Research Information System
Biomass and Bioenergy, vol.208, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are platforms that exploit microorganisms as biocatalysts to produce renewable and sustainable energy. MFC technology offers advantages due to the absence of noise pollution and higher efficiency. The most common use of MFC technology is wastewater treatment, and it also provides high performance in different areas of applications, including biosensors, production of value-added biochemicals, and bioremediation. However, high investment and operational costs, large-scale mass production, and limitations in scaling are the main constraints that must be overcome in MFCs. Although the research on this topic started almost 20 years ago, most studies have focused on laboratory-scale MFCs, and the number of studies carried out on pilot and industrial scales is still rare. In this review, scale-up strategies for MFC technology, bottlenecks encountered in the transition to full scale, and suggestions for overcoming these constraints are summarized. The commercialization potential of MFCs is examined, along with recent publications and patents on this topic. The sustainability of MFC technology is discussed considering its life cycle analysis and environmental impacts, and its promise for the future is emphasized.