Sustainable biogas-powered desalination using marine microalgae: A review

S. Saranya, S. Dhayanithi and P. Chellapandi

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025, vol. 219, issue C

Abstract: Sustainable biogas-powered desalination using marine microalgae offers an innovative and integrated approach to renewable energy generation and freshwater production, thereby addressing the critical challenges in energy and water security. This review evaluates the potential of marine microalgae as a renewable feedstock for biogas production with a focus on methanogenic bioprocessing in seawater. In contrast to previous studies, this review emphasizes the use of seawater-grown microalgal biomass and halo-tolerant methanogens capable of operating under salinity conditions of up to 28 ‰ NaCl, overcoming the osmotic limitations commonly associated with anaerobic digestion. Major challenges include ammonia toxicity due to the high protein content and low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of marine microalgae and their complex, resistant cell wall structure, which limits biomass biodegradability and methane yield. Pretreatment strategies, including thermal, chemical, and enzymatic methods, have improved methane yields up to 0.52 m3 CH4/kg volatile solids. Furthermore, the integration of biogas-powered desalination systems is discussed, where biogas-derived energy drives reverse osmosis and algal-based desalination processes with energy consumption as low as 0.06–0.08 kWh/m3. The novelty of this review lies in its exploration of technologies for Industry 4.0, highlighting smart automation, real-time monitoring, and energy optimization as critical tools for improving system efficiency, stability, and scalability. Key recommendations include the development of salt-tolerant methanogenic consortia, optimized co-digestion strategies to mitigate ammonia inhibition, and the adoption of low-energy pretreatment methods. By integrating biogas production with desalination, this review proposes a sustainable solution to freshwater scarcity in coastal and remote regions, supporting policy frameworks aimed at promoting renewable-energy-driven desalination technologies.

Keywords: Biogas; Methanogens; Desalination; Microalgae; Seawater; Automation; Circular bioeconomy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115886

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