Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MFCBioFactory (Novel bioelectrochemical factory system for energy production and treatment of industrial wastewater: Electroactive and non-electroactive microbiome)
Reporting period: 2023-05-01 to 2025-04-30
Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project
Industrial wastewater treatment is one of the greatest environmental and technological challenges of our time, particularly when dealing with high-salinity effluents generated by sectors such as the canned food industry. These wastewaters contain high levels of organic matter, nutrients, and salts, making conventional biological treatments inefficient, costly, and energy-intensive. At the same time, the world faces a growing demand for sustainable energy alternatives, alongside a pressing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The European Green Deal, the MSCA Green Charter, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) all call for transformative solutions that promote a circular economy and environmentally responsible innovations.
MFCBioFactory is an ambitious project that addresses these critical challenges by developing a novel bioelectrochemical system that integrates microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with photobioreactors into a unique Microbial Fuel Cell Biofactory (MFCB). This system not only treats industrial wastewater but also generates clean energy, closes resource cycles, and avoids greenhouse gas emissions. The MFCBioFactory is designed as a zero-energy, zero-waste technology, converting pollutants into electricity and recovering resources, such as nutrients and carbon dioxide, to grow microalgae in the cathodic chamber.
At the core of this innovation lies the exploitation of the hidden potential of microbial communities. The system relies on the activity of electroactive microorganisms (EAMs), capable of converting organic matter into electrical energy, as well as non-electroactive microorganisms, such as algae and fermenters, that support the system’s functionality through oxygen production and pollutant removal. These diverse microbial populations are largely uncharacterized, particularly in MFCs treating saline effluents, and the project will use advanced metagenomic techniques to uncover their identities, functions, and ecological relationships.
The MFCBioFactory will, for the first time, establish a biofactory for the treatment of high-salinity effluents from the fish canning industry—a sector of major economic relevance in Europe, especially in Spain. The expected outcome is a new generation of wastewater treatment technology that is self-sufficient, scalable, and environmentally friendly. The knowledge generated will provide a basis for improved design and operation of MFCs, tailored to industrial needs, and will also support the development of open-access microbial genome databases to guide future innovations.
The project is driven by a multidisciplinary team combining expertise in environmental microbiology, process engineering, bioelectrochemistry, and life cycle assessment. It includes collaboration with both academic institutions and industry, ensuring that the technological and ecological knowledge is directly translated into practical applications.
In terms of societal impact, MFCBioFactory contributes to energy security, sustainable industry, and environmental protection. It is expected to reduce operational costs for industries, decrease dependence on fossil fuels, and promote green technologies. By targeting both scientific discovery and real-world implementation, MFCBioFactory positions itself as a catalyst for change in the environmental biotechnology landscape, advancing Europe's leadership in sustainable innovation.
MFCBioFactory is an ambitious project that addresses these critical challenges by developing a novel bioelectrochemical system that integrates microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with photobioreactors into a unique Microbial Fuel Cell Biofactory (MFCB). This system not only treats industrial wastewater but also generates clean energy, closes resource cycles, and avoids greenhouse gas emissions. The MFCBioFactory is designed as a zero-energy, zero-waste technology, converting pollutants into electricity and recovering resources, such as nutrients and carbon dioxide, to grow microalgae in the cathodic chamber.
At the core of this innovation lies the exploitation of the hidden potential of microbial communities. The system relies on the activity of electroactive microorganisms (EAMs), capable of converting organic matter into electrical energy, as well as non-electroactive microorganisms, such as algae and fermenters, that support the system’s functionality through oxygen production and pollutant removal. These diverse microbial populations are largely uncharacterized, particularly in MFCs treating saline effluents, and the project will use advanced metagenomic techniques to uncover their identities, functions, and ecological relationships.
The MFCBioFactory will, for the first time, establish a biofactory for the treatment of high-salinity effluents from the fish canning industry—a sector of major economic relevance in Europe, especially in Spain. The expected outcome is a new generation of wastewater treatment technology that is self-sufficient, scalable, and environmentally friendly. The knowledge generated will provide a basis for improved design and operation of MFCs, tailored to industrial needs, and will also support the development of open-access microbial genome databases to guide future innovations.
The project is driven by a multidisciplinary team combining expertise in environmental microbiology, process engineering, bioelectrochemistry, and life cycle assessment. It includes collaboration with both academic institutions and industry, ensuring that the technological and ecological knowledge is directly translated into practical applications.
