Microbial Fuel Cells for Sustainable Biofuel Production: Cutting-edge Technology

As of 2023, coal, oil, and natural gas, which are non-renewable fossil fuels, account for about 80% of the world’s energy consumption. This underscores the pressing necessity for alternative energy sources in light of the worsening climate crisis. Apart from the problems, this review evaluates the potential of microbial fuel cells for biofuel production, which contributes to just 10–20% of the total energy consumption due to its relatively low environmental impact. The aim of this systematic review is to elucidate microbial fuel cells and their role in producing a range of bio-based fuels, including biogas, biodiesel, bioethanol, and biobutanol. The findings are categorized into ten main areas: biomass conversion techniques, substrates and microbial strains, design components of microbial fuel cells, strain improvement through metabolic engineering, enhancements of nanomaterials for biofuel production, advantages and disadvantages of biofuels, integration in biorefineries, potential applications, the challenges and limitations, and future trends in microbial fuel cell technology. This review also underscores the promise of microbial fuel cells as a sustainable and eco-friendly option for bioenergy production, emphasizing the need for advancements in design and efficiency to compete with conventional fossil fuels. Harnessing innovative strategies pertaining to the technology of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can potentially transform energy generation into a more sustainable and commercially viable practice, positively impacting environmental conservation and public health.