IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i22p15070-d972456.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Microalgae Biomass and Lipids as Feedstock for Biofuels: Sustainable Biotechnology Strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Swathi Somaiyan Babu

    (Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur 610001, Tamil Nadu, India)

  • Rashmi Gondi

    (Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur 610001, Tamil Nadu, India)

  • Godvin Sharmila Vincent

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Rohini College of Engineering and Technology, Kanyakumari 629401, Tamil Nadu, India)

  • Godwin Christopher JohnSamuel

    (School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India)

  • Rajesh Banu Jeyakumar

    (Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur 610001, Tamil Nadu, India)

Abstract

Microalgae exhibit remarkable potential as a feedstock for biofuel production compared with other sources, owing to their high areal productivity, low environmental effect, and negligible influence on food security. However, the primary obstacle to the commercialization of algae-based biofuels is the high economic cost due to the low-yield lipid content in the microalgae biomass. Maximizing biomass and lipid production is crucial to improve the economic viability of microalgae for biofuels. Identifying appropriate algal strains, particularly from indigenous environments, and developing those ‘platform strains’ using mutagenesis and genetic-engineering techniques is preferable. The provided discussion of conventional methods to increase microalgae’s biomass and lipid productivity mostly entailed adjusting environmental (such as temperature, light, and salinity) and nutritional (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) parameters. This review illustrated a comprehensive overview of biotechnological approaches and the recent strategies to enhance the lipid productivity of microalgae. The research also emphasized the need to streamline engineering strategies with the aid of recent advancements in DNA-manipulation techniques to hinder the existing biological intricacies in lipogenesis. This review also discussed the current economic and commercialization of this algal biorefinery along with the drawbacks.

Suggested Citation

  • Swathi Somaiyan Babu & Rashmi Gondi & Godvin Sharmila Vincent & Godwin Christopher JohnSamuel & Rajesh Banu Jeyakumar, 2022. "Microalgae Biomass and Lipids as Feedstock for Biofuels: Sustainable Biotechnology Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-31, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:22:p:15070-:d:972456
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/22/15070/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/22/15070/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shanmugam, Sabarathinam & Ngo, Huu-Hao & Wu, Yi-Rui, 2020. "Advanced CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing tools for microbial biofuels production: A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 1107-1119.
    2. Banerjee, Sanjukta & Banerjee, Srijoni & Ghosh, Ananta K. & Das, Debabrata, 2020. "Maneuvering the genetic and metabolic pathway for improving biofuel production in algae: Present status and future prospective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    3. D’Alessandro, Emmanuel B. & Antoniosi Filho, Nelson R., 2016. "Concepts and studies on lipid and pigments of microalgae: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 832-841.
    4. Richard Ahorsu & Francesc Medina & Magda Constantí, 2018. "Significance and Challenges of Biomass as a Suitable Feedstock for Bioenergy and Biochemical Production: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Chia, Shir Reen & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Chew, Kit Wayne & Show, Pau Loke & Phang, Siew-Moi & Ling, Tau Chuan & Nagarajan, Dillirani & Lee, Duu-Jong & Chang, Jo-Shu, 2018. "Sustainable approaches for algae utilisation in bioenergy production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PB), pages 838-852.
    6. Mata, Teresa M. & Martins, António A. & Caetano, Nidia. S., 2010. "Microalgae for biodiesel production and other applications: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 217-232, January.
    7. Kalpesh K. Sharma & Holger Schuhmann & Peer M. Schenk, 2012. "High Lipid Induction in Microalgae for Biodiesel Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(5), pages 1-22, May.
    8. Daroch, Maurycy & Geng, Shu & Wang, Guangyi, 2013. "Recent advances in liquid biofuel production from algal feedstocks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 1371-1381.
    9. Huang, GuanHua & Chen, Feng & Wei, Dong & Zhang, XueWu & Chen, Gu, 2010. "Biodiesel production by microalgal biotechnology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 38-46, January.
    10. Colin M. Beal & Robert E. Hebner & Michael E. Webber & Rodney S. Ruoff & A. Frank Seibert & Carey W. King, 2012. "Comprehensive Evaluation of Algal Biofuel Production: Experimental and Target Results," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(6), pages 1-39, June.
    11. Gao, Chunfang & Zhai, Yan & Ding, Yi & Wu, Qingyu, 2010. "Application of sweet sorghum for biodiesel production by heterotrophic microalga Chlorella protothecoides," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(3), pages 756-761, March.
    12. Meng, Xin & Yang, Jianming & Xu, Xin & Zhang, Lei & Nie, Qingjuan & Xian, Mo, 2009. "Biodiesel production from oleaginous microorganisms," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 1-5.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Andra Lovasz & Nicu Cornel Sabau & Ioana Borza & Radu Brejea, 2023. "Production and Quality of Biodiesel under the Influence of a Rapeseed Fertilization System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-27, April.
    2. Shrasti Vasistha & Anwesha Khanra & Monika Prakash Rai & Shakeel Ahmad Khan & Zengling Ma & Heli Siti Halimatul Munawaroh & Doris Ying Ying Tang & Pau Loke Show, 2023. "Exploring the Pivotal Significance of Microalgae-Derived Sustainable Lipid Production: A Critical Review of Green Bioenergy Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-27, January.
    3. Shashi Kant Bhatia, 2023. "Biorefinery for the Sustainable Biochemicals Production: Process Design and Technological Advances," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-3, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Konur, Ozcan, 2011. "The scientometric evaluation of the research on the algae and bio-energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(10), pages 3532-3540.
    2. Behnam Tabatabai & Afua Adusei & Alok Kumar Shrivastava & Prashant Kumar Singh & Viji Sitther, 2020. "Nitrogen Deprivation in Fremyella diplosiphon Augments Lipid Production without Affecting Growth," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Patel, Akash & Gami, Bharat & Patel, Pankaj & Patel, Beena, 2017. "Microalgae: Antiquity to era of integrated technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 535-547.
    4. Zhang, X.L. & Yan, S. & Tyagi, R.D. & Surampalli, R.Y., 2013. "Biodiesel production from heterotrophic microalgae through transesterification and nanotechnology application in the production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 216-223.
    5. Balat, Mustafa & Balat, Havva, 2010. "Progress in biodiesel processing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(6), pages 1815-1835, June.
    6. Chen, Jiaxin & Li, Ji & Dong, Wenyi & Zhang, Xiaolei & Tyagi, Rajeshwar D. & Drogui, Patrick & Surampalli, Rao Y., 2018. "The potential of microalgae in biodiesel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 336-346.
    7. Fazal, Tahir & Mushtaq, Azeem & Rehman, Fahad & Ullah Khan, Asad & Rashid, Naim & Farooq, Wasif & Rehman, Muhammad Saif Ur & Xu, Jian, 2018. "Bioremediation of textile wastewater and successive biodiesel production using microalgae," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3107-3126.
    8. Atadashi, I.M. & Aroua, M.K. & Abdul Aziz, A.R. & Sulaiman, N.M.N., 2012. "Production of biodiesel using high free fatty acid feedstocks," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 3275-3285.
    9. Menegazzo, Mariana Lara & Fonseca, Gustavo Graciano, 2019. "Biomass recovery and lipid extraction processes for microalgae biofuels production: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 87-107.
    10. Soratana, Kullapa & Khanna, Vikas & Landis, Amy E., 2013. "Re-envisioning the renewable fuel standard to minimize unintended consequences: A comparison of microalgal diesel with other biodiesels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 194-204.
    11. Kirrolia, Anita & Bishnoi, Narsi R. & Singh, Rajesh, 2013. "Microalgae as a boon for sustainable energy production and its future research & development aspects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 642-656.
    12. Demirbas, M. Fatih, 2011. "Biofuels from algae for sustainable development," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(10), pages 3473-3480.
    13. Chen, Chunxiang & Ma, Xiaoqian & Liu, Kai, 2011. "Thermogravimetric analysis of microalgae combustion under different oxygen supply concentrations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(9), pages 3189-3196.
    14. Atadashi, I.M. & Aroua, M.K. & Abdul Aziz, A.R. & Sulaiman, N.M.N., 2012. "The effects of water on biodiesel production and refining technologies: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 3456-3470.
    15. de Jesus, Sérgio S. & Ferreira, Gabriela F. & Moreira, Larissa S. & Filho, Rubens Maciel, 2020. "Biodiesel production from microalgae by direct transesterification using green solvents," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 1283-1294.
    16. Wu, Hong & Li, Yuanyuan & Chen, Lei & Zong, Minhua, 2011. "Production of microbial oil with high oleic acid content by Trichosporon capitatum," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 138-142, January.
    17. Peralta-Ruiz, Y. & González-Delgado, A.-D. & Kafarov, V., 2013. "Evaluation of alternatives for microalgae oil extraction based on exergy analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 226-236.
    18. Yuan, Hao & Zhang, Xinru & Jiang, Zeyi & Wang, Xinyu & Wang, Yi & Cao, Limei & Zhang, Xinxin, 2020. "Effect of light spectra on microalgal biofilm: Cell growth, photosynthetic property, and main organic composition," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 83-89.
    19. Goh, Brandon Han Hoe & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Cheah, Mei Yee & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Yu, Kai Ling & Mahlia, Teuku Meurah Indra, 2019. "Sustainability of direct biodiesel synthesis from microalgae biomass: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 59-74.
    20. Talebian-Kiakalaieh, Amin & Amin, Nor Aishah Saidina & Mazaheri, Hossein, 2013. "A review on novel processes of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 683-710.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:22:p:15070-:d:972456. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.