Immobilising Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Biocomposites: New Opportunities to Intensify Algae Biotechnology and Bioprocessing

Gary S. Caldwell, Pichaya In-na, Rachel Hart, Elliot Sharp, Assia Stefanova, Matthew Pickersgill, Matthew Walker, Matthew Unthank, Justin Perry and Jonathan G. M. Lee
Additional contact information
Gary S. Caldwell: School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Pichaya In-na: School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Rachel Hart: School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Elliot Sharp: Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
Assia Stefanova: School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Matthew Pickersgill: School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Matthew Walker: School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Matthew Unthank: Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
Justin Perry: Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
Jonathan G. M. Lee: School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: There is a groundswell of interest in applying phototrophic microorganisms, specifically microalgae and cyanobacteria, for biotechnology and ecosystem service applications. However, there are inherent challenges associated with conventional routes to their deployment (using ponds, raceways and photobioreactors) which are synonymous with suspension cultivation techniques. Cultivation as biofilms partly ameliorates these issues; however, based on the principles of process intensification, by taking a step beyond biofilms and exploiting nature inspired artificial cell immobilisation, new opportunities become available, particularly for applications requiring extensive deployment periods (e.g., carbon capture and wastewater bioremediation). We explore the rationale for, and approaches to immobilised cultivation, in particular the application of latex-based polymer immobilisation as living biocomposites. We discuss how biocomposites can be optimised at the design stage based on mass transfer limitations. Finally, we predict that biocomposites will have a defining role in realising the deployment of metabolically engineered organisms for real world applications that may tip the balance of risk towards their environmental deployment.

Keywords: bioreactor; carbon capture; carbon dioxide; eutrophication; immobilization; latex polymers; process intensification; wastewater (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: 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/1996-1073/14/9/2566/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/9/2566/ (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:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:9:p:2566-:d:546496

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

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