Abstract:

Water pollution and energy crisis are becoming increasingly severe, derived from rapid global industrialization. As a new type of bioelectrochemical process, microbial fuel cell (MFC) can generate electricity through degrading organic matter, which is endowed with attractive superiorities in terms of cleanliness, energy saving and economy. Therefore, many researchers have attached extensive attention on this hotspot. This article firstly introduces the working principle and electron transfer mechanism of MFC, as well as analyzes the key factors affecting its performance (i.e. anode material, cathode material, microbial inoculation, reactor configuration and system operating parameters). Secondly, the investigations of MFC in wastewater treatment in recent years are critically reviewed, especially domestic wastewater, agricultural wastewater and industrial wastewater. Then, the various coupling applications of MFC with other technologies are expatiated, including electro-Fenton, photocatalysis, constructed wetland system and microbial electrolytic cell. Finally, we point out the problems confronted by MFC at present, and propose feasible survey directions for its prospects with comprehensive consideration, especially, thorough investigation of mechanisms, optimization of inoculated microbial populations, improvement of materials and configurations, promotion of inflow modes and operating parameters, as well as development of new hybrid systems coupling with other technologies.

Key words: microbial fuel cell, wastewater treatment, technical principles, influencing factors, technical coupling, electrochemistry

摘要：

随着全球工业化进程加快，水污染和能源短缺问题日益严重。微生物燃料电池（MFC）作为一种新型微生物电化学工艺，可以在降解有机物的同时产电，具有清洁、节能、经济等优势，引起人们的广泛关注，成为水处理领域的研究前沿。本文首先介绍了MFC原理和电子传递机制，分析影响其处理性能的关键因素（阳极材料、阴极材料、接种微生物、反应器构型和系统运行参数）；然后回顾了近年来MFC在废水（生活废水、农业废水和工业废水）处理领域的应用，并拓展性地阐述了MFC与其他技术（电芬顿、光催化、人工湿地系统和微生物电解池）的耦合应用；最后指出MFC存在的问题，并提出未来可行的发展方向，包括深度挖掘机理、优化接种微生物种群、改进装置材料与构型、改善进水模式与运行参数和研究新的耦合系统等。

关键词: 微生物燃料电池, 废水处理, 技术原理, 影响因素, 技术耦合, 电化学