Microalgae to biodiesel - Review of recent progress

Abstract

Microalgae with potentially high lipid yields of certain strains and relatively small environmental footprints offer a medium to long term biodiesel supply. Substantial challenges need to be resolved before they can be developed commercially on a large scale. There have been some significant technological breakthroughs made in recent years that offer the potential to achieve this. The ability to genetically engineer algal strains more efficiently and precisely to stabilize their growth and improve lipid yield is one approach. Others include one-step harvesting and lipid extraction from wet biomass, filtering incident light to focus on red photons, combining solar photovoltaics with high-rate algal ponds, and using wastewater and effluent to provide the ideal nutrient mix to promote algal growth and lipid yield. Additionally, microalgal extracts offer some value-added, high-margin co-products, such as poly-unsaturated fatty acids and nutrient-rich biofertilizers. Multi-product integrated biorefineries embracing offer the best route to large-scale, eco-friendly biodiesel commercialization.