title: A comprehensive overview on electro-active biofilms, role of exo-electrogens and their microbial niches in microbial fuel cells (MFCs).
abstract: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are biocatalyzed systems which can drive electrical energy by directly converting chemical energy using microbial biocatalyst and are considered as one of the important propitious technologies for sustainable energy production. Much research on MFCs experiments is under way with great potential to become an alternative to produce clean energy from renewable waste. MFCs have been one of the most promising technologies for generating clean energy industry in the future. This article summarizes the important findings in electro-active biofilm formation and the role of exo-electrogens in electron transfer in MFCs. This study provides and brings special attention on the effects of various operating and biological parameters on the biofilm formation in MFCs. In addition, it also highlights the significance of different molecular techniques used in the microbial community analysis of electro-active biofilm. It reviews the challenges as well as the emerging opportunities required to develop MFCs at commercial level, electro-active biofilms and to understand potential application of microbiological niches are also depicted. Thus, this review is believed to widen the efforts towards the development of electro-active biofilm and will provide the research directions to overcome energy and environmental challenges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University-Seoul, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 10326, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ganesh Dattatraya
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Saratale
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Biotechnology and Medical Converged Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 10326, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Rijuta Ganesh
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Saratale
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Daegu university, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Muhammad Kashif
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shahid
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Rd. 500, Shanghai 200241, China.
authors.forename: Guangyin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Environment Research Group, Faculty of Environment and Labour Safety, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Electronic address: gopalakrishnankumar@tdt.edu.vn.
authors.forename: Gopalakrishnan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University-Seoul, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 10326, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Daegu university, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Gyun
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Daegu university, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Hyoun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D004560:Electricity; D004583:Electrons; D004735:Energy Transfer
keywords: DGGE; Electro-active biofilm; Exo-elctrogens; Formyl tetrahydrofolate synthetase (FTHFS) gene; Microbial fuel cells; Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM)