Assuaging Microalgal Harvesting Woes via Attached Growth: A Critical Review to Produce Sustainable Microalgal Feedstock

Nurulfarah Adilah Rosmahadi, Wai-Hong Leong, Hemamalini Rawindran, Yeek-Chia Ho, Mardawani Mohamad, Noraini A. Ghani, Mohammed J. K. Bashir, Anwar Usman, Man-Kee Lam and Jun-Wei Lim
Additional contact information
Nurulfarah Adilah Rosmahadi: HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
Wai-Hong Leong: HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
Hemamalini Rawindran: HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
Yeek-Chia Ho: Centre for Urban Resource Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
Mardawani Mohamad: Faculty of Bioengineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus, Jeli 17600, Kelantan, Malaysia
Noraini A. Ghani: Centre of Research in Ionic Liquids, Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
Mohammed J. K. Bashir: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, Kampar 31900, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
Anwar Usman: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
Man-Kee Lam: HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
Jun-Wei Lim: HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 20, 1-24

Abstract: Third-generation biofuels that are derived from microalgal biomass have gained momentum as a way forward in the sustainable production of biodiesel. Such efforts are propelled by the intention to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as the primary source of energy. Accordingly, growing microalgal biomass in the form of suspended cultivation has been a conventional technique for the past few decades. To overcome the inevitable harvesting shortcomings arising from the excessive energy and time needed to separate the planktonic microalgal cells from water medium, researchers have started to explore attached microalgal cultivation systems. This cultivation mode permits the ease of harvesting mature microalgal biomass, circumventing the need to employ complex harvesting techniques to single out the cells, and is economically attractive. However, the main bottleneck associated with attached microalgal growth is low biomass production due to the difficulties the microalgal cells have in forming attachment and populating thereafter. In this regard, the current review encompasses the novel techniques adopted to promote attached microalgal growth. The physicochemical effects such as the pH of the culture medium, hydrophobicity, as well as the substratum surface properties and abiotic factors that can determine the fate of exponential growth of attached microalgal cells, are critically reviewed. This review aims to unveil the benefits of an attached microalgal cultivation system as a promising harvesting technique to produce sustainable biodiesel for lasting applications.

Keywords: biodiesel; microalgae; attached growth; suspended growth; support material; harvest (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/20/11159/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/20/11159/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:20:p:11159-:d:652647

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().