Regulation and augmentation of anaerobic digestion processes via the use of bioelectrochemical systems

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a biological process that can be used to treat a wide range of carbon-rich wastes and produce renewable, green energy. To maximize energy recovery from various resources while controlling inhibitory chemicals, notwithstanding AD's efficiency, many limitations must be addressed. As a result, bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have emerged as a hybrid technology, extensively studied to remediate AD inhibitory chemicals, increase AD operating efficacy, and make the process economically viable via integration approaches. Biogas and residual intermediatory metabolites such as volatile fatty acids are upgraded to value-added chemicals and fuels with the help of the BES as a pre-treatment step, within AD or after the AD process. It may also be used directly to generate power. To overcome the constraints of AD in lab-scale applications, this article summarizes BES technology and operations and endorses ways to scale up BES-AD systems in the future.