Toward sustainable bioplastics: The potential of algal biomass in PHA production and biocomposites fabrication

Abstract

This review hypothesizes that algal biomass, an underexplored and promising raw material, offers significant potential for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production within sustainable bioprocess frameworks. The increasing urgency to find alternative, eco-friendly solutions to traditional plastic production is driven by growing environmental concerns over plastic pollution. The review highlights novel interdisciplinary connections between algal biomass utilization, bioremediation, and PHA biosynthesis, revealing new pathways that optimize renewable resource use and enhance waste valorization. These hybrid processes, combining microalgal and cyanobacterial biomass after bioactive compound extraction, have not been sufficiently explored, presenting significant environmental and economic opportunities for the bioplastics industry. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the development of PHA + algal biomass biocomposites, with desirable properties for industrial and medical applications, presents a breakthrough opportunity. Future research should focus on advancing pretreatment methods to improve fermentable carbohydrate availability, scaling up production, and addressing challenges related to energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and the commercial viability of these biocomposites in the bioplastics market.