Skip to main content
OSTI.GOVU.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
 

Microalgae as a feedstock for biofuel precursors and value-added products: Green fuels and golden opportunities

Journal Article · · BioResources
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [2];  [4]
  1. Nanjing Forestry Univ., Nanjing (People's Republic of China); Johns Hopkins University
  2. Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States)
  3. Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States); Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  4. Nanjing Forestry Univ., Nanjing (People's Republic of China)
+ Show Author Affiliations

In this study, the prospects of biofuel production from microalgal carbohydrates and lipids coupled with greenhouse gas mitigation due to photosynthetic assimilation of CO2 have ushered in a renewed interest in algal feedstock. Furthermore, microalgae (including cyanobacteria) have become established as commercial sources of value-added biochemicals such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and carotenoid pigments used as antioxidants in nutritional supplements and cosmetics. This article presents a comprehensive synopsis of the metabolic basis for accumulating lipids as well as applicable methods of lipid and cellulose bioconversion and final applications of these natural or refined products from microalgal biomass. For lipids, one-step in situ transesterification offers a new and more accurate approach to quantify oil content. As a complement to microalgal oil fractions, the utilization of cellulosic biomass from microalgae to produce bioethanol by fermentation, biogas by anaerobic digestion, and bio-oil by hydrothermal liquefaction are discussed. Collectively, a compendium of information spanning green renewable fuels and value-added nutritional compounds is provided.

Research Organization:
Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012658
OSTI ID:
1238776
Journal Information:
BioResources, Journal Name: BioResources Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 11; ISSN 1930-2126
Publisher:
NC State UniversityCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Microalgae for economic applications: advantages and perspectives for bioethanol
Journal Article · Sat Apr 04 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Experimental Botany · OSTI ID:1325635
Biofuels from Microalgae: Review of Products, Processes and Potential, with Special Focus on Dunaliella sp.
Book · Wed Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 2009 · OSTI ID:981579
A spent coffee grounds based biorefinery for the production of biofuels, biopolymers, antioxidants and biocomposites
Journal Article · Wed Feb 14 23:00:00 EST 2018 · Waste Management · OSTI ID:22841160

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
algal strain development
biochemicals
biofuels
lipid profiles
microalgae