In terms of societal impact, MFCBioFactory contributes to energy security, sustainable industry, and environmental protection. It is expected to reduce operational costs for industries, decrease dependence on fossil fuels, and promote green technologies. By targeting both scientific discovery and real-world implementation, MFCBioFactory positions itself as a catalyst for change in the environmental biotechnology landscape, advancing Europe's leadership in sustainable innovation.
Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far
The MFCBioFactory project has made substantial progress in advancing the field of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for the dual purpose of energy production and treatment of saline industrial wastewater. Over the course of the project, the technical and scientific objectives have been successfully addressed through a multidisciplinary and experimental approach.
A major achievement of the project has been the design and construction of a novel microbial fuel cell biofactory (MFCB) prototype. This system integrates an anodic chamber inoculated with electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) and a photobioreactor-based cathodic chamber enriched with microalgae. The MFCB was specifically engineered to treat effluents from the fish canning industry, a high-salinity and high-load wastewater stream previously difficult to treat biologically. The system was optimized using various inocula—including mesophilic sludge from the fish canning industry and psychrophilic sludge from Arctic wastewater treatment plants—to evaluate start-up dynamics and system stability under contrasting salinity and temperature conditions.
Key experimental efforts included determining the effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT), salinity gradients, and operational temperature on the treatment performance and energy recovery efficiency of the MFCB. The system's performance was quantified through removal of key pollutants (COD, BOD, nitrogen species, phosphate, solids) and energy production metrics (voltage, current density, power output). In parallel, the capacity of Scenedesmus obliquus S2 microalgae to consume CO2 and supply O2 at the cathode was tested, demonstrating their added value in enhancing cathodic performance while contributing to circular carbon management.
A significant scientific milestone was the metagenomic characterization of the microbial communities responsible for electricity production and wastewater treatment in the MFCB system. Using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, both EAMs and non-electroactive microorganisms (non-EAMs) from the anode and cathode compartments were identified and functionally profiled. This enabled the first comprehensive assessment of the structure and function of microbial consortia in MFCs treating high-salinity effluents. The project revealed how operational conditions influence microbial community dynamics and demonstrated that both EAMs and non-EAMs play complementary roles in optimizing system performance. Novel marker genes were selected for the accurate detection of functional groups, and a dedicated reference genome database is being developed in collaboration with experts at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ).
In addition to microbiome analyses, co-occurrence network models and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to evaluate correlations between abiotic parameters (e.g. salinity, temperature, nutrient concentrations) and microbial functional potential, providing mechanistic insights into the ecology of energy-generating microbial systems. This systems-level analysis contributed to the development of a predictive model for MFCB performance, which compares the technology against conventional wastewater treatment approaches.
To assess the environmental sustainability of the technology, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted using SimaPro software and ISO 14040 guidelines. The results indicate that the MFCBioFactory approach has the potential to outperform conventional systems in terms of energy self-sufficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, thus aligning with the goals of the European Green Deal and Sustainable Development Goals.
The project's main scientific outputs include three peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, which report the effects of HRT, inoculum selection, and salinity levels on microbial communities and system performance. These publications have already contributed to advancing the state of the art in bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment technologies and are expected to support future developments and scaling of MFC-based systems in industry.
Overall, the MFCBioFactory project has demonstrated the feasibility and scalability of a new generation of bioelectrochemical systems that combine wastewater remediation with energy recovery, while delivering deep ecological and functional insights into the microbial drivers of this process.
A major achievement of the project has been the design and construction of a novel microbial fuel cell biofactory (MFCB) prototype. This system integrates an anodic chamber inoculated with electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) and a photobioreactor-based cathodic chamber enriched with microalgae. The MFCB was specifically engineered to treat effluents from the fish canning industry, a high-salinity and high-load wastewater stream previously difficult to treat biologically. The system was optimized using various inocula—including mesophilic sludge from the fish canning industry and psychrophilic sludge from Arctic wastewater treatment plants—to evaluate start-up dynamics and system stability under contrasting salinity and temperature conditions.
Key experimental efforts included determining the effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT), salinity gradients, and operational temperature on the treatment performance and energy recovery efficiency of the MFCB. The system's performance was quantified through removal of key pollutants (COD, BOD, nitrogen species, phosphate, solids) and energy production metrics (voltage, current density, power output). In parallel, the capacity of Scenedesmus obliquus S2 microalgae to consume CO2 and supply O2 at the cathode was tested, demonstrating their added value in enhancing cathodic performance while contributing to circular carbon management.
