Electricity-stimulated anaerobic system (ESAS) for enhanced energy recovery and pollutant removal: A critical review

The anaerobic technology plays a fundamental role in both energy recovery and pollutant removal from wastes. However, it usually suffers from several bottlenecks, such as low reaction rates and poor system stability. To compensate for these limitations, the use of electrical stimulation to promote the anaerobic process, named as electricity-stimulated anaerobic system (ESAS), has been recently proposed. It has been demonstrated that the ESAS can improve energy recovery and pollutant removal substantially, through the regulation of metabolic pathways and electron transfer process by electrical stimulation. This paper comprehensively reviews the research progress of ESASs, covering the application of this system for energy recovery and pollutant removal, the possible enhancement mechanisms in the view of electron transfer process, response of microorganisms under electrical stimulation, as well as the strategies to manipulate such systems. Perspectives on future trends in the development of ESASs are also discussed. It is expected that the review will attract more attention to this promising technology and contribute to its further development.

Automated summary

The use of electrical stimulation in Anaerobic technology shows promise in improving energy recovery and pollutant removal. The ESAS can regulate metabolic pathways and electron transfer processes, leading to enhanced performance in waste treatment. This paper reviews the application and mechanisms of ESAS, providing insights for future development in this field.