Microalgae as Future Fuel: Real Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Depleting reserves and souring prices of petroleum and oil have daunting effect on the economy of many developed and developing nations and forced researchers, government and federal agencies to opt for development of alternate fuels. In recent years, there is renewed interest in the field of algal biofuel production owing to its ability to grow in non-agriculturalable waste land and municipal wastewater/agricultural runoff water. Previous decade was attributed in developing new open culture/ reactor design for enhanced microalgal biomass production, efficient harvesting and pretreatment systems for commercial algal biofuel production. The true potential of algal biofuel spurs debate between algae experts and external observer over economics and environmental sustainability. Currently, no commercial algal energy generation system, which can surpass crop based energy content, is available. In present review, efficient culturing, operational strategies, reactor design and technological advancement in processing of algal fuel have been reviewed in graphical abstract