Emerging prospects of mixotrophic microalgae: Way forward to sustainable bioprocess for environmental remediation and cost-effective biofuels

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2020-03, Vol.300, p.122741-122741, Article 122741
• Main Authors: Patel, Anil Kumar, Choi, Yoon Young, Sim, Sang Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biofuels; Biomass; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Environmental; Environmental Restoration and Remediation; Microalgae; Mixotrophic; Organic; Pollutant; Remediation
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122741

An overview of algae-based waste treatment process and non-algae treatment process for economic and environmental sustainability. [Display omitted] •Mixotrophy opens new avenue for effective treatment of organic waste by microalgae.•Mixotrophic algae cultivation runs two pathways thus effective for bioremediation.•Organic wastes treatment combines CCU technology by mixotrophic algae cultivation.•Mixotrophic cultivation offers better energy recovery and carbon footprint.•Mixotrophy also need design improvement for better exploitations and economics. Algal bioremediation becoming most fascinating to produce biomass as biofuels feedstock while remediating wastes, also improving carbon-footprint through carbon capturing and utilization (CCU) technology. Non-algae process however offers effective treatment but metabolic CO2 emission is major drawback towards sustainable bioprocess. Mixotrophic cultivation strategy (MCS) enables to treat organic and inorganic wastes which broadly extend microalgae application towards cleaner and sustainable bioeconomy. Latest focus of global think-tanks to encourage bioprocess holding promise of sustainability via CCU ability as important trait. Several high CO2 emitting industries forced to improve their carbon-footprints. MCS driven microalgae treatment could be best solution for those industries. This review covers recent updates on MCS applications for waste-to-value (biofuels) and environment remediation. Moreover, recommendations to fill knowledge gaps, and commercial algal biofuel could be cost-effectiveness and sustainable technology for biocircular economy if fuelled by waste streams from other industries.