Membrane-based electrochemical technologies: II. Microbial desalination cell

Rapid population growth and economic development, globally, have intensified the need for water reclamation to conserve and extend water supplies, especially in arid and semiarid regions. Microbial desalination cell (MDC), as an emerging electrochemical membrane technology that generates electricity through the bioelectrochemical oxidation of organics in wastewater, offers simultaneous wastewater treatment, electricity generation, and desalination with low energy consumption and high performance. In this review, we discuss the MDC fundamental principle, electroactive microorganisms, electrode materials, recently developed configurations, and optimized operational conditions that improve MDC performance. This review also acknowledges the emerging applications of MDC for municipal/industrial wastewater, seawater/brackish water desalination, water softening, heavy metal removal, chemical production, and resources recovery. The review further identifies the potential for integration of MDC with existing desalination technologies such as reverse osmosis and forward osmosis. Finally, the practical needs, technological barriers, and research priorities in both material development and process design for the promotion of MDC in practical application are discussed.