Microbial Fuel Cells as a Strategy for Biomass Waste Utilization and Low Carbon Energy Generation

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212000, China

^* Corresponding author: Anne.Chao@outlook.com

Abstract

The integration of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with biomass waste utilization presents a promising pathway for simultaneous energy recovery and environmental remediation. MFCs generate electricity by harnessing the metabolic activity of electroactive microorganisms, which oxidize organic substrates and transfer electrons to an external circuit. This review investigates the operational principles of MFCs, core system components, and their capacity to convert diverse biomass-derived substrates—including agricultural residues, food waste, and industrial wastewater—into electrical energy. Pretreatment techniques such as mechanical reduction and irradiation are discussed for improving substrate bioavailability and enhancing power density. The technical and economic feasibility of MFCs is evaluated, highlighting current limitations such as low energy output, material costs, and scale-up challenges. Additionally, the role of MFCs in carbon fixation and circular bioeconomy models is examined, demonstrating their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while recovering valuable resources. Despite unresolved engineering and microbial constraints, ongoing advances in materials science, system architecture, and microbial engineering are expected to enhance the scalability and efficiency of MFC-based waste-to-energy platforms. This review underscores the importance of further interdisciplinary research to realize the full potential of MFCs in sustainable energy and waste management systems.