Utilization of Microalgal Biofractions for Bioethanol, Higher Alcohols, and Biodiesel Production: A Review

Marwa M. El-Dalatony, El-Sayed Salama, Mayur B. Kurade, Sedky H. A. Hassan, Sang-Eun Oh, Sunjoon Kim and Byong-Hun Jeon
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Marwa M. El-Dalatony: Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
El-Sayed Salama: Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
Mayur B. Kurade: Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
Sedky H. A. Hassan: Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, New Valley Branch, El-Kharga 72511, Egypt
Sang-Eun Oh: Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si 24341, Gangwon-do, Korea
Sunjoon Kim: Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
Byong-Hun Jeon: Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Biomass is a crucial energy resource used for the generation of electricity and transportation fuels. Microalgae exhibit a high content of biocomponents which makes them a potential feedstock for the generation of ecofriendly biofuels. Biofuels derived from microalgae are suitable carbon-neutral replacements for petroleum. Fermentation is the major process for metabolic conversion of microalgal biocompounds into biofuels such as bioethanol and higher alcohols. In this review, we explored the use of all three major biocomponents of microalgal biomass including carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids for maximum biofuel generation. Application of several pretreatment methods for enhancement the bioavailability of substrates (simple sugar, amino acid, and fatty acid) was discussed. This review goes one step further to discuss how to direct these biocomponents for the generation of various biofuels (bioethanol, higher alcohol, and biodiesel) through fermentation and transesterification processes. Such an approach would result in the maximum utilization of biomasses for economically feasible biofuel production.

Keywords: microalgae; pretreatment; fermentation; bioethanol; biobutanol; biodiesel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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