Halophiles and Their Vast Potential in Biofuel Production.

Mohammad Ali Amoozegar,Atefeh Safarpour,Tala Bakhtiary,Kambiz Akbari Noghabi,Antonio Ventosa

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2019.01895

Abstract

Global warming and the limitations of using fossil fuels are a main concern of all societies, and thus, the development of alternative fuel sources is crucial to improving the current global energy situation. Biofuels are known as the best alternatives of unrenewable fuels and justify increasing extensive research to develop new and less expensive methods for their production. The most frequent biofuels are bioethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel, and biogas. The production of these biofuels is the result of microbial activity on organic substrates like sugars, starch, oil crops, non-food biomasses, and agricultural and animal wastes. Several industrial production processes are carried out in the presence of high concentrations of NaCl and therefore, researchers have focused on halophiles for biofuel production. In this review, we focus on the role of halophilic microorganisms and their current utilization in the production of all types of biofuels. Also, the outstanding potential of them and their hydrolytic enzymes in the hydrolysis of different kind of biomasses and the production of biofuels are discussed.

Highlights

During the past years, the decrease in the availability of fossil fuels and environmental troubles have become major global problems, which has increased the focus and demand for alternative, environmentally friendly, and renewable energy resources (Kardooni et al, 2018)
Microorganisms could be a part of biofuel production by performing biotechnological processes, and some types of microorganisms are considered as a feedstock for biofuel production
The utilization of microorganisms is highly beneficial in biofuel production and utilization of halophiles may improve

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The decrease in the availability of fossil fuels and environmental troubles have become major global problems, which has increased the focus and demand for alternative, environmentally friendly, and renewable energy resources (Kardooni et al, 2018). Aikawa et al (2013) reported the direct conversion of the halophilic filamentous cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis to ethanol without pretreatment or enzymatic hydrolysis processes They indicated that A. platensis is a remarkable carbohydrate feedstock in the form of glycogen, which is a promising material for the production of bioethanol and other various commercially valuable chemicals. There are other feedstocks in which halophilic microorganisms could play roles in their hydrolysis process where the resulting products could be fermented to produce biofuels, especially bioethanol. The produced glucose could be a substrate for bioethanol production The maximal amylolytic and pullulytic activity was at pH 7

H B NM-DCM-1

Findings

CONCLUSION