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Promising solutions to solve the bottlenecks in the large-scale cultivation of microalgae for biomass/bioenergy production

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  • Zhang, Tian-Yuan
  • Hu, Hong-Ying
  • Wu, Yin-Hu
  • Zhuang, Lin-Lan
  • Xu, Xue-Qiao
  • Wang, Xiao-Xiong
  • Dao, Guo-Hua

Abstract

Microalgae-based bioenergy has been long considered as a promising substitute to replace the fossil fuels at large-scale. After the decades of research, several bottlenecks remain to be overcome to make the large-scale production of microalgal bioenergy commercially viable. In this review, the bottlenecks that restrict the commercial production of microalgal bioenergy are summarized as “high cost” and “low efficiency” and then identified in detailed categories. Several solutions which aim to solve the bottlenecks are presented and discussed correspondingly. The solutions presented in this review including cultivating in wastewater, recycling water and nutrients, utilizing the whole biomass, selecting indigenous strains, cultivating mixed-species, supplementing low-cost organic substrates, mixing vertically in reactor, optimizing metabolic pathway and attaching the cells on suspended-solids. Furthermore, a novel system integrated with the solutions, which is combined with the wastewater treatment system and characterized as the mixed-species cultivation of wild-selected mixotrophic microalgal strains in suspended-solid phase bioreactor based on low-cost substrate, is proposed to promote the scale-up of the microalgal cultivation for bioenergy production.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Tian-Yuan & Hu, Hong-Ying & Wu, Yin-Hu & Zhuang, Lin-Lan & Xu, Xue-Qiao & Wang, Xiao-Xiong & Dao, Guo-Hua, 2016. "Promising solutions to solve the bottlenecks in the large-scale cultivation of microalgae for biomass/bioenergy production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1602-1614.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:60:y:2016:i:c:p:1602-1614
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2016.02.008
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    2. Mohan, Natarajan & Rao, Polur Hanumantha & Boopathy, Annakkili Baskara & Rengasamy, Ramasamy & Chinnasamy, Senthil, 2021. "A sustainable process train for a marine microalga-mediated biomass production and CO2 capture: A pilot-scale cultivation of Nannochloropsis salina in open raceway ponds and harvesting through electro," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 263-272.
    3. He, Zhixia & Wang, Bin & Zhang, Bo & Feng, Huan & Kandasamy, Sabariswaran & Chen, Haitao, 2020. "Synergistic effect of hydrothermal Co-liquefaction of Spirulina platensis and Lignin: Optimization of operating parameters by response surface methodology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    4. Dahai, He & Zhihong, Yin & Lin, Qin & Yuhong, Li & Lei, Tian & Jiang, Li & Liandong, Zhu, 2024. "The application of magical microalgae in carbon sequestration and emission reduction: Removal mechanisms and potential analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).

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