A significant scientific milestone was the metagenomic characterization of the microbial communities responsible for electricity production and wastewater treatment in the MFCB system. Using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, both EAMs and non-electroactive microorganisms (non-EAMs) from the anode and cathode compartments were identified and functionally profiled. This enabled the first comprehensive assessment of the structure and function of microbial consortia in MFCs treating high-salinity effluents. The project revealed how operational conditions influence microbial community dynamics and demonstrated that both EAMs and non-EAMs play complementary roles in optimizing system performance. Novel marker genes were selected for the accurate detection of functional groups, and a dedicated reference genome database is being developed in collaboration with experts at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ).
In addition to microbiome analyses, co-occurrence network models and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to evaluate correlations between abiotic parameters (e.g. salinity, temperature, nutrient concentrations) and microbial functional potential, providing mechanistic insights into the ecology of energy-generating microbial systems. This systems-level analysis contributed to the development of a predictive model for MFCB performance, which compares the technology against conventional wastewater treatment approaches.
To assess the environmental sustainability of the technology, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted using SimaPro software and ISO 14040 guidelines. The results indicate that the MFCBioFactory approach has the potential to outperform conventional systems in terms of energy self-sufficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, thus aligning with the goals of the European Green Deal and Sustainable Development Goals.
The project's main scientific outputs include three peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, which report the effects of HRT, inoculum selection, and salinity levels on microbial communities and system performance. These publications have already contributed to advancing the state of the art in bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment technologies and are expected to support future developments and scaling of MFC-based systems in industry.
Overall, the MFCBioFactory project has demonstrated the feasibility and scalability of a new generation of bioelectrochemical systems that combine wastewater remediation with energy recovery, while delivering deep ecological and functional insights into the microbial drivers of this process.
Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)
The MFCBioFactory project has generated significant results that move well beyond the current state of the art in the fields of wastewater treatment, microbial electrochemical systems, and environmental biotechnology.
Traditionally, industrial wastewater with high salinity—such as effluents from the fish canning industry—has posed a serious challenge for biological treatment due to the toxicity of salts and the high energy demand of conventional systems. The innovative Microbial Fuel Cell Biofactory (MFCB) developed in this project not only treats this type of wastewater effectively but does so without external energy input, producing renewable electricity and integrating microalgae for CO2 capture and O2 generation.
This bioelectrochemical system represents a paradigm shift: it combines waste valorisation, energy recovery, and microbial ecology in a single, compact platform. Key achievements beyond the state of the art include:
• First-time demonstration of an integrated MFC-photobioreactor system (MFCB) applied to high-salinity wastewater, showing sustained energy production and pollutant removal under real and synthetic effluents.
• Use of shotgun metagenomics to profile both electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) and non-electroactive microorganisms (non-EAMs), enabling a functional and taxonomic understanding of microbial interactions in MFCs at an unprecedented level of detail.
• Identification of functional marker genes involved in energy production, supporting accurate detection of microbial taxa involved in electron transfer and metabolic pathways under saline and operational stress conditions.
• Development of a predictive model and multivariate framework linking operational parameters with system performance and microbiome dynamics, enabling informed system optimization and scalability.
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) demonstrating that the MFCB system can significantly reduce environmental burdens (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption) compared to conventional treatment methods.
These results have broad scientific, technological, and societal relevance and open multiple avenues for future development and implementation.
Potential impacts and future needs
To ensure further uptake and successful deployment of the MFCB system in real-world contexts, several key needs must be addressed:
• Further research and pilot-scale demonstration: Although validated at laboratory scale (TRL 5–6), the system requires scaling up to pilot reactors to assess long-term robustness and adaptability in diverse wastewater treatment scenarios.
• Access to targeted funding: Support for demonstration projects and public-private partnerships will be essential to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and industrial application.
• Commercialisation strategy and IPR support: Protection of intellectual property through patents (currently under preparation) and engagement with technology transfer offices will be crucial for licensing and industrial adoption.
• Industrial partnerships: Engagement with companies in wastewater treatment (e.g. Greening Group, EMASAGRA) is already underway and should be expanded to co-develop commercial prototypes, perform field trials, and refine system design for specific industrial sectors.
• Supportive policy and regulatory frameworks: Recognition of microbial fuel cell technologies within environmental and energy legislation (e.g. for circular economy incentives or carbon credits) would facilitate market entry and broader deployment.
• Standardisation efforts: The development of reference protocols and performance benchmarks is needed to ensure comparability and regulatory acceptance of MFC technologies across regions and sectors.
