Rovira-Alsina Laura, Romans-Casas Meritxell, Perona-Vico Elisabet, Ceballos-Escalera Alba, Balaguer M Dolors, Bañeras Lluís, Puig Sebastià
LEQUiA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
gEMM, Group of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol. 2025;191:283-332. doi: 10.1007/10_2024_273.
Addressing global challenges of waste management demands innovative approaches to turn biowaste into valuable resources. This chapter explores the potential of microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) as an alternative opportunity for biowaste valorisation and resource recovery due to their potential to address limitations associated with traditional methods. METs leverage microbial-driven oxidation and reduction reactions, enabling the conversion of different feedstocks into energy or value-added products. Their versatility spans across gas, food, water and soil streams, offering multiple solutions at different technological readiness levels to advance several sustainable development goals (SDGs) set out in the 2030 Agenda. By critically examining recent studies, this chapter uncovers challenges, optimisation strategies, and future research directions for real-world MET implementations. The integration of economic perspectives with technological developments provides a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and demands associated with METs in advancing the circular economy agenda, emphasising their pivotal role in waste minimisation, resource efficiency promotion, and closed-loop system renovation.
应对全球废物管理挑战需要创新方法，将生物废物转化为宝贵资源。本章探讨了微生物电化学技术（METs）作为生物废物增值和资源回收替代机会的潜力，因为它们有潜力解决传统方法的局限性。METs利用微生物驱动的氧化和还原反应，能够将不同原料转化为能源或增值产品。它们的多功能性涵盖气体、食品、水和土壤流，在不同技术成熟度水平上提供多种解决方案，以推进《2030年议程》中设定的若干可持续发展目标（SDGs）。通过批判性地审视近期研究，本章揭示了实际应用METs的挑战、优化策略和未来研究方向。将经济视角与技术发展相结合，有助于全面理解与METs在推进循环经济议程方面相关的机遇和需求，强调它们在减少废物、提高资源效率和闭环系统革新中的关键作用。
