Microalgae as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel and other production industries: Prospects and challenges

The current environment and economic crisis demand the development of energy sources which can solve the problems of depleting energy sources while improving the economy and the environment. Transport sector constitute one of the highest consumptions of fossil fuels while generating harmful greenhouse gases causing global warming. Biofuels have been developed as the alternative clean fuel which can act as a substitute to replace or reduce the heavy usage of exhaustible fossil fuels. Production of biodiesel from microalgae has been considered one of the most feasible approaches towards circular economy. This review gives an in-depth information on the application of microalgae for biodiesel production, factors affecting their growth and techniques to produced biodiesel and other industrially important products benefitting the economy, environment and the society. It provides an intensive information on the biomolecules that can be valorized for commercial purpose and the metabolism of those biomolecules and also highlights the current status of production, challenges and the future prospects of microalgae in biodiesel and other production industries.