Overview of value-added products bioelectrosynthesized from waste materials in microbial electrosynthesis systems

Microbial electrosynthesis systems (MESs) as a sustainable platform hold great potential for energy and resource recovery in waste/wastewater treatment. They can convert waste materials into a variety of value-added products with an electrochemical driving force and microbial catalysis. In order to comprehensively understand the use of MESs in bioelectrosynthesis and to promote their future application, this review addresses the fundamental aspects and recent accomplishments. It includes the mechanisms involved in the bioelectrosynthesis of value-added products in MES, the key advances in MES with waste materials as substrates (such as wastewater, solid waste and waste gas), the critical factors that affect MES performance, as well as current challenges and perspectives for future practical applications of MESs. The review provides a thorough understanding of value-added products bioelectrosynthesis, which is needed for the scale-up and application of MES in a sustainable combination of energy recovery and waste/wastewater treatment. •The mechanisms of value-added products bioelectrosynthesized in MES are reviewed.•Key advances in bioelectrosynthesis from wastewater/waste/CO2 are examined.•The main factors affecting bioelectrosynthesis from waste materials are analyzed.•Challenges and perspectives are put forward for future MES applications.