Microbial fuel cells (MFC) and microalgae; photo microbial fuel cell (PMFC) as complete recycling machines

Abstract

Humans can exploit natural processes by microorganisms by using Microbial Fuel Cells and integrated Photo Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC/PMFC) chambers containing electrodes to maximise microbial oxidation rates and rapidly recycle mass and elements at the quickest possible rates by control over both the microbes (choice of algae and bacteria) and the applied physicochemical conditions. This review focuses on natural recycling of essential elements by microbes, the productivity of bacteria and micro-algae as a fuel, decomposition and the use of microbial fuel cells to integrate both primary biomass production (in the cathode) with its decomposition and transformation by heterotrophic microbes (at the anode). The review discusses the potential future uses of photomicrobial fuel cells as complete recycling machines with advantages over all other biological recycling systems and these include rapid re-cycling rates, production of water, removal of carbon dioxide, evolution of oxygen, and the generation (rather than utilisation) of electrical power.