Osmotic microbial fuel cell for sustainable wastewater treatment along with desalination, bio-energy and resource recovery: A critical review

Osmotic microbial fuel cell (OsMFC) devises the synergy between microbial fuel cell (MFC) and forward osmosis (FO) and exhibits the combined advantages of MFC and FO. Its suitability to attain desalination (salt removal, 28–35 %), resource recovery (water flux, 1–13 LMH), and power production (power density, 12–29 W/m3), along with wastewater treatment (COD removal, 63–95 %) render the technology promising. However, various phenomena namely concentration polarization, membrane fouling, reverse solute flux, etc., limit the performance and scaled-up applications of OsMFC. Extensive research on the selection of materials and optimum operating conditions for OsMFC are required. In this review, the working principle and components of OsMFC along with its applications are addressed in detail. The paper elucidates the critical challenges and potential solutions, and provides enthralling insights for its sustainable development. [Display omitted] •Osmotic microbial fuel cells integrate forward osmosis into microbial fuel cells.•Desalination, wastewater treatment, water and energy recovery are achieved.•Critically elucidates the functional principle, components and applications.•Performance comparison of OsMFC with other techniques is presented.•Challenges and its potential solutions, and future scope are put forward.