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Cited by 109Algal biology and biofuel productionMicrobial Metabolic Engineering and BioproductionBiofuel production and bioconversion

A review on the current status and post-pandemic prospects of third-generation biofuels

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Maliha, Azra, Abu-Hijleh, Bassam·2023·Energy Systems
DOI 10.1007/s12667-022-00514-7PMC PMC9107961
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Abstract

The rapid increase in fossil fuel depletion, environmental degradations, and industrialization have encouraged the need and production of sustainable fuel alternatives. This has led to the increase in interest in biofuels, especially third-generation biofuels produced from microalgae since they do not compete with food and land supplies. However, the global share for these biofuels has been inadequate recently, especially due to the ongoing global pandemic. Therefore, this paper offers a review of the state-of-the-art study of the production field of third-generation biofuel from microalgae. The current review aims to focus on the different aspects of algal biofuel production that requires further attention to produce it at a large scale. It was found that several strategies during the life cycle of algal biofuel production can significantly increase its quality and yield while reducing cost, energy, and other related attributes. This paper also focuses on the challenges for large-scale production of third-generation biofuels pre and post COVID-19 to better understand the barriers. The high cost of this fuel’s production and sale tends to be the major reason behind the lack of large-scale production, hence, inadequacy to meet the global need. Third-generation biofuel has so much to offer including many integrated applications and advanced uses in the future fuel industry. Therefore, it is important to cope with the ongoing circumstances and emphasize the future of algal biofuel as a sustainable source.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Maliha, A., & Abu-Hijleh, B.
Affiliations
British University in Dubai (AE)
Corresponding author
  • Maliha, Azra
  • Abu-Hijleh, Bassam
ORCID
Venue
Energy Systems
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2022-05-16
Volume
14
Issue
4
Pages
1185-1216
ISSN
  • 1868-3967 (ISSN-L)
  • 1868-3975
DOI
10.1007/s12667-022-00514-7
PMC
PMC9107961
OpenAlex
W4280600161
Cited by
109
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 2
FWCI
3.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Energy Systems (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biofuel production and bioconversion
Keywords
third-generation biofuels, microalgae, mass production, production costs, biofuel yield, sustainable fuels

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