Bioelectrochemical systems using microalgae - A concise research update

- Algae-based microbial fuel cell (MFC) systems are promising bioenergy niche.
- Integrated algal bioelectrochemical units are efficient but suffer from scalability.
- Energy production in algal MFCs is a complex multi-parameter biological process.
- Algae-based MFC systems need to be progressively optimized for better operation.

Excess consumption of energy by humans is compounded by environmental pollution, the greenhouse effect and climate change impacts. Current developments in the use of algae for bioenergy production offer several advantages. Algal biomass is hence considered a new bio-material which holds the promise to fulfil the rising demand for energy. Microalgae are used in effluents treatment, bioenergy production, high value added products synthesis and CO2 capture. This review summarizes the potential applications of algae in bioelectrochemically mediated oxidation reactions in fully biotic microbial fuel cells for power generation and removal of unwanted nutrients. In addition, this review highlights the recent developments directed towards developing different types of microalgae MFCs. The different process factors affecting the performance of microalgae MFC system and some technological bottlenecks are also addressed.

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