A review on microalgae and cyanobacteria in biofuel production

Mai Anh Nguyen (1) , Anh Linh Hoang (1)

1 CleanED - Clean Energy and Sustainable Development Lab

Today, fossil fuel shortages and climate change impacts have led mankind to the search for an alternative energy. With many advantages, bioenergy is a promising source to replace conventional energy. However, biofuel productions in the first and second generation are likely to add more concerns to the problems in water scarcity and threats to food security. Meanwhile, third generation biofuels obtained from microalgae and cyanobacteria are able to overcome existing challenges thanks to their rapid growth rates, abilities to fix CO 2 , high yields in lipid extraction and capabilities to be grown in non-arable lands. Microalgae and cyanobacteria appear to be the only ones among renewable sources that are capable of producing a wide range of biofuels including biohydrogen, biomethane, bioethanol and biodiesel. In this study, we present an overview about microalgae and cyanobacteria use for the production of biofuels in fundamentals, including their biology, cultivation systems taking into account the hydrodynamic conditions, harvesting, and processing. The review also provides a general picture at the current status of this renewable energy industry.

Mots clés: Energy crisis; Microalgae; Cyanobacteria; Biohydrogen; Biomethane; Bioethanol; Biodiesel; Open ponds; Photobioreactors; Hydrodynamics; Motility

Domaines: Economies et finances

Mai Anh Nguyen, Anh Linh Hoang. A review on microalgae and cyanobacteria in biofuel production. Economics and Finance. 2016. ⟨hal-01383026⟩