Microbial fuel cells for biosensor applications

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) face major hurdles for real-world applications as power generators with the exception of powering small sensor devices. Despite tremendous improvements made in the last two decades, MFCs are still too expensive to build and operate and their power output is still too smal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biotechnology letters 2015-12, Vol.37 (12), p.2357-2364
Main Authors: Yang, Huijia, Zhou, Minghua, Liu, Mengmeng, Yang, Weilu, Gu, Tingyue
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
application
Applied Microbiology
Biochemical fuel cells
Biochemical oxygen demand
Biochemistry
Bioelectric Energy Sources
biofilm
Biofilms
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Bioremediation
Biosensing Techniques - methods
Biosensors
Biotechnology
Biotechnology - methods
Construction
Desalination
Fuel cells
Fuel technology
Generators
generators (equipment)
Life Sciences
Microbial activity
microbial detection
microbial fuel cells
Microbiology
Microorganisms
Monitoring
Review
sediments
Sensors
toxic substances
Toxicants
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Summary:Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) face major hurdles for real-world applications as power generators with the exception of powering small sensor devices. Despite tremendous improvements made in the last two decades, MFCs are still too expensive to build and operate and their power output is still too small. In view of this, in recently years, intensive researches have been carried out to expand the applications into other areas such as acid and alkali production, bioremediation of aquatic sediments, desalination and biosensors. Unlike power applications, MFC sensors have the immediate prospect to be practical. This review covers the latest developments in various proposed biosensor applications using MFCs including monitoring microbial activity, testing biochemical oxygen demand, detection of toxicants and detection of microbial biofilms that cause biocorrosion.
ISSN:0141-5492
1573-6776
DOI:10.1007/s10529-015-1929-7