Heterotrophic microalgae cultivation to synergize biodiesel production with waste remediation: Progress and perspectives

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2015-05, Vol.184, p.169-178
• Main Authors: Venkata Mohan, S., Rohit, M.V., Chiranjeevi, P., Chandra, Rashmi, Navaneeth, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodiesel; Biofuels - microbiology; Biorefinery; Carbon Dioxide - metabolism; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Heterotrophic; Heterotrophic Processes; Microalgae - growth & development; Mixotrophic; Waste Water; Wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.10.056

•Synergising heterotrophic cultivation of microalgae with wastewater treatment.•Integrated biorefinery in a closed loop approach.•Heterotrophic cultivation is amenable for higher biomass and lipid productivity.•Multidisciplinary approach enables value addition to co-products. Microalgae are inexhaustible feedstock for synthesis of biodiesel rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and valuable bioactive compounds. Their cultivation is critical in sustaining the global economy in terms of human consumption of food and fuel. When compared to autotrophic cultivation, heterotrophic systems are more suitable for producing high cell densities of microalgae for accumulation of large quantities of lipids (triacylglycerols) which can be converted into biodiesel. Consorted efforts are made in this communication to converge recent literature on heterotrophic cultivation systems with simultaneous wastewater treatment and algal oil production. Challenges faced during large scale production and limiting factors which hinder the microalgae growth are enumerated. A strategic deployment of integrated closed loop biorefinery concept with multi-product recovery is proposed to exploit the full potential of algal systems. Sustainable algae cultivation is essential to produce biofuels leading to green future.