Microbial Fuel Cells for the Bioelectricity Generation from Effluents Containing Pharmaceutically Active Compounds

Extraction of the energy from chemical compounds present in the content of the wastewaters has been considered an interesting idea to address issues such as the scarcity of clean water resources and the ongoing need for renewable energies. In this regard, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have been rapidly developed in recent years to generate electrical energy from organic and inorganic pollutants by the activity of specific microbial strains. There are reports of the applicability of this technology to deal with a wide range of organic compounds. However, the presence of some specific compounds can interrupt the performance and failure of such systems. This chapter has aimed to explore the potential of MFCs for the treatment of effluents containing pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and the possible effects of such compounds on the microbial communities in MFCs. The opportunities for further improvements of such systems and the research hotspot have also been discussed, and recommendations have been provided for future studies to push commercialization of such technologies.