Abstract
Microalgae can be used as a source of alternative food, animal feed, biofuel, fertilizer, cosmetics, nutraceuticals and for pharmaceutical purposes. The extraction of organic constituents from microalgae cultivated in the different nutrient compositions is influenced by microalgal growth rates, biomass yield and nutritional content in terms of lipid and fatty acid production. In this context, nutrient composition plays an important role in microalgae cultivation, and depletion and excessive sources of this nutrient might affect the quality of biomass. Investigation on the role of nitrogen and phosphorus, which are crucial for the growth of algae, has been addressed. However, there are challenges for enhancing nutrient utilization efficiently for large scale microalgae cultivation. Hence, this study aims to highlight the level of nitrogen and phosphorus required for microalgae cultivation and focuses on the benefits of nitrogen and phosphorus for increasing biomass productivity of microalgae for improved lipid and fatty acid quantities. Furthermore, the suitable extraction methods that can be used to utilize lipid and fatty acids from microalgae for biofuel have also been reviewed.
Highlights
The size of microalgae generally ranges between 1 μm and 2 mm
The main aim of this review is to provide a summary of recent information concerning the role of nitrogen and phosphorus in microalgae cultivation that influences the growth of the organism, biomass yield, and productivity of lipid and fatty acids
This review has attempted to give an insight of the roles of nitrogen and phosphorus in microalgae cultivation for growth, biomass production, lipid yields and fatty acids
Summary
The size of microalgae generally ranges between 1 μm and 2 mm. They can utilize light and carbon dioxide through the photosynthetic process to multiply and produce biomass [1,2]. Different cultivation conditions of microalgae may affect microalgal growth rates, biomass yield and their nutritional content in terms of lipid and fatty acid production [3,5,6,7,8]. According to Munoz and Guieysse [22], microalgae can take up high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations for the buildup of protein and nucleic acid synthesis in up to 40–60% of their dry weight This overview deals with the technical feasibility of utilization of nitrogen and phosphorus for microalgae growth, biomass production and their influence on nutritional composition, including lipid and fatty acids. The main aim of this review is to provide a summary of recent information concerning the role of nitrogen and phosphorus in microalgae cultivation that influences the growth of the organism, biomass yield, and productivity of lipid and fatty acids
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