In Situ Bioremediation Using Sediment Microbial Fuel Cell

Contamination of water and sediment in water bodies is caused by the runoff from agriculture fields, and release of untreated/partially treated domestic and industrial wastewaters. Polluted water can affect the health of humans and aquatic organisms, and nutrient discharge can lead to algal blooms. A sustainable solution is required to treat these pollutants to protect future populations from environmental hazards. Sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) is a new technology that has the potential to remediate sediment and water from sluggish water bodies and ponds, and generate some electricity as a byproduct. This critical review discusses types of SMFCs, factors affecting performance of the SMFCs, its capability to offer in situ treatment of sediment and wastewater, and challenges to overcome to make this technology efficient for remediating water quality and harvesting electricity. (C) 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.