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Prospects of Microalgae for Biomaterial Production and Environmental Applications at Biorefineries

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  • Lourdes Orejuela-Escobar

    (GICAS Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Sciences and Engineering, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador
    Instituto Biosfera, College of Sciences and Engineering, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador
    Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador)

  • Arleth Gualle

    (GICAS Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Sciences and Engineering, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador)

  • Valeria Ochoa-Herrera

    (Instituto Biosfera, College of Sciences and Engineering, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador
    Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • George P. Philippidis

    (Patel College of Global Sustainability, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA)

Abstract

Microalgae are increasingly viewed as renewable biological resources for a wide range of chemical compounds that can be used as or transformed into biomaterials through biorefining to foster the bioeconomy of the future. Besides the well-established biofuel potential of microalgae, key microalgal bioactive compounds, such as lipids, proteins, polysaccharides, pigments, vitamins, and polyphenols, possess a wide range of biomedical and nutritional attributes. Hence, microalgae can find value-added applications in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, personal care, animal food, and agricultural industries. Microalgal biomass can be processed into biomaterials for use in dyes, paints, bioplastics, biopolymers, and nanoparticles, or as hydrochar and biochar in solid fuel cells and soil amendments. Equally important is the use of microalgae in environmental applications, where they can serve in heavy metal bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and carbon sequestration thanks to their nutrient uptake and adsorptive properties. The present article provides a comprehensive review of microalgae specifically focused on biomaterial production and environmental applications in an effort to assess their current status and spur further deployment into the commercial arena.

Suggested Citation

  • Lourdes Orejuela-Escobar & Arleth Gualle & Valeria Ochoa-Herrera & George P. Philippidis, 2021. "Prospects of Microalgae for Biomaterial Production and Environmental Applications at Biorefineries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3063-:d:514885
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vasileios Tsolis & Pantelis Barouchas, 2023. "Biochar as Soil Amendment: The Effect of Biochar on Soil Properties Using VIS-NIR Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy, Biochar Aging and Soil Microbiology—A Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-41, August.
    2. Nam Seon Kang & Kichul Cho & Sung Min An & Eun Song Kim & Hyunji Ki & Chung Hyeon Lee & Grace Choi & Ji Won Hong, 2022. "Taxonomic and Biochemical Characterization of Microalga Graesiella emersonii GEGS21 for Its Potential to Become Feedstock for Biofuels and Bioproducts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-24, November.

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