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Exploring the potential of microalgae for new biotechnology applications and beyond: A review

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  • Rizwan, Muhammad
  • Mujtaba, Ghulam
  • Memon, Sheraz Ahmed
  • Lee, Kisay
  • Rashid, Naim

Abstract

The potential of microalgae as an alternative energy source has been adequately studied. However, exclusive use of microalgae as an energy feedstocks cannot warrant their scalability and economical sustainability due to the high cost involved in their biomass processing. The co-processing of microalgae biomass with other related bio-refinery applications can offset their cost and improve their sustainability. Thus, it triggers up the need of exploring the potential of microalgae biomass beyond their typical use. Microalgae offer interesting features to qualify them as alternative feedstocks for various bio-refinery applications. Microalgae have unique abilities to utilize them for industrial and environmental applications. Thus, this review discusses to expand the scope of integrating microalgae with other biotechnological applications to enhance their sustainability. The use of microalgae as a feed for animal and aquaculture, fertilizers, medicine, cosmetic, environmental and other biotechnological applications is thoroughly reviewed. It also highlights the barriers, opportunities, developments, and prospects of extending the scope of microalgae. This study concludes that sustained research funding, and a shift of microalgae focus from biofuels production to bio-refinery co-products can qualify them as promising feedstocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Rizwan, Muhammad & Mujtaba, Ghulam & Memon, Sheraz Ahmed & Lee, Kisay & Rashid, Naim, 2018. "Exploring the potential of microalgae for new biotechnology applications and beyond: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 394-404.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:92:y:2018:i:c:p:394-404
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2018.04.034
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexandros Pavlou & Giannis Penloglou & Costas Kiparissides, 2023. "Evaluation of Tolerant to CO 2 Excess Microalgae for the Production of Multiple Biochemicals in a 3G Biorefinery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Yin, Zhihong & Chu, Ruoyu & Zhu, Liandong & Li, Shuangxi & Mo, Fan & Hu, Dan & Liu, Chenchen, 2021. "Application of chitosan-based flocculants to harvest microalgal biomass for biofuel production: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    3. Tanvir, Rahamat Ullah & Zhang, Jianying & Canter, Timothy & Chen, Dick & Lu, Jingrang & Hu, Zhiqiang, 2021. "Harnessing solar energy using phototrophic microorganisms: A sustainable pathway to bioenergy, biomaterials, and environmental solutions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    4. Ehab M. Ammar & Neha Arora & George P. Philippidis, 2020. "The Prospects of Agricultural and Food Residue Hydrolysates for Sustainable Production of Algal Products," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-25, December.
    5. Li, Fanghua & Sweeney, Daniel J. & Dai, Yanjun & Wang, Chi-Hwa, 2021. "Effect of novel Ni2P-loaded catalysts on algal pyrolysis bio-oil," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    6. Alexandre D’Lamare Maia de Medeiros & Cláudio José Galdino da Silva Junior & Julia Didier Pedrosa de Amorim & Helenise Almeida do Nascimento & Attilio Converti & Andréa Fernanda de Santana Costa & Leo, 2021. "Biocellulose for Treatment of Wastewaters Generated by Energy Consuming Industries: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Santhakumaran, Prasanthkumar & Kookal, Santhosh Kumar & Mathew, Linu & Ray, Joseph George, 2020. "Experimental evaluation of the culture parameters for optimum yield of lipids and other nutraceutically valuable compounds in Chloroidium saccharophillum (Kruger) comb. Nov," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 1082-1097.
    8. Thiviyanathan, Vimal Angela & Ker, Pin Jern & Hoon Tang, Shirley Gee & Amin, Eric PP. & Yee, Willy & Hannan, M.A. & Jamaludin, Zaini & Nghiem, Long D. & Indra Mahlia, Teuku Meurah, 2024. "Microalgae biomass and biomolecule quantification: Optical techniques, challenges and prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PA).
    9. Zhang, Bing & Li, Wei & Guo, Yuan & Zhang, Zhiqiang & Shi, Wenxin & Cui, Fuyi & Lens, Piet N.L. & Tay, Joo Hwa, 2020. "Microalgal-bacterial consortia: From interspecies interactions to biotechnological applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    10. Kumar, B. Ramesh & Mathimani, Thangavel & Sudhakar, M.P. & Rajendran, Karthik & Nizami, Abdul-Sattar & Brindhadevi, Kathirvel & Pugazhendhi, Arivalagan, 2021. "A state of the art review on the cultivation of algae for energy and other valuable products: Application, challenges, and opportunities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    11. Singh, Kripal & Ansari, Faiz Ahmad & Ingle, Kapilkumar Nivrutti & Gupta, Sanjay Kumar & Ahirwal, Jitendra & Dhyani, Shalini & Singh, Shraddha & Abhilash, P.C. & Rawat, Ismael & Byun, Chaeho & Bux, Fai, 2023. "Microalgae from wastewaters to wastelands: Leveraging microalgal research conducive to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    12. Héctor Rodríguez-Rángel & Dulce María Arias & Luis Alberto Morales-Rosales & Victor Gonzalez-Huitron & Mario Valenzuela Partida & Joan García, 2022. "Machine Learning Methods Modeling Carbohydrate-Enriched Cyanobacteria Biomass Production in Wastewater Treatment Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, March.
    13. Yani Aranguren Díaz & Edy Monterroza Martínez & Laura Carillo García & María C. Serrano & Elwi Machado Sierra, 2022. "Phycoremediation as a Strategy for the Recovery of Marsh and Wetland with Potential in Colombia," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, January.
    14. Abraham Guzmán-Palomino & Luciano Aguilera-Vázquez & Héctor Hernández-Escoto & Pedro Martin García-Vite, 2021. "Sensitivity, Equilibria, and Lyapunov Stability Analysis in Droop’s Nonlinear Differential Equation System for Batch Operation Mode of Microalgae Culture Systems," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(18), pages 1-20, September.
    15. Patel, Anil Kumar & Singhania, Reeta Rani & Dong, Cheng-Di & Obulisami, Parthiba Karthikeyan & Sim, Sang Jun, 2021. "Mixotrophic biorefinery: A promising algal platform for sustainable biofuels and high value coproducts," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).

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