Graphical abstract Currently, hundreds of different nanomaterials with a broad application in products that make daily lives a little bit easier, in every aspect, are being produced on an industrial scale at thousands of tons per year. However, several scientists, researchers, politics, and ordinary citizens have stated their concern regarding the life cycle, collateral effects, and final disposal of these cutting-edge materials. This review summarizes, describes, and discusses all manuscripts published in the Journal Citation Reports during the last 10 years, which studied the toxicity or the effects of nanomaterials on human and environmental health. It was observed that 23.62% of the manuscripts analyzed found no ecological or human risks; 54.39% showed that several nanomaterials have toxicological effects on the ecosystems, human, or environmental health. In comparison, only 21.97% stated the nanomaterials had a beneficial impact on those. Although only 54.39% of the manuscripts reported unfavorable effects of nanomaterials on ecosystems, human, or environmental health, it is relevant because the potential damage is invaluable. Therefore, it is imperative to make toxicological studies of nanomaterials with holistic focus under strictly controlled real conditions before their commercialization, to deliver to the market only innocuous and environmentally friendly products.

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A bioanode based on functionalized ordered mesoporous carbon (f-OMC) as a catalyst and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) as a biofilm for the bioelectrochemical oxidation of organic matter was evaluated for energy generation from pharmaceutical residual water (PRW). The performance of f-OMF was compared to those of nonfunctionalized and functionalized Vulcan XC-72 (C and f-C) and graphite flakes (GF and f-GF), respectively, as well as nonfunctionalized ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC). f-OMC, OMC, f-C and C showed higher biocompatibility with B. subtilis than f-GF and GF. In the dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC), the anode and cathode compartments contained N 2 -saturated PRW and O 2 -saturated KOH (both electrolytes with pH = 9.6), respectively, separated by a Nafion membrane. The cathode was fabricated using Pt/C as the catalyst. Significantly higher performance was obtained from f-OMC + B. subtilis. The cell open circuit voltage was 0.62 V, with maximum j and power density (P cell ) of 854 mA m −2 and 105 mW m −2 , respectively. These values were respectively 2.6, 4.7 and 19 times higher than those obtained from a bioanode composed of Pt/C + B. subtilis.

Ordered Mesoporous Carbon (OMC) was evaluated as anode catalyst in a MFC. Bacilus subtilis (B. subtilis) was the microorganism, while the electrolyte was Pharmaceutical Residual Water (PRW). In a dual chamber MFC, the anode and cathode compartments contained N2-saturated PRW and O2-saturated KOH (both electrolytes with pH=9.6), respectively, separated by a Nafion® membrane. The anode catalysts on gas diffusion electrodes in the MFC were: methanol-functionalized OMC, nonfunctionalized OMC, methanol-functionalized Vulcan XC-72 and commercial Pt/C, all covered by a biofilm of B. subtilis. Meanwhile, the cathode catalyst was Pt/C. Significantly higher catalytic activity was obtained from functionalized OMC + B. Subtilis in the MFC. The Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) was 0.58 V, with a maximum current density (jcell) of 854 mA m -2 . These values were 2.6 and 4.7 times higher than those from Pt/C. The results showed that methanol-functionalized OMC is a metal-free catalyst with high performance for MFCs.