Strategies and challenges to enhance commercial viability of algal biorefineries for biofuel production

Mrinal Kashyap; Sukanya Chakraborty; Anamika Kumari; Anshuman Rai; Sunita Varjani; Vandana Vinayak

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129551

Strategies and challenges to enhance commercial viability of algal biorefineries for biofuel production

Bioresour Technol. 2023 Nov:387:129551. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129551. Epub 2023 Jul 26.

Authors

Mrinal Kashyap¹, Sukanya Chakraborty², Anamika Kumari³, Anshuman Rai⁴, Sunita Varjani⁵, Vandana Vinayak⁶

Affiliations

¹ Porter School of Earth and Environment Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
² Diatom Nanoengineering and Metabolism Laboratory (DNM), School of Applied Science, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, MP 470003, India.
³ Porter School of Earth and Environment Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; Diatom Nanoengineering and Metabolism Laboratory (DNM), School of Applied Science, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, MP 470003, India.
⁴ Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Ambala, Haryana 133203, India; State Forensic Science Laboratory, Haryana, Madhuban 132037, India.
⁵ School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong; Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun 248 007, Uttarakhand, India.
⁶ Diatom Nanoengineering and Metabolism Laboratory (DNM), School of Applied Science, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, MP 470003, India. Electronic address: kapilvinayak@gmail.com.

PMID: 37506948
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129551

Abstract

The rise in energy consumption would quadruple in the coming century and the, existing energy resources might be insufficient to meet the demand of the growing population. An alternative and sustainable energy resource is therefore needed to address the fossil fuel deficiency. The utility of microalgae strains in the aspect of biorefinery has been in research for quite some time. Algal biorefinery is an alternate way of renewable energy however even after decades of research it still suffers from commercialization bottlenecks. The current manuscript reviews the scenarios where the innovation needs an ignition for its commercialization. This review discusses the prospects of up-scale cultivation, and harvesting algal biomass for biorefineries. It narrates algal biorefinery hurdles that can be solved using integrated technology approach, life cycle assessment and applications of nanotechnology. The review also sheds light upon the ties of algal biorefineries with its economic viability.

Keywords: Biorefinery; Economy; Life cycle assessment; Microalgae; Nanotechnology.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biofuels*
Biomass
Microalgae*
Plants
Technology

Substances

Biofuels