Abstract
Abstract Selection of appropriate microalgae strain for cultivation is essential for overall success of large-scale biomass production under particular environmental and climate conditions. In addition to fast growth rate and biomass productivity, the species ability to grow in wastewater must also be considered to increase the economic feasibility of microalgae for bioenergy purposes. Furthermore, the content of bioactive compounds in a strain must be taken into account to further increase the viability by integration of biorefinery concept. Chlorella spp. are among the most studied microalgal species. The present review attempts to unfold the potential of species of the genus Chlorella for bioenergy production integrating applicability for wastewater treatment and production of high added-value compounds. Several key features potentially make Chlorella spp. highly beneficial for bioenergy production. Fast growth rate, low nutritional requirements, low sensitivity to contamination, adaptation to fluctuating environments, ability to grow in photoautotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic conditions make Chlorella spp. highly useful for outdoor cultivation coupled with wastewater treatment. Chlorella is a source of multiple bioactive compounds. Most promising high-value products are chlorophylls, lutein, β-carotene and lipids. Here we demonstrate that although many Chlorella spp. show similar characteristics, some substantial differences in growth and response to environmental factors exist.
Highlights
Microalgae are regarded as a promising sustainable energy source due to their fast growth rate, high productivity and ability to accumulate large quantities of lipids [1]
Most studies have concluded that economic viability of bioenergy production from microalgae biomass is still an ambitious goal and vast improvements must be implemented before the stage of a commercial low-cost microalgae biomass production
This review attempts to investigate the potential of Chlorella species for large-scale microalgae cultivation for bioenergy production, with an emphasis on investigation of the capacity for biorefinery and the use of wastewater streams for cultivation of potential species to increase the economic feasibility of microalgal biofuels
Summary
Microalgae are regarded as a promising sustainable energy source due to their fast growth rate, high productivity and ability to accumulate large quantities of lipids [1]. Several studies have been conducted on the potential and economic feasibility of large-scale microalgae cultivation for bioenergy production [3]–[5]. The ideal strain for large-scale outdoor biomass production must have the following characteristics: fast growth rate, wide temperature tolerance, high competitiveness, limited nutrient requirements, high CO2 uptake, tolerance to shear force and to various contaminants in flue gas (e.g. NOx, SOx) and wastewater (e.g. heavy metals, ammonium), adaptation ability to fluctuating environmental conditions (light, pH, etc.) and source high-value co-products [1], [11]. This review attempts to investigate the potential of Chlorella species for large-scale microalgae cultivation for bioenergy production, with an emphasis on investigation of the capacity for biorefinery and the use of wastewater streams for cultivation of potential species to increase the economic feasibility of microalgal biofuels
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