A review on recent advances in micro-algal based biofuel production

Abstract

Microalgae-based biofuels are an appropriate alternative to fossil fuels due to their sustainable merits over terrestrial feedstock. Microalgae is a unicellular and simple multicellular autotrophic microorganism consists of high nutrition and photosynthetic utilization degree. Microalgae are abundant in the environment in seawater, freshwater, and wastewater. Microalgae is a promising feedstock to produce biofuel since they are capable of mitigating CO2 emission and accumulating lipids for their high biomass productivity. Many microalgal species contain high content of lipids and require a simple cultivation process than other plant crops for the production of biofuels. Microalgae can produce several biofuels such as biodiesel, biomethanol, biohydrogen, bioethanol, etc. The production of biofuels from microalgae is a potential process to encounter future energy demand since microalgae are cultivated year by year. The current review paper clearly describes the different culturing methods of microalgae, different harvesting techniques used in microalgae separation, and then finally, different biofuel produced from microalgal species.