Cultivation, photobioreactor design and harvesting of microalgae for biodiesel production: a critical review.
Microalgae have the ability to mitigate CO(2) emission and produce oil with a high productivity, thereby having the potential for applications in producing the third-generation of biofuels. The key technologies for producing microalgal biofuels include identification of preferable culture conditions for high oil productivity, development of effective and economical microalgae cultivation systems, as well as separation and harvesting of microalgal biomass and oil. This review presents recent advances in microalgal cultivation, photobioreactor design, and harvesting technologies with a focus on microalgal oil (mainly triglycerides) production. The effects of different microalgal metabolisms (i.e., phototrophic, heterotrophic, mixotrophic, and photoheterotrophic growth), cultivation systems (emphasizing the effect of light sources), and biomass harvesting methods (chemical/physical methods) on microalgal biomass and oil production are compared and critically discussed. This review aims to provide useful information to help future development of efficient and commercially viable technology for microalgae-based biodiesel production.
Chen
Chun-Yen
CY
Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Yeh
Kuei-Ling
KL
Aisyah
Rifka
R
Lee
Duu-Jong
DJ
Chang
Jo-Shu
JS
D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D058086:Microalgae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D013672:Technology / Q000379:methods
D056804:Biofuels; D003470:Culture Media; D008055:Lipids