Microbial Synergistic Interactions in Mixed Cultures for Improved and Sustainable Power Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells: A Review

Nonrenewable energy sources dominate global energy production, but their depletion and environmental impact pose serious challenges. The need for alternative and eco-friendly energy sources is increasingly evident. In this regard, utilizing knowledge gained from natural microorganisms to generate bioelectricity is a promising solution via microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Microbial fuel cells are an environmentally friendly technology that generates power from diverse organic substrates through the ‘catalytic’ activity of microorganisms. Although, MFCs still generate relatively low power, various scale-up studies have shown noticeable improvements in power output. Among the available strategies, mixed-culture systems are the simplest, sustainable, and direct way to improve bioelectricity production. However, the mixed culture microbial synergistic interactions and competition that drive power generation remain poorly understood. To address this, the objective of this review is to assess how synergistic interactions and metabolic networks within mixed microbial cultures enhance bioelectricity generation in microbial fuel cells. This review also explores the mixed-culture microbial fuel cell system as a promising renewable technology with potential applications in sustainable energy production.