Biodiversity in microbial fuel cells: Review of a promising technology for wastewater treatment

Microbial variety has many functions, and most bacteria can be employed as a biocatalyst in a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC). MFC is an anaerobic bioreactor that transfers chemical energy in organic compound chemical bonds to electrical energy through catalytic reactions of microorganisms. Various microorganisms in the form of a community or consortium have a higher ability to transfer electrons to the anode and increase the degradation of the organic compound than pure cultures. Scientists have known that bacteria may produce electricity by breaking down organic substrates for years. Today, the presence of the energy crisis and batik industry has reignited interest in MFCs among university academics as a technique to convert biomass to hydrogen without releasing net carbon into the atmosphere. Batik wastewater can be used as a substrate for MFC to generate renewable energy (electricity) and bioremediation of chromium. This study reviews a diverse community of bacteria in microbial fuel cells, which may be used to remediate industrial effluent. •Bacteria can be employed as a biocatalyst in a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC).•The energy crisis has reignited interest in MFCs as a technique to convert biomass to hydrogen.•The batik wastewater as biomass in MFC can be employed to generate electricity.•Microbial consortium transfers more electrons to the anode degrade the organic compound efficiently than pure cultures.