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6215953 
Book/Book Chapter 
Chapter 17 - Wastewater Biorefinery Based on the Microbial Electrolysis Cell: Opportunities and Challenges 
Aburiazaiza, AS; Nizami, AS; Rehan, M; Waqas, M 
2018 
Elsevier 
Progress and Recent Trends in Microbial Fuel Cells 
347-374 
The microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is a novel method of hydrogen (H2) production through the process of electrohydrogenesis. In MEC systems, various parameters affect H2 production such as electrodes, system membranes, gas collection, and tubing systems. There are different designs of MEC systems such as single-chambered and double-chambered MEC systems for H2 production. Factors affecting the performance of MEC systems include medium pH, electrodes material, temperature, electrodes surface area, catalyst type and loading, and solution conductivity. There exist several limitations in the commercial applications of MEC systems, including energy losses due to overpotential resistance and ohmic losses, methanogenesis that reduce H2 production by converting H2 to methane (CH4), and the high cost of reactor design and electrode materials. The potential solutions could be designing a reactor with novel and cost-effective chemical or biological cathodes for minimizing the overpotential and internal resistance, exposure of anode biofilm and anolyte in MEC systems for inhibiting methanogens, and the selection of biochemically active microbes with high electroactivity and efficiencies of electron capture yield and electron transfer rate to the electrode. 
Fuel; Biorefinery; Hydrogen; Microbial electrolysis cell; Wastewater; Waste to energy 
Kundu, Patit P.