title: Microbial fuel cells as pollutant treatment units: Research updates.
abstract: Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are a device that can convert chemical energy in influent substances to electricity via biological pathways. Based on the consent that MFC technology should be applied as a waste/wastewater treatment unit rather than a renewable energy source, this mini-review discussed recent R&D efforts on MFC technologies for pollutant treatments and highlighted the challenges and research and development needs. Owing to the low power density levels achievable by larger-scale MFC, the MFC should be used as a device other than energy source such as being a pollutant treatment unit.
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomass Energy, Henan Agricultural University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Quanguo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomass Energy, Henan Agricultural University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomass Energy, Henan Agricultural University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China; Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan; Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chungli 32023, Taiwan. Electronic address: djlee@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Duu-Jong
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012106:Research; D062065:Wastewater
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Environmental applications; Microbial fuel cell; Technical obstacle