A Review on Indigenous Freshwater Microalgae Isolated from Natural Habitats of Arunachal Pradesh, India, as a Biodiesel Source

Abstract

AbstractIt has been globally accepted that first- and second-generation biofuels, primarily produced from terrestrial crops are not enough to meet global energy demand, and these issues compelled researchers to seek out additional biofuel sources. Recently, third-generation biofuels which are obtained from microalgae are gaining a lot of attention due to its ability to grow on non-arable land and produce high oil yield per area; however, despite having several advantages, biofuel production from microalgae does not come cheap. Therefore, understanding the behaviour of native microalgae species for utilizing it as a biofuel source is one of the most eminent approaches as they are naturally resistant to sudden climatic changes and have the ability to survive harsh conditions, and these all are important factors when microalgae are cultivated in an open system for commercialization. In this paper, the feasibility and scope of growing freshwater microalgae in Arunachal Pradesh are reviewed and also describe the current status of microalgae species which are naturally present on local water bodies of north-eastern region of India for biodiesel production, including their biomass yield, biomass productivity, lipid content and their performance in engine.KeywordsMicroalgaeBiomass productivityLipid contentBiodieselDiesel engine