Overview: Comparison of pretreatment technologies and fermentation processes of bioethanol from microalgae

• Published in: Energy conversion and management 2018-10, Vol.173, p.81-94
• Main Authors: Phwan, Chai Kee, Ong, Hwai Chyuan, Chen, Wei-Hsin, Ling, Tau Chuan, Ng, Eng Poh, Show, Pau Loke
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioethanol; Biofuels; Commercialization; Economic and environmental vitality; Energy policy; Energy resources; Energy security; Energy sources; Ethanol; Exploitation; Fermentation; Fossil fuels; Industrial applications; Microalgae; Microorganisms; Natural resources; Pretreatment; Renewable energy; Reviews; Security; Sustainability; Technology; Viability
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2018.07.054

[Display omitted] •Bioethanol from microalgae are promising and sustainable forms of energy resources.•Recent advances pretreatment technologies for bioethanol from microalgae.•Types of ethanologenic microorganisms and fermentation processes affect bioethanol yield.•Future outlook of bioethanol from microalgae in both economic and environment aspect. Continuous exploitation of natural resources especially in fossil fuels to fulfil the market demand has jeopardized the natural resources in the Earth. Bioethanol produced by microalgae is one of the promising biofuel for energy security and ecological sustainability. Yet, to date only a modest review has been reported on the bioethanol production technology from microalgae by using various pretreatment methods, fermentative microorganisms, fermentation processes, commercialization techniques and its environmental perspectives. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive information by comparing the recent pretreatment technologies by using different types of ethanologenic microorganisms in various fermentation processes to maximize the bioethanol production. Studies of the economic viability and environmental perspectives of bioethanol from microalgae have been carried out to investigate its potentialities to eliminate environmental issues and towards commercialization. Therefore, this review is essential in providing ideas for the future researches in renewable energy resources technology to develop a more efficient way to scale-up the bioethanol production from microalgae for commercial and industrial application.