ABSTRACT
The energy needs of the world have skyrocketed dramatically over the last two centuries and there is an urge to shift from non-renewable fossil fuels to renewable, sustainable, clean energy forms because of the rapid global warming and climate change [1]. A recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) reveals that the energy produced from biofuels and waste have the highest potential among other sustainable energy forms [2]. Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have substantially advanced over the past decade for their contribution as an emerging sustainable technology [3]. Their applications include waste remediation, bioelectricity generation (microbial fuel cells), hydrogen production (microbial electrolysis cells), and bioelectrosynthesis of various valuable by-products (microbial electrosynthesis cells) [4–6]. Microbial fuel cells exploit the microbial interaction with solid electron acceptors/donors to convert organic compounds into electricity [7]. However, the low efficiency is a great challenge for MFC development, and it is recognized that it will be beneficial to couple MFCs with other technologies to improve the efficiency [8]. In this regard, photosynthetic microbial fuel cell technology (PMFC) is a newly developing technology that utilizes solar energy to produce electricity [9]. The solar energy is the primary source of energy for life on earth. This energy is inserted into the biosphere through photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a physico-chemical process by which plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert solar energy into chemical energy from organic matter [10]. Integrating phototrophic microorganisms into MFCshas occurred in the past ten years with increasing interest in MFC technology, and there has been active research in microbiology and system development [11]. Biomass of phototrophic organisms can serve as a substrate to feed bacteria at the anode [12], assist the anode to consume and extract electrons from organic compounds [13], and assist the cathode by providing oxygen and remove nutrients from pre-treated wastewater [14]. This chapter will discuss in detail the application of microalgae and photosynthetic bacteria in MFC systems and their influence on system performance.
