Algae Biofuels Production Processes, Carbon Dioxide Fixation and Biorefinery Concept

Roberto Parrasaldivar

doi:10.4172/2157-7463.1000185

Abstract

Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms capable to produce lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins as major biomass fractions. Each of these has been studied to produce biofuels. As example biodiesel, bio ethanol, biogas, biooil and bio hydrogen by different processes and conditions. In addition, microalgae are considered an alternative for CO2 emissions fixation since this gas is used by their metabolism. Based on this sustainable alternative, microalgae are considered feedstock to integrate a Bio-refinery, in which different products can be obtained from biofuels to food. In this article, in addition to the literature revision for biofuels production from microalgae, drawbacks and bottlenecks from microalgae technologies are discussed.

Highlights

Microalgae are the largest autotrophic microorganisms from plant taxa living in the Earth [1]
Advantages of Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and catalytic hydrothermal gasification (CHG) include: capture of 85% of the carbon in algae as fuel-grade component, wastewater treatment to reduce the organic content, methane source for process energy and recycle of water and nutrients for algal cultivation
Some advantages from microalgae are:. Technology based in these microorganisms currently represents an opportunity for greenhouse gases (GHG) reduction from anthropogenic activities

Summary

Introduction

Microalgae are the largest autotrophic microorganisms from plant taxa living in the Earth [1]. Algae species with high amount of lipids are preferred. Lipid production in microalgae mainly depends on the algae species, and it is affected by culture growth conditions, such as nutrients, salinity, light intensity, temperature, pH, and even, the association with other microorganisms.

Results

Conclusion