Comparative Review of Natural and Synthetic Binders for Microbial Fuel Cell Electrodes

Authors

  • Andhika Putra Agus Pratama Department of Agro-Industrial Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia; Centre of Excellence Bioenergy and Biorefinery, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1772-0373
  • Sri Suhartini Department Agro-Industrial Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9356-9391
  • Novita Ainur Rohma Department Agro-Industrial Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya; Centre of Excellence Bioenergy and Biorefinery, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
  • Mayang Sabrina Nimas Department of Agro-Industrial Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0218-2509
  • Ika Atsari Dewi Department of Agro-Industrial Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5313-6284
  • Widya Fatriasari National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5166-9498
  • Lynsey Melville The Global Environmental Challenges Research Group, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2187-1345
  • Ioannis A. Ieropoulos Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO167QF, United Kingdom https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9641-5504

Keywords:

Binding materials, Bioelectrochemical system, Electrode, Environmental sustainability, Microbial fuel cell

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising technology for renewable energy and environmental remediation. The performance of MFCs is greatly influenced by the binder materials used on the electrodes, which must have good conductivity, stability, and compatibility with microorganisms. Synthetic binders, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyuretane (PU), geopolymer binder, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), are commonly used due to their electrochemical properties but are expensive and not environmentally friendly. In contrast, natural binders, such as chitosan, sucrose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and vegetable oils, provide cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives. This review synthesizes findings from various studies, comparing the electrochemical properties, stability, and sustainability of chemical and natural binders. The review identifies key research gaps and suggests future directions to improve the performance of natural binders in MFCs, making them more viable for large-scale applications in terms of cost and environmental impact. Natural binders have the potential to be a sustainable alternative in MFC electrode development.

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Published

2025-10-13

How to Cite

Pratama, A. P. A., Suhartini , S., Rohma, N. A., Nimas, M. S., Dewi, I. A., Fatriasari, W., … Ieropoulos , I. A. (2025). Comparative Review of Natural and Synthetic Binders for Microbial Fuel Cell Electrodes. BioResources, 20(4). Retrieved from https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24313

Issue

Section

Scholarly Review