Microalgal Biorefinery Applications

Abstract

This study aims to point out the potential of microalgae applications with biorefinery approach. Microalgae applications allows us to produce energy products, nonenergy products such as carbonhydrates, pigments, and proteins and other high value products while we treat wastewater. The biorefinery approach is the best alternative for fossil-based refineries, so far. Commonly biorefineries use corn, sugar crops, grasses, starch crops, palm oil, and also microalgal biomass as a feedstock [1]. Microalgal biorefineries stand out among other biorefineries with a broad commercial spectrum of products, less land requirement, the potential of harvesting in all seasons and short biomass harvesting time. Besides all these advantages, microalgae provide bioremediation of heavy metals and nutrient removal from polluted and wastewater, CO2 mitigation, and O-2 production via photosynthetic growth.