Prospects of Microalgae for Biomaterial Production and Environmental Applications at Biorefineries

Microalgae are increasingly viewed as renewable biological resources for a wide range of chemical compounds that can be used as or transformed into biomaterials through biorefining to foster the bioeconomy of the future. Besides the well-established biofuel potential of microalgae, key microalgal bi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2021-03, Vol.13 (6), p.3063
Main Authors: Orejuela-Escobar, Lourdes, Gualle, Arleth, Ochoa-Herrera, Valeria, Philippidis, George P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adsorptivity
Algae
Alternative energy sources
Aquatic microorganisms
Bioactive compounds
Biodiesel fuels
Biofuels
Biomass
Biomaterials
Biomedical materials
Bioplastics
Biopolymers
Bioremediation
Carbohydrates
Carbon
Carotenoids
Cavitation
Charcoal
Chemical compounds
Cosmetics
Environmental stewardship
Feeds
Food
Food industry
Fuel technology
Functional foods & nutraceuticals
Harvest
Heavy metals
Integrated approach
Lipids
Metabolites
Metal industry wastewaters
Nanoparticles
Nutrient uptake
Pigments
Polyphenols
Polysaccharides
Productivity
Proteins
Raw materials
Saccharides
Soil amendment
Solid fuels
Solvents
Sustainability
Sustainable development
Ultrasonic imaging
Vitamins
Wastewater treatment
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Summary:Microalgae are increasingly viewed as renewable biological resources for a wide range of chemical compounds that can be used as or transformed into biomaterials through biorefining to foster the bioeconomy of the future. Besides the well-established biofuel potential of microalgae, key microalgal bioactive compounds, such as lipids, proteins, polysaccharides, pigments, vitamins, and polyphenols, possess a wide range of biomedical and nutritional attributes. Hence, microalgae can find value-added applications in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, personal care, animal food, and agricultural industries. Microalgal biomass can be processed into biomaterials for use in dyes, paints, bioplastics, biopolymers, and nanoparticles, or as hydrochar and biochar in solid fuel cells and soil amendments. Equally important is the use of microalgae in environmental applications, where they can serve in heavy metal bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and carbon sequestration thanks to their nutrient uptake and adsorptive properties. The present article provides a comprehensive review of microalgae specifically focused on biomaterial production and environmental applications in an effort to assess their current status and spur further deployment into the commercial arena.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su13063063