Comprehensive analysis of the current status and future trends of microalgae bioreactors using patent and bibliometric approaches

To gain a better understanding of the research status and development trends in microalgae bioreactors, this article conducted a search and visual analysis of patents and literature related to this field from 2003 to 2022 on PatSnap patent platform and the Web of Science database. A systematic coupling model was also built between patents and literature in this subject to compare and assess research states and hotspots. Our findings indicate that while the number of publications in the literature on microalgae bioreactors has been increasing, the number of patent applications has decreased since 2015. Literature on microalgae bioreactors primarily focuses on the use of different bioreactors to cultivate microalgae, treat wastewater, and generate biofuel. Meanwhile, patented technology research is mainly concentrated on the study and transformation of microorganisms and their components. The overall trend in this field shows a decreasing coupling degree, suggesting that the field of microalgae bioreactors has reached a mature stage and is currently experiencing a bottleneck period. This article utilizes a combination of literature visualization and patent analysis to identify technological gaps within the field of microalgae bioreactors. It provides guidance for the industrial development of microalgae biomass, and as such, is of great benefit in addressing the interdisciplinary challenges faced by researchers in this area.