In summary, the MFCBioFactory project lays the foundation for a new generation of energy-positive, microbiome-driven wastewater treatment systems. It contributes not only to scientific excellence but also to green industrial innovation, aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the MSCA Green Charter, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Dissemination activities
The project has produced three peer-reviewed scientific publications in prestigious journals, each addressing critical aspects of MFC operation:
1. Journal of Water Process Engineering (2024): Focus on the effect of HRT on energy and microbiome. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.104966(opens in new window)
2. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (2025): On inoculum selection and performance. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-024-13377-y(opens in new window)
3. Journal of Environmental Management (2025): Role of salinity in performance and microbial activity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124858(opens in new window)
Dissemination also included active participation in international conferences:
• Bioremid2023 (Portugal, 2023) – Poster on HRT and saline wastewater treatment.
• 4th International Meeting on Extracellular Electron Transfer (Germany, 2024) – Oral presentation on gene expression under saline stress.
• 6th IWA Conference on Eco-Technologies for Wastewater Treatment (Spain, 2024) – Poster on MFC performance and HRT.
These events enabled the project to connect with over 900 international experts, fostering scientific exchange and collaboration.
Communication activities
Efforts to engage the broader public have been a core component of the project:
• A dedicated website was launched and is regularly updated with content accessible to both scientific and general audiences: https://www.microtambienugr.es/proyectos/desarrollo-de-una-biofactoria-para-la-produccion-de-energia-y-tratamiento-de-aguas-de-industria-conservera-mfcbiofactory/(opens in new window)
• Social media outreach via X (formerly Twitter) has provided real-time updates, research highlights, and educational content to a wide audience: @antonio_microUF
• Workshops for primary school students (Colegio Público Gibalto, Granada) introduced concepts of renewable energy and microbial technologies through interactive experiments (2024, >50 attendees).
• Research seminars at the Institute of Water Research (UGR) and Aarhus University (Denmark) engaged >80 participants, including researchers and students, highlighting international relevance.
• Press releases through UGR, UGR Divulga, and newspapers ("El Independiente de Granada", "Ideal", "El Debate", and "La Noción") made the results accessible to local communities and stakeholders.
Exploitation of results
The project has generated results with clear potential for industrial application and commercialization:
• A presentation at Discovery UGR 2024 (Greening Group) showcased the MFCB system’s application in industrial settings, sparking interest in pilot-scale testing and collaboration.
• A research collaboration with EMASAGRA S.L. the municipal wastewater authority in Granada, has led to the joint evaluation of MFCB scalability and potential standardization for municipal use.
• Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) reached range from TRL 5–6, indicating validation in relevant environments and readiness for demonstration projects.
Planned future activities
Several activities are scheduled beyond the official project timeline to ensure continued impact:
• Filing a patent for the MFCB technology is underway in collaboration with the University of Granada’s Knowledge Transfer Office (OTRI-UGR).
• A fourth open-access article is in preparation, summarizing the project’s key findings and practical implications.
• A series of educational videos and webinars are planned to explain bioelectrochemical technologies to students and professionals.
• Development of policy briefs for environmental authorities and industry stakeholders will be carried out to support the adoption of MFC technology in national and international strategies.
Traditionally, industrial wastewater with high salinity—such as effluents from the fish canning industry—has posed a serious challenge for biological treatment due to the toxicity of salts and the high energy demand of conventional systems. The innovative Microbial Fuel Cell Biofactory (MFCB) developed in this project not only treats this type of wastewater effectively but does so without external energy input, producing renewable electricity and integrating microalgae for CO2 capture and O2 generation.
This bioelectrochemical system represents a paradigm shift: it combines waste valorisation, energy recovery, and microbial ecology in a single, compact platform. Key achievements beyond the state of the art include:
• First-time demonstration of an integrated MFC-photobioreactor system (MFCB) applied to high-salinity wastewater, showing sustained energy production and pollutant removal under real and synthetic effluents.
• Use of shotgun metagenomics to profile both electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) and non-electroactive microorganisms (non-EAMs), enabling a functional and taxonomic understanding of microbial interactions in MFCs at an unprecedented level of detail.
• Identification of functional marker genes involved in energy production, supporting accurate detection of microbial taxa involved in electron transfer and metabolic pathways under saline and operational stress conditions.
• Development of a predictive model and multivariate framework linking operational parameters with system performance and microbiome dynamics, enabling informed system optimization and scalability.
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) demonstrating that the MFCB system can significantly reduce environmental burdens (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption) compared to conventional treatment methods.
