Towards bio-utilization and energy recovery potential exploration of membrane foulant from membrane bioreactor by using microbial fuel cell-centered technology

•Simultaneous bio-utilization and energy recovery of membrane foulant is realized.•MFC-MFC can enhance the hydrolysis and energy recovery of membrane foulant.•HRT affects the membrane foulant utilization in microbial fuel cell-centered systems.•The dominant phyla Proteobacteria plays a key role in membrane foulant utilization.