A Critical Review on the Advancement of the Development of Low-Cost Membranes to Be Utilized in Microbial Fuel Cells

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells provide a promising solution for both generating electricity and treating wastewater at the same time. This review evaluated the effectiveness of using readily available earthen membranes, such as clayware and ceramics, in MFC systems. By conducting a comprehensive search of the Scopus database from 2015 to 2024, the study analyzed the performance of various earthen membranes, particularly in terms of wastewater treatment and energy production. Ceramic membranes were found to be the most effective, exhibiting superior power density, COD removal, and current density, with values of 229.12 ± 18.5 mW/m2, 98.41%, and 1535.0 ± 29 mW/m2, respectively. The review emphasizes the use of affordable resources like red soil, bentonite clay, CHI/MMT nanocomposites, and Kalporgan soil, which have proven to be effective in MFC applications. Incorporating earthen materials into the membrane construction of MFCs makes them more cost-effective and accessible.