Cited by 86Algal biology and biofuel productionAnaerobic Digestion and Biogas ProductionMicrobial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction

Recent advances in wastewater microalgae-based biofuels production: A state-of-the-art review

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Ali, Sameh Samir, Mastropetros, Savvas Giannis, Schagerl, Michael, Sakarika, Myrsini, Elsamahy, Tamer, El-Sheekh, Mostafa, Sun, Jianzhong, Kornaros, Michael·2022·Energy Reports

Abstract

Rapidly expanding industrialization and the depletion of non-renewable fossil fuels have necessitated the discovery of feasible renewable alternatives to meet the rising energy demand while reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The present global energy strategy is built on cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives; and production of microalgae has the ability to meet these requirements. Microalgae have been found as a promising and sustainable alternative for treating wastewater (WW) concurrently with biofuel production. One potential strategy, which uses microalgae for lowering the level of contamination in WW is called bioremediation. There are substantial gains to be made for both the economy and the environment through the integration of microalgae-based biofuel production with wastewater treatment (WWT). The use of microalgae that have a short life span, a high growth rate, and a high CO2 usage efficiency is one of the promising approaches for producing biomass from WW nutrients that involves the utilization of renewable resources. Microalgae are one of the most promising biomass resources for use in thermochemical conversion processes for the production of liquid and gaseous biofuels due to their advantages over other biomass feedstocks, such as sustainability, renewability, and productivity. Currently, technology and cost are the primary obstacles limiting industrial applicability, which necessitates an optimum downstream process to minimize production costs. Consequently, the concurrent utilization of microalgae for WWT and biofuel production has made these challenges practical and economically viable. This review provides an overview of microalgae and their bioremediation and bioenergy production applications. It also provides insight for future research to investigate additional possible applications of microalgal biomass. These applications could include not only the bioremediation process, but also the generation of revenues from microalgae through the incorporation of clean and green technology, which would provide long-term sustainability and environmental benefits.

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  1. Saqib, A., Tabbssum, M.R., Rashid, U., Ibrahim, M., Gill, S.S., Mehmood, M.A., 2013. Marine macroalgae Ulva: a potential feed-stock for bioethanol and biogas production. Asian J. Agric. Biol. 1 (3), 155-163.

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Authors
Ali, S. S., Mastropetros, S. G., Schagerl, M., Sakarika, M., Elsamahy, T., El-Sheekh, M., Sun, J., & Kornaros, M.
Affiliations
  • Jiangsu University (CN)
  • