Microorganisms and Microbial Communities in Bioelectrochemical Systems for Wastewater Bioremediation and Energy Generation

Abstract

Water resource sustainability is a critical global concern, leading to extensive scientific research. Proposed alternatives for wastewater effluent use include the promising Bioelectrochemical Systems (BES) that not only treat wastewater effectively but also generate electricity, produce biofuels, and synthesize valuable compounds through integrated microbial and electrochemical processes. BES research aims to enhance device design and develop superior electrochemical materials for optimal performance. The efficiency of treatment and energy co-generation depends on the metabolic characteristics of microbial communities responsible for oxidation-reduction processes in wastewater. The diversity of these communities, along with electron transport mechanisms and metabolic pathways, significantly impacts BES functionality and effectiveness. This study focuses on microorganisms in various BES setups, presenting their electrochemical performance. It compiles data on microbial ecology, emphasizing controlled communities and model microorganisms from wastewater treatment systems. The study highlights the scarce research on native microbial communities for agroindustrial wastewater. Its main goal is to consolidate information on microorganisms with electrogenic capacity, demonstrating their potential in different bioelectrochemical systems. These applications can transform wastewater bioremediation and enable the production of green energy, biofuels, and high-value compounds.