NDLI: Microalgae as second generation biofuel. A review

Please wait, while we are loading the content...

Microalgae as second generation biofuel. A review

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Singh, Nirbhay Kumar Dhar, Dolly Wattal
Copyright Year	2011
Abstract	Microalgae are autotrophic microorganisms having extremely high photosynthetic efficiency and are valued as rich source of lipids, hydrocarbons, and other complex oils for biodiesel besides being an invaluable source of bioethanol, biomethane, and biohydrogen. Biodiesel produced from oilseed crops such as jatropha and soy have lower yields per unit land area and threaten food security. Indeed, microalgae have higher oil yields amounting to about 40 times more oil per unit area of land in comparison to terrestrial oilseed crops such as soy and canola. Further, microalgae production does not require arable land for cultivation. Biofuel is regarded as a proven clean energy source and several entrepreneurs are attempting to commercialize this renewable source. Technology for producing and using biofuel has been known for several years and is frequently modified and upgraded. In view of this, a review is presented on microalgae as second generation biofuel. Microalgal farming for biomass production is the biggest challenge and opportunity for the biofuel industry. These are considered to be more efficient in converting solar energy into chemical energy and are amongst the most efficient photosynthetic plants on earth. Microalgae have simple cellular structure, a lipid-rich composition, and a rapid rate of reproduction. Many microalgal strains can be grown in saltwater and other harsh conditions. Some autotrophic microalgae can also be converted to heterotrophic ones to accumulate high quality oils using organic carbon. However, there are several technical challenges that need to be addressed to make microalgal biofuel profitable. The efficiency of microalgal biomass production is highly influenced by environmental conditions, e.g., light of proper intensity and wavelength, temperature, CO$_{2}$ concentration, nutrient composition, salinities and mixing conditions, and by the choice of cultivation systems: open versus closed pond systems, photobioreactors. Currently, microalgae for commercial purpose are grown mostly in open circular/elongated “raceway” ponds which generally have low yields and high production costs. However, a hybrid system combining closed photobioreactor and open pond is a better option. The biggest hurdle in commercialization of microalgal biofuel is the high cost and energy requirement for the microalgal biomass production, particularly agitation, harvesting, and drying of biomass. In order to conserve energy and reduce costs, algae are often harvested in a two-step process involving flocculation followed by centrifugation, filtration, or micro-straining to get a solid concentration. However, the major bottlenecks in algal biodiesel production within the cell can be identified and handled by adopting a system approach involving transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Research and developments in the field of new materials and advanced designs for cultivation in closed bioreactors, use of waste water for biomass production, screening of efficient strains, high-value coproduct strategy, and cutting-edge metabolic engineering are thought to provide the biggest opportunities to substantially improve the cost effectiveness of such production systems.
Starting Page	605
Ending Page	629
Page Count	25
File Format	PDF
ISSN	17740746
Journal	Agronomy for Sustainable Development
Volume Number	31
Issue Number	4
e-ISSN	17730155
Language	English
Publisher	Springer-Verlag
Publisher Date	2011-03-11
Publisher Institution	Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)
Publisher Place	Paris
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Bioactive compounds Biodiesel Bioethanol Biohydrogen Biomethane Microalgae Photobioreactors Wastewater treatment Sustainable Development Soil Science & Conservation Agriculture
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Environmental Engineering Agronomy and Crop Science

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Second Generation Biofuels: High-Efficiency Microalgae for Biodiesel Production

Microalgae as second generation biofuel. A review

Key Targets for Improving Algal Biofuel Production

Utilization of Vegetable Wastes for Bioenergy Generation

Agronomy for sustainable agriculture. A review

Ants and sustainable agriculture. A review

Soils and sustainable agriculture. A review

Biofuel from microalgae for sustainable development

Cereal landraces for sustainable agriculture. A review

Microalgae as second generation biofuel. A review

Similar Documents

Second Generation Biofuels: High-Efficiency Microalgae for Biodiesel Production

Microalgae as second generation biofuel. A review

Key Targets for Improving Algal Biofuel Production

Utilization of Vegetable Wastes for Bioenergy Generation

Agronomy for sustainable agriculture. A review

Ants and sustainable agriculture. A review

Soils and sustainable agriculture. A review

Biofuel from microalgae for sustainable development

Cereal landraces for sustainable agriculture. A review

Microalgae as second generation biofuel. A review