Impact factors and novel strategies for improving biohydrogen production in microbial electrolysis cells

Dongle Cheng; Huu Hao Ngo; Wenshan Guo; Soon Woong Chang; Dinh Duc Nguyen; Shicheng Zhang; Shihai Deng; Ding An; Ngoc Bich Hoang

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126588

Impact factors and novel strategies for improving biohydrogen production in microbial electrolysis cells

Bioresour Technol. 2022 Feb:346:126588. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126588. Epub 2021 Dec 18.

Authors

Dongle Cheng¹, Huu Hao Ngo², Wenshan Guo¹, Soon Woong Chang³, Dinh Duc Nguyen³, Shicheng Zhang⁴, Shihai Deng⁵, Ding An⁶, Ngoc Bich Hoang⁷

Affiliations

¹ Center for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
² Center for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia; Institute of Environmental Sciences, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Electronic address: ngohuuhao121@gmail.com.
³ Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, 442-760, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
⁵ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China.
⁶ School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Nangang District, Harbin, 150090, China.
⁷ Institute of Environmental Sciences, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

PMID: 34929329
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126588

Abstract

Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) system is an environmentally friendly method for clean biohydrogen production from a wide range of biowastes owing to low greenhouse gas emissions. This approach has relatively higher yields and lower energy costs for biohydrogen production compared to conventional biological technologies and direct water electrolysis, respectively. However, biohydrogen production efficiency and operating costs of MEC still need further optimization to realize its large-scale application.This paper provides a unique review of impact factors influencing biohydrogen production in MECs, such as microorganisms and electrodes. Novel strategies, including inhibition of methanogens, development of novel cathode catalyst, advanced reactor design and integrated systems, to enhance low-cost biohydrogen production, are discussed based on recent publications in terms of their opportunities, bottlenecks and future directions. In addition, the current challenges, and effective future perspectives towards the practical application of MECs are described in this review.

Keywords: Biohydrogen; Biowastes; Influencing factors; Microbial electrolysis cells; Novel strategy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Catalysis
Electrodes
Electrolysis
Hydrogen

Substances

Hydrogen