Microalgae-Based Biofuels and Bioproducts: From Feedstock Cultivation to End-Products

Microalgae-Based Biofuels and Bioproducts: From Feedstock Cultivation to End Products compiles contributions from authors from different areas and backgrounds who explore the cultivation and utilization of microalgae biomass for sustainable fuels and chemicals.

With a strong focus in emerging industrial and large scale applications, the book summarizes the new achievements in recent years in this field by critically evaluating developments in the field of algal biotechnology, whilst taking into account sustainability issues and techno-economic parameters. It includes information on microalgae cultivation, harvesting, and conversion processes for the production of liquid and gaseous biofuels, such as biogas, bioethanol, biodiesel and biohydrogen. Microalgae biorefinery and biotechnology applications, including for pharmaceuticals, its use as food and feed, and value added bioproducts are also covered.

This book’s comprehensive scope makes it an ideal reference for both early stage and consolidated researchers, engineers and graduate students in the algal field, especially in energy, chemical and environmental engineering, biotechnology, biology and agriculture.

Presents the most current information on the uses and untapped potential of microalgae in the production of bio-based fuels and chemicalsCritically reviews the state-of-the-art feedstock cultivation of biofuels and bioproducts mass production from microalgae, including intermediate stages, such as harvesting and extraction of specific compoundsIncludes topics in economics and sustainability of large-scale microalgae cultivation and conversion technologies

1. Photobioreactors for the production of microalgae 2. Heterotrophic and mixotrophic microalgae cultivation 3. Microalgae cultivation in wastewater 4. Applications of genome-scale metabolic models to microalgae and cyanobacteria production systems 5. Harvesting of microalgae: overview of process options and their strengths and drawbacks 6. Cell Disruption Technologies 7. Biogas production from microalgae 8. Breakthroughs in bio-alcohol production from microalgae: Solving the hurdles 9. Biohydrogen production from microalgae 10. Biodiesel from Microalgae 11. Pyrolysis of microalgae for fuel production 12. Biogas upgrading using algal-bacterial processes 13. Synthetic biology of cyanobacteria for production of biofuels and high-value products 14. Biorefinery of algae: Technical and economic considerations 15. Microalgal proteins for food and feed 16. Microalgal Fatty acids-from harvesting till extraction 17. Cyanobacterial toxins as a high value added product 18. Trends in Red Biotechnology: Microalgae for Pharmaceutical Applications 19. Extraction of added-value compounds from microalgae 20. Economics of Microalgae Cultivation 21. Environmental impacts of mass-scale algae cultivation