Next-Generation Biofuels from Bioelectrochemical Systems: A Comparative Review of CO₂-Derived Products

This study addresses the critical issue of fossil fuel dependence and its environmental impacts by examining bioelectrochemical systems (BES) for converting CO₂ into sustainable biofuels. A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 87 Scopus documents (2010–2025) using RStudio (Bibliometrix) and VOSviewer to map co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword networks. Results show exponential growth since 2017, dominated by Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering, and Energy. China leads in publication volume, while Belgium excels in international collaboration and impact per article. Research networks are concentrated in Europe and Asia, with significant underrepresentation of Latin America and Africa. Thematic clusters center on CO₂, microbial fuel cells, and bioenergy, indicating a shift toward material and process optimization. Influential authors such as Bajracharya S. focus on microbial electrosynthesis. However, key research gaps persist: limited integration of direct carbon capture technologies, inadequate biofilm characterization, and a scarcity of industrial-scale studies. Moreover, fewer than 10% of studies include comprehensive life cycle assessments (LCA) to evaluate the environmental footprint of BES. We propose a standardized LCA framework integrating techno-economic and circular economy metrics to advance BES from lab-scale proofs-of-concept to industrially viable, net-negative carbon technologies. The analysis also underscores a critical gap in policy and regulatory research, which is essential to create enabling conditions for the demonstration and scaling of BES technologies.