Applications of bioelectroactive fuel cells in wastewater treatment, metal removal and recovery

Wastewater treatment and reduction of metal pollutants are potent applications of bioelectroactive fuel cells (BFC) to reduce waste and reuse otherwise unavailable resources. This method is considered to be much simpler and faster compared with the conventional wastewater treatment in treatment plants which requires a rigorous physical, chemical, and biological process. BFC-assisted treatment has been shown to treat a wide variety of wastewater and recover valuable resources whilst simultaneously producing bioelectricity. The present chapter highlights the use of the bioelectroactive systems in treating wastewater from different sources and theelectrochemical reduction of metals and nonmetals in bioelectrochemical systems (BES). The efficiency and recovery of energy from these wastes in BES are briefly discussed.