Circular Economy and Me – Issue 18
Bioelectrochemical Systems: Converting Waste to Value by Mohammad Danish Khan
Imagine a world where waste is turned into a resource that does not pollute our environment but sustains a circular economy. Specifically, I mean now that waste can be converted into valuable resources, including chemical/fuels or electricity, with the help of microorganisms through bioelectrochemical systems (BES), which is a driving force of this transition, aligning perfectly with the principles of the circular economy.
1.1. Turning Waste into Energy: A Game-Changing Innovation
BES has the capacity to convert organic wastes into chemicals/fuels and energy. Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) (Fig. 1.1) are where bacteria break down wastewater and produce electricity simultaneously. It is a win-win situation, enhancing the electrical output while cleaning the environment. This revolutionary approach can potentially change the game in wastewater management, energy production, and even sustainable agriculture. But that is not all there is. For instance, how about using wastewater as a means to power factories or sewage to supply power to homes? BES is making it possible.
1.2. CO₂ as a Resource, not a Pollutant
The world’s attention is changing towards carbon neutrality, and BESs are stepping up. One of the most exciting applications of BES (Microbial Electrosynthesis (MES)) (Fig. 1.2) is transforming CO₂, the principal greenhouse gas responsible for warming the planet, into valuable chemicals/fuels. Instead of allowing CO₂ to continue damaging the planet, MES technology makes use of it to produce greener chemicals/fuels, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and global emissions. This process perfectly illustrates how global problems can be addressed by tackling local issues, such as the emission of toxic substances and their transformation into clean products.
2. Circular Economy in Action: Closing the Loop
Imagine a system where all materials are either fully recycled or reused. Indeed, this is the very aim of the circular economy, and BES is at its heart. The waste management process not only manages waste but also transforms it. Such systems in the chemical industry close the loop by making waste a resource and separating the linear model of take-make-dispose. By creating energy and chemicals from waste products, we eliminate waste and transform it into value.
3. Powering the Future with BES: A Clean, Circular Chemical Economy
The future is BES, and it will be electrifying. Imagine factories running on CO₂ captured from the atmosphere or wastewater treatment plants that do not just purify water but generate clean power. This innovative technique could be a game changer in carbon management across the stays by converting carbon emissions into carbon feedstocks and waste into a bundle of economically feasible products.
In the face of these changes, BESs and their respective processes will be at the forefront of this evolution in industries and their approaches towards the circular economy. The future is not only about environmental sustainability; it is about having an economy where everything can be reused and waste is considered valuable.
4. A Bright Future: The BES Revolution
BESs are indeed changing the way we conceptualize waste or resources altogether. They mean a clean, green, and circular future where technology, biology, and chemistry come together to achieve a world of endless possibilities. From eliminating CO₂ and making electricity to turning waste into treasure, BES is not just technology but a solution for a better, more advanced, and eco-friendly future.
With BES, we can convert waste into clean energy and valuable products for the future. A future where there is no such thing as waste and everything has a purpose.
Further reading:
https://ourworldindata.org/sdgs/climate-action
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2017.04.001
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720372831
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719310941