Integrated Biorefineries for Algal Biomolecules

Abstract

Algae are a renewable source of biomolecules for multiple applications ranging from fuels to specialties. However, their implementation as feedstock in industrial processes has only been achieved for few high-value products. This is due to the elevated costs in cultivation and downstream processing. In order to decrease the biorefinery costs and to enhance the overall process profitability, new separation processes need to be developed. Such processes must start from the understanding of the cell architecture, as a basis to develop an optimal fractionation strategy, and must include selective and mild disentanglement processes, in order to preserve the functionality of the target molecules. In this regard, we propose novel integration concepts such as self-disintegration, simultaneous disintegration and disentanglement, and self-separating systems within the framework of process intensification, in such a way that auxiliary chemicals, solvents and numerous unit operations become redundant.