These results have broad scientific, technological, and societal relevance and open multiple avenues for future development and implementation.
Potential impacts and future needs
To ensure further uptake and successful deployment of the MFCB system in real-world contexts, several key needs must be addressed:
• Further research and pilot-scale demonstration: Although validated at laboratory scale (TRL 5–6), the system requires scaling up to pilot reactors to assess long-term robustness and adaptability in diverse wastewater treatment scenarios.
• Access to targeted funding: Support for demonstration projects and public-private partnerships will be essential to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and industrial application.
• Commercialisation strategy and IPR support: Protection of intellectual property through patents (currently under preparation) and engagement with technology transfer offices will be crucial for licensing and industrial adoption.
• Industrial partnerships: Engagement with companies in wastewater treatment (e.g. Greening Group, EMASAGRA) is already underway and should be expanded to co-develop commercial prototypes, perform field trials, and refine system design for specific industrial sectors.
• Supportive policy and regulatory frameworks: Recognition of microbial fuel cell technologies within environmental and energy legislation (e.g. for circular economy incentives or carbon credits) would facilitate market entry and broader deployment.
• Standardisation efforts: The development of reference protocols and performance benchmarks is needed to ensure comparability and regulatory acceptance of MFC technologies across regions and sectors.
In summary, the MFCBioFactory project lays the foundation for a new generation of energy-positive, microbiome-driven wastewater treatment systems. It contributes not only to scientific excellence but also to green industrial innovation, aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the MSCA Green Charter, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Dissemination activities
The project has produced three peer-reviewed scientific publications in prestigious journals, each addressing critical aspects of MFC operation:
1. Journal of Water Process Engineering (2024): Focus on the effect of HRT on energy and microbiome. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.104966(opens in new window)
2. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (2025): On inoculum selection and performance. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-024-13377-y(opens in new window)
3. Journal of Environmental Management (2025): Role of salinity in performance and microbial activity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124858(opens in new window)
Dissemination also included active participation in international conferences:
• Bioremid2023 (Portugal, 2023) – Poster on HRT and saline wastewater treatment.
• 4th International Meeting on Extracellular Electron Transfer (Germany, 2024) – Oral presentation on gene expression under saline stress.
• 6th IWA Conference on Eco-Technologies for Wastewater Treatment (Spain, 2024) – Poster on MFC performance and HRT.
These events enabled the project to connect with over 900 international experts, fostering scientific exchange and collaboration.
Communication activities
Efforts to engage the broader public have been a core component of the project:
• A dedicated website was launched and is regularly updated with content accessible to both scientific and general audiences: https://www.microtambienugr.es/proyectos/desarrollo-de-una-biofactoria-para-la-produccion-de-energia-y-tratamiento-de-aguas-de-industria-conservera-mfcbiofactory/(opens in new window)
• Social media outreach via X (formerly Twitter) has provided real-time updates, research highlights, and educational content to a wide audience: @antonio_microUF
• Workshops for primary school students (Colegio Público Gibalto, Granada) introduced concepts of renewable energy and microbial technologies through interactive experiments (2024, >50 attendees).
• Research seminars at the Institute of Water Research (UGR) and Aarhus University (Denmark) engaged >80 participants, including researchers and students, highlighting international relevance.
• Press releases through UGR, UGR Divulga, and newspapers ("El Independiente de Granada", "Ideal", "El Debate", and "La Noción") made the results accessible to local communities and stakeholders.
Exploitation of results
The project has generated results with clear potential for industrial application and commercialization:
• A presentation at Discovery UGR 2024 (Greening Group) showcased the MFCB system’s application in industrial settings, sparking interest in pilot-scale testing and collaboration.
• A research collaboration with EMASAGRA S.L. the municipal wastewater authority in Granada, has led to the joint evaluation of MFCB scalability and potential standardization for municipal use.
• Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) reached range from TRL 5–6, indicating validation in relevant environments and readiness for demonstration projects.
Planned future activities
Several activities are scheduled beyond the official project timeline to ensure continued impact:
• Filing a patent for the MFCB technology is underway in collaboration with the University of Granada’s Knowledge Transfer Office (OTRI-UGR).
• A fourth open-access article is in preparation, summarizing the project’s key findings and practical implications.
• A series of educational videos and webinars are planned to explain bioelectrochemical technologies to students and professionals.
• Development of policy briefs for environmental authorities and industry stakeholders will be carried out to support the adoption of MFC technology in national and international strategies.