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Microalgal biofuels: Flexible bioenergies for sustainable development

Author

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  • Zhu, L.D.
  • Hiltunen, E.
  • Antila, E.
  • Zhong, J.J.
  • Yuan, Z.H.
  • Wang, Z.M.

Abstract

To confront energy shortage, global warming and climate changes, biofuels derived from biomass have received increasing attention from the industry, academia and governments. Of the potential sources of biofuels a most promising one is the simple photosynthetic microalgae, which can be grown in open ponds, photobioreactors and fermenters. The advantages to produce biofuels from microalgae include easy adaption to environmental conditions, high photosynthesis efficiency, high lipid content and noncompetition for farmlands. Nonetheless, the real hallmark of microalgae is the fact that these microscopic organisms can provide the biomass feedstock for the flexible production of several different types of renewable and sustainable biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas, biohydrogen among others via thermochemical and biochemical conversion processes. Amazingly, from a sustainability perspective the integrated algal biofuels production, where biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas are continuously produced from one biomass source, can evidently lead to an increase in the energetic productivity of the microalgal biomass, thus improving the economics of this algal biorefinery approach. Developments in several areas, such as genetic and metabolic engineering, are expected to further improve the costeffectiveness of the biofuels from microalgae in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhu, L.D. & Hiltunen, E. & Antila, E. & Zhong, J.J. & Yuan, Z.H. & Wang, Z.M., 2014. "Microalgal biofuels: Flexible bioenergies for sustainable development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 1035-1046.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:30:y:2014:i:c:p:1035-1046
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2013.11.003
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    2. Tanvir, Rahamat Ullah & Zhang, Jianying & Canter, Timothy & Chen, Dick & Lu, Jingrang & Hu, Zhiqiang, 2021. "Harnessing solar energy using phototrophic microorganisms: A sustainable pathway to bioenergy, biomaterials, and environmental solutions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
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    4. López-González, D. & Fernandez-Lopez, M. & Valverde, J.L. & Sanchez-Silva, L., 2014. "Pyrolysis of three different types of microalgae: Kinetic and evolved gas analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 33-43.
    5. Zhang, Yi & Kong, Xiaoying & Wang, Zhongming & Sun, Yongming & Zhu, Shunni & Li, Lianhua & Lv, Pengmei, 2018. "Optimization of enzymatic hydrolysis for effective lipid extraction from microalgae Scenedesmus sp," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 1049-1057.
    6. Bibi, Riaz & Ahmad, Zulfiqar & Imran, Muhammad & Hussain, Sabir & Ditta, Allah & Mahmood, Shahid & Khalid, Azeem, 2017. "Algal bioethanol production technology: A trend towards sustainable development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 976-985.
    7. Budzianowski, Wojciech M., 2016. "A review of potential innovations for production, conditioning and utilization of biogas with multiple-criteria assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1148-1171.
    8. López-González, D. & Puig-Gamero, M. & Acién, F.G. & García-Cuadra, F. & Valverde, J.L. & Sanchez-Silva, L., 2015. "Energetic, economic and environmental assessment of the pyrolysis and combustion of microalgae and their oils," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1752-1770.
    9. Zhu, Liandong & Nugroho, Y.K. & Shakeel, S.R. & Li, Zhaohua & Martinkauppi, B. & Hiltunen, E., 2017. "Using microalgae to produce liquid transportation biodiesel: What is next?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 391-400.
    10. Raslavičius, Laurencas & Striūgas, Nerijus & Felneris, Mantas, 2018. "New insights into algae factories of the future," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 643-654.
    11. Shah, Syed Hasnain & Raja, Iftikhar Ahmed & Rizwan, Muhammad & Rashid, Naim & Mahmood, Qaisar & Shah, Fayyaz Ali & Pervez, Arshid, 2018. "Potential of microalgal biodiesel production and its sustainability perspectives in Pakistan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 76-92.
    12. Zhu, Liandong, 2015. "Biorefinery as a promising approach to promote microalgae industry: An innovative framework," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1376-1384.
    13. Zhu, Liandong & Hiltunen, Erkki & Shu, Qing & Zhou, Weizheng & Li, Zhaohua & Wang, Zhongming, 2014. "Biodiesel production from algae cultivated in winter with artificial wastewater through pH regulation by acetic acid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 103-110.
    14. Zhu, L.-D. & Hiltunen, E., 2016. "Application of livestock waste compost to cultivate microalgae for bioproducts production: A feasible framework," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1285-1290.

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