From waste to resource: engineering microbial electrochemical technologies for a sustainable water-energy nexus

Résumé

The water sector faces an urgent mandate to shift from energy-intensive wastewater treatment toward decentralized, resource-recovering systems that address the global water-energy nexus. Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (METs) have emerged as a transformative engineered solution capable of simultaneously remediating complex pollutant streams while recovering high-value energy carriers. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the state-of-the-art in METs, explicitly bridging the interface of biochemistry and molecular-scale nanochemistry. We synthesize fundamental extracellular electron transfer (EET) kinetics with recent breakthroughs in green-synthesized nanomaterials, quantum dots, and advanced nanostructured electrode architectures (including carbon nanotubes and 3D graphene composites) engineered to accelerate electrocatalytic remediation. By critically evaluating performance indicators, such as power density, Coulombic efficiency, and nanomaterial-driven pollutant degradation kinetics, this work assesses the feasibility of integrating nano-enhanced METs with existing infrastructure like anaerobic digestion. Furthermore, we address critical barriers to industrial-scale deployment, specifically evaluating the environmental fate, safety risks, and regulatory frameworks governing nanomaterial usage in water reuse. To bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and societal impact, we highlight the pivotal role of “Industry 4.0” tools, including artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twins, in optimizing real-time reactor performance. This review concludes by outlining a strategic roadmap that aligns nano-engineered METs with circular bioeconomy principles, offering a sustainable blueprint for global climate adaptation and resilient water governance.

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