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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Energy Res.
Sec. Bioenergy and Biofuels
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fenrg.2024.1448730
This article is part of the Research Topic Advances in Biofuel Production from Utilization of Biomass Resources for Sustainable Bioenergy View all articles

Assessing the current situation of constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells for alternative power generation and wastewater treatment in developing countries

Provisionally accepted
Damien G. Jacobs Damien G. Jacobs Leonard O. Kachienga Leonard O. Kachienga *Mpumelelo C. Rikhotso Mpumelelo C. Rikhotso Akebe L. Abia Akebe L. Abia Afsatou N. Traore Afsatou N. Traore Natasha Potgieter Natasha Potgieter
  • University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Developing countries facing population growth and increased energy demand present simultaneous challenges regarding wastewater treatment and electricity supply. Constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells (CW-MFCs) offer a dual solution to the challenges of insufficient electricity and wastewater treatment by integrating indigenous plant species. CW-MFCs provide sustainable power generation and wastewater treatment. This approach can enhance sustainability and foster a circular economy by utilising plant-derived byproducts as an added product. Current research indicates various novel designs for effective wastewater treatment and potential power generation. Future studies focusing on rural settings and upscaling operations can apply advanced techniques like mass spectrophotometry and metagenomics to refine the technology for grid use. Developing CW-MFC technology will catapult the idea of developing a robust strategy for addressing power supply and sanitation issues in developing regions. This will also aid in continuous research into system optimisation and microbial communities, aiding long-term viability.

    Keywords: wastewater treatment, Constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell, Power generation, Developing Countries, effectiveness

    Received: 13 Jun 2024; Accepted: 31 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Jacobs, Kachienga, Rikhotso, Abia, Traore and Potgieter. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Leonard O. Kachienga, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, 0950, Limpopo, South Africa

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