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Federal University Lokoja, P.M.B 1154, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria
David Adeiza Zakari, Department of Microbiology, Prince Abubakar Audu University, P.M.B 1008, Anyigba, Nigeria
Akintomiwa Olumide Esan, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
Abdullahi Abdulkadir Imam, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, P.M.B 3011, Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Microbial fuel cell technology is seen as a viable replacement for conventional fossil fuels. It holds significant promises for energy generation, waste management and biomass enhancement. They are viewed as an emerging and economical solution for treating organic waste while generating bioelectricity. To ensure their practical application, careful optimization and precise design are essential. However, there are certain technological hurdles, including low power efficiency and operating stability. These challenges hinder the feasibility and commercialization of MFC systems. The technology behind microbial fuel cells has been shown to effectively treat chemical waste while recovering valuable chemical products like heavy metals, all while generating electrical energy. However, a major obstacle in the development of MFCs is scaling them up for real-world applications, which involves enhancing the potential for the treatment of wastewater and generating energy from several cells within a single MFC system. This review provides an extensive overview of recent breakthroughs in MFC technology, the examination of many substrates, microbial processes in MFCs, fruitful applications of this technology and insights for researchers investigating various factors in microbial fuel cell studies.

Article Type

Review

First Page

122

Last Page

134

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Suleiman, Abdulrahman Itopa; Itopa, Ahmad Abdulrazaq; Idris, Mustapha Omenesa; Eva, Agada Isaac; Zakari, David Adeiza; Esan, Akintomiwa Olumide; and Imam, Abdullahi Abdulkadir (2025) "Advances in Microbial Fuel Cell Technology: Survey of Organic Substrate Utilization and Microbiological Approaches," Eurasian Journal of Physics and Functional Materials: Vol. 9: No. 2, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69912/2616-8537.1249