Department of Ecology and Sustainable Environmental Management, Viacheslav Chornovil Institute of Sustainable Development, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Stepan Bandera St., 12, Lviv 79013, Ukraine.
Division of Environmental Engineering, National Technological Institute of Mexico (TecNM) / Technological of Higher Studies of Tianguistenco, Tianguistenco 52650, Mexico.
Biotechnol Adv. 2024 Dec;77:108468. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108468. Epub 2024 Oct 20.
The persistent challenge of water pollution, exacerbated by slow progress in ecofriendly technologies and accumulating pollutants, underscores the need for innovative solutions. Constructed Wetland Microbial Fuel Cell (CW-MFC) emerges as an intriguing environmental technology capable of adressing this issue by eliminating contaminants from wastewater while simultaneously producing green energy as an additional bonus. In recent years, CW-MFC technology has gained attention due to its sustainability and promising prospects for a circular waste-free industry. However, due to various technological and biological challenges, it has not yet achieved wide-scale application. This review examines the current state of CW-MFC technology and identifies both biotic and abiotic strategies for optimization through operational and structural improvements affecting biocomponents. Our review highlights several key findings: (1) Plants play an important role in reducing the system's inner resistance through mechanisms such as radial oxygen loss, evapotranspiration, and high photosynthetic flow, which facilitate electroactive bacteria and affect redox potential. (2) Plant characteristics such as root porosity, phloem and aerenchyma development, chlorophyll content, and plant biomass are key indicators of CW-MFC performance and significantly impact both pollutant removal and energy harvesting. (3) We expand the criteria for selecting suitable plants to include mesophytes and C3 pollutant-tolerant species, in addition to traditional aquatic and C4 plants. Additionally, the review presents several technical approaches that enhance CW-MFC efficiency: (1) design optimization, (2) use of novel materials, and (3) application of external electrical fields, aeration, light, and temperature adjustments. CW-MFCs are capable of nearly complete elimination of a wide range of contaminants, including organic matter (84 % ± 10), total nitrogen (80 % ± 7) and phosphorus (79 % ± 18) compounds, metals (86 % ± 10), pharmaceuticals (87 % ± 7), dyes (90 % ± 8), and other complex pollutants, while generating green energy. We hope our findings will be useful in optimizing CW-MFC design and providing insights for researchers aiming to advance the technology and facilitate its future scaling.
水污染问题持续存在，尽管环保技术的进展缓慢，但污染物仍在不断积累，这使得我们需要寻求创新的解决方案。人工湿地微生物燃料电池 (CW-MFC) 作为一种有前途的环境技术，在解决这一问题方面崭露头角。它不仅可以去除废水中的污染物，还可以同时产生绿色能源，作为额外的好处。近年来，由于其可持续性和在实现循环无废产业方面的广阔前景，CW-MFC 技术引起了人们的关注。然而，由于各种技术和生物方面的挑战，它尚未得到广泛应用。本综述探讨了 CW-MFC 技术的现状，并通过影响生物组件的操作和结构改进，确定了生物和非生物优化策略。我们的综述强调了几个关键发现：（1）植物通过径向氧损失、蒸腾作用和高光合作用流等机制，减少系统的内阻，促进电活性细菌的生长，并影响氧化还原电位，从而在降低系统内阻方面发挥着重要作用。（2）植物的特征，如根的孔隙率、韧皮部和通气组织的发育、叶绿素含量和植物生物量，是 CW-MFC 性能的关键指标，对污染物去除和能量收集都有显著影响。（3）我们扩展了选择合适植物的标准，除了传统的水生植物和 C4 植物外，还包括中温植物和耐 C3 污染物的物种。此外，本综述还介绍了几种提高 CW-MFC 效率的技术方法：（1）设计优化，（2）新型材料的使用，以及（3）外部电场、曝气、光照和温度调节的应用。CW-MFC 几乎可以完全去除各种污染物，包括有机物 (84 ± 10)、总氮 (80 ± 7) 和磷 (79 ± 18) 化合物、金属 (86 ± 10)、药物 (87 ± 7)、染料 (90 ± 8) 和其他复杂污染物，同时产生绿色能源。我们希望我们的发现将有助于优化 CW-MFC 的设计，并为希望推进该技术和促进其未来规模化应用的研究人员提供见解。
