Bio-Electrochemical System Depollution Capabilities and Monitoring Applications: Models, Applicability, Advanced Bio-Based Concept for Predicting Pollutant Degradation and Microbial Growth Kinetics via Gene Regulation Modelling

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are an emerging technology for waste, wastewater and polluted soil treatment. In this manuscript, pollutants that can be treated using MFC systems producing energy are presented. Furthermore, the applicability of MFC in environmental monitoring is described. Common microbial species used, release of genome sequences, and gene regulation mechanisms, are discussed. However, although scaling-up is the key to improving MFC systems, it is still a difficult challenge. Mathematical models for MFCs are used for their design, control and optimization. Such models representing the system are presented here. In such comprehensive models, microbial growth kinetic approaches are essential to designing and predicting a biosystem. The empirical and unstructured Monod and Monod-type models, which are traditionally used, are also described here. Understanding and modelling of the gene regulatory network could be a solution for enhancing knowledge and designing more efficient MFC processes, useful for scaling it up. An advanced bio-based modelling concept connecting gene regulation modelling of specific metabolic pathways to microbial growth kinetic models is presented here; it enables a more accurate prediction and estimation of substrate biodegradation, microbial growth kinetics, and necessary gene and enzyme expression. The gene and enzyme expression prediction can also be used in synthetic and systems biology for process optimization. Moreover, various MFC applications as a bioreactor and bioremediator, and in soil pollutant removal and monitoring, are explored.

Electroactive Bacteria in Natural Ecosystems and Their Applications in Microbial Fuel Cells for Bioremediation: A Review

“…Some authors [ 83 ] have recently reviewed some mathematical models able to predict microbial growth and substrate biodegradation for optimizing and controlling bioprocesses and MFC design. The possibility of modelling the bacterial gene regulatory network could be a good approach for improving knowledge on electroactive bacteria, and it may be a starting point for designing more efficient MFCs and are essential for their scaling up.…”

Nanofiber applications in microbial fuel cells for enhanced energy generation: a mini review

“…The utilization of biomass, particularly organic waste, is considered an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to energy production, making it a valuable alternative source of renewable energy. 1 Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have gained increasing attention as promising bio-electrochemical systems that can convert chemical energy stored in organic compounds, such as acetate, sugars, nitrate, and ethanol, 2,3 into electricity through the metabolic activity of microorganisms. 4,5 MFCs offer numerous advantages over conventional fuel cells, including negating the need for expensive or exotic catalysts, such as platinum, and generating electricity from renewable sources of organic matter, including waste streams.…”

Electricity generation and real oily wastewater treatment by Pseudomonas citronellolis 620C in a microbial fuel cell: pyocyanin production as electron shuttle

“…In the last 3 decades, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have been extensively investigated as competitive alternatives to overcome the limitations of conventional remediation technologies [ 10 , 11 ]. The huge advantage of MFCs compared with traditional physical, chemical, or even biological remediation methods lies in the use of electrodes as non-exhaustible electron acceptors/donors, for pollutant biodegradation.…”