Optimizing total ammonia–nitrogen concentration for enhanced microbial fuel cell performance in landfill leachate treatment: a bibliometric analysis and future directions

Abstract

Untreated landfill leachate can harm the environment and human health due to its organic debris, heavy metals, and nitrogen molecules like ammonia. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged as a promising technology for treating landfill leachate and generating energy. However, high concentrations of total ammonia–nitrogen (TAN), which includes both ammonia and the ammonium ion, can impede MFC performance. Therefore, maintaining an adequate TAN concentration is crucial, as both excess and insufficient levels can reduce power generation. To evaluate the worldwide research on MFCs using landfill leachate as a substrate, bibliometric analysis was conducted to assess publication output, author-country co-authorship, and author keyword co-occurrence. Scopus and Web of Science retrieved 98 journal articles on this topic during 2011–2022; 18 were specifically evaluated and analysed for MFC ammonia inhibition. The results showed that research on MFC using landfill leachate as a substrate began in 2011, and the number of related papers has consistently increased every 2 years, totaling 4060 references. China, India, and the USA accounted for approximately 60% of all global publications, while the remaining 40% was contributed by 70 other countries/territories. Chongqing University emerged as one of the top contributors among this subject’s ten most productive universities. Most studies found that maintaining TAN concentrations in the 400–800 mg L−1 in MFC operation produced good power density, pollution elimination, and microbial acclimatization. However, the database has few articles on MFC and landfill leachate; MFC ammonia inhibition remains the main factor impacting system performance. This bibliographic analysis provides excellent references and future research directions, highlighting the current limitations of MFC research in this area.

Utilization of microbial fuel cells as a dual approach for landfill leachate treatment and power production: a review

“…Biodegradability was increased, and the BOD 5 / COD ratio was balanced in landfill leachate treatment by mixing residential wastewater with leachate wastewater before treatment. (Mojiri et al 2016;Zhang et al 2020;Ishaq et al 2023). Bio-electrochemical systems (BES) have recently gained a lot of attention because they allow microorganisms to be used as promotional agents or catalysts in the conversion of the chemical energy of the electron donors into electricity, bypassing the disadvantages of most of the other approaches (Ishaq et al 2023).…”

“…Landfill leachate is formed when sanitary landfills are utilised to dispose of solid waste from urban areas (Abu-Daabes et al 2013 ; Ishaq et al 2023 ). Leachate is created by chemical and biological interactions of solid rubbish in landfills, as stated by Abu-Daabes et al ( 2013 ).…”

“…MFC can overcome current technologies’ limitations due to its inexpensive design and construction. For its potential environmental friendliness, MFC is being researched to clean up landfill leachate (Gálvez et al 2009 ; Ishaq et al 2023 ). MFCs employ microorganisms that clean wastewater while converting organic resources into energy, which might reduce the cost of running an effluent treatment plant (Lu et al 2009 ).…”

“…Cost-effective, low-maintenance, powered solely by air, etc. Chemical energy from a wide range of organics (found in landfill leachate) is converted directly into electrical energy by exoelectrogenic bacteria in MFCs (Özkaya et al 2013 ; Sebastià Puig et al 2011 ; Ishaq et al 2023 ). MFCs may be utilised to generate power and treat many forms of wastewater (Logan 2010 ).…”

“…(Mojiri et al 2016 ; Zhang et al 2020 ; Ishaq et al 2023 ). Bio-electrochemical systems (BES) have recently gained a lot of attention because they allow microorganisms to be used as promotional agents or catalysts in the conversion of the chemical energy of the electron donors into electricity, bypassing the disadvantages of most of the other approaches (Ishaq et al 2023 ).…”