Blue energy meets green energy in microbial reverse electrodialysis cells: Recent advancements and prospective

A microbial reverse-electrodialysis (MREC) cell uses the exchange of ions between two solutions with varying salinities to produce electricity. It functions by using microorganisms to generate an ion flow that powers an electrical current through an ion-selective membrane. The low voltage generated by the MFC, for example, can be improved by the reverse electrodialysis (RED) stack due to the salinity-driven potential. Microbes are employed to produce energy and other important compounds like hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, etc. in this hybrid RED/microbial fuel cell. Similar to RED, the method works by creating an electrical potential by combining two solutions with varying salinities. MRE leverages the metabolic activity of microorganisms to generate ions and contributes to the electrical current, as opposed to only depending on ion diffusion to generate the electrical potential. With MRE cells, energy can be produced from a variety of feedstocks, such as wastewater and river or tidal water. The creation of hybrid processes, the modification of operating conditions, and the manufacture of MREC components (such as membranes and separators) have all seen notable advancements to date. Due to our heavy reliance on fossil fuels and the need for an energy source for the next generation, MREC is necessary. MREC can be used in a variety of ways and can accomplish two tasks at once. The recent progress and outlook of such a system, as well as its ability to scale up and be economically viable for sustainable development, were highlighted in the current assessment. It makes sense to develop flexible MREC application strategies. The present review is the first attempt towards recent advancement and perspective of such system with addressing the scalability issues and techno-economic feasibility for sustainable development.