Algae a Source of Biofuel

Using fossil fuels for energy has exa cted an enormous toll on humanity and the environment. Amongst various forms of renewable energy resources, third generation biofuels extracted from algae might provide a sustainable sol ution. Biofuels are made from biological material such as plants, microorganisms, animals and wastes. Microalgae can deliver a sustaina ble and complementary biofuel platform with some important advantages. The major advantages is their relatively high growth rate and high o il content. Cultivation can be done all year round and no valuable land has to be used. The mu ltitude of species that are able to thrive in fresh and salt water offer plenty of possibilities for s cientists with regard to the optimization of the production processes. Algae can yield many co-p roducts from the same biomass which makes it a perfect candidate for the biorefinery concept. Products can use various industries such as pharmaceutical, paper and bioethanol production along with biogas and biodiesel. Micr oalgae as biomass has chemical composition, which varies depending on algae used, and it can b e rich in proteins, lipids. Several microalgae e. g. Botryococcus, Spirogyra, Chlorococcum, and Chlorella contain significant amount of lipids which make them potential biodiesel feedstock whereas macroalgae e.g. Ulva, Sargassum, Laminaria, Gracilaria, Kappaphycus contain higher carbohydrate concentrations which make them potential bioethanol feedstocks. Large diversity of algal cultivars can be used as a potential source for biofuels but there are numerous c hallenges that will have to be overcome before large-scale cultivation of microalgae for biofuel will take place. The main ingredients that are needed to cultivate microalgae are water, CO2, light and several macro and micro nutrients. F urther research and development is necessary to find a solution for the expensive production process of microalga biofuels and especially the cu ltivation and harvesting steps need to be optimi zed.

Using fossil fuels for energy has exa cted an enormous toll on humanity and the environment. Amongst various forms of renewable energy resources, third generation biofuels extracted from algae might provide a sustainable sol ution. Biofuels are made from biological material such as plants, microorganisms, animals and wastes. Microalgae can deliver a sustaina ble and complementary biofuel platform with some important advantages. The major advantages is their relatively high growth rate and high o il content. Cultivation can be done all year round and no valuable land has to be used. The mu ltitude of species that are able to thrive in fresh and salt water offer plenty of possibilities for s cientists with regard to the optimization of the production processes. Algae can yield many co-p roducts from the same biomass which makes it a perfect candidate for the biorefinery concept. Products can use various industries such as pharmaceutical, paper and bioethanol production along with biogas and biodiesel. Micr oalgae as biomass has chemical composition, which varies depending on algae used, and it can b e rich in proteins, lipids. Several microalgae e. g. Botryococcus, Spirogyra, Chlorococcum, and Chlorella contain significant amount of lipids which make them potential biodiesel feedstock whereas macroalgae e.g. Ulva, Sargassum, Laminaria, Gracilaria, Kappaphycus contain higher carbohydrate concentrations which make them potential bioethanol feedstocks. Large diversity of algal cultivars can be used as a potential source for biofuels but there are numerous c hallenges that will have to be overcome before large-scale cultivation of microalgae for biofuel will take place. The main ingredients that are needed to cultivate microalgae are water, CO2, light and several macro and micro nutrients. F urther research and development is necessary to find a solution for the expensive production process of microalga biofuels and especially the cu ltivation and harvesting steps need to be optimi zed.