Microalgal Biomass Production and Application in Biofuels
Summary
Microalgae represent a versatile and sustainable feedstock for next-generation biofuel production, combining rapid growth rates with the ability to assimilate carbon dioxide and utilise non-arable land and marginal water resources. Cultivation generally occurs in open ponds or closed photobioreactors, where environmental parameters such as light intensity, temperature and nutrient availability are optimised to maximise biomass and lipid content. Following harvest and dewatering, downstream processing involves lipid extraction—often via solvent or supercritical CO₂ methods—and conversion into biodiesel through transesterification. Alternatively, whole biomass can undergo hydrothermal liquefaction or anaerobic digestion to yield bio-oils, bioethanol and biogas. Recent advances in strain selection, genetic engineering and photonic management have driven improvements in lipid productivity and photosynthetic efficiency, while integrated biorefinery concepts aim to valorise residual biomass into high-value compounds such as pigments, proteins and antioxidants. Despite promising laboratory-scale results, challenges remain in scaling up production systems, reducing energy inputs and achieving economic competitiveness. Addressing these challenges is central to realising the global potential of microalgal biofuels within a circular carbon economy.
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Microalgal Biomass Production and Application in Biofuels publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microalgal biomass production and application in biofuels across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Triacylglycerol (TAG): A storage lipid composed of a glycerol backbone esterified with three fatty acid chains; the principal raw material for biodiesel synthesis.
Photobioreactor: A closed or semi‐closed cultivation vessel designed to control light exposure, temperature, mixing and gas exchange for optimised microalgal growth.
Transesterification: A chemical process converting triacylglycerols into fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel) by reacting with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst.
Photon management: Engineering of light capture, spectral conversion and directional emission to enhance photosynthetic efficiency in microalgal cultures.
Biorefinery: An integrated processing facility that fractionates biomass into multiple product streams, including fuels, chemicals and high‐value bioproducts.
References
- Enhanced microalgal lipid production for biofuel using different strategies including genetic modification of microalgae: A review. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science (2023).
- Microstructure Engineered Photon‐Managing Films for Solar Energy to Biomass Conversion. Advanced Energy Materials (2023).
- Effects of Environmental Factors and Nutrient Availability on the Biochemical Composition of Algae for Biofuels Production: A Review. Energies (2013).
- Towards industrial products from microalgae. Energy & Environmental Science (2016).
- The promising future of microalgae: current status, challenges, and optimization of a sustainable and renewable industry for biofuels, feed, and other products. Microbial Cell Factories (2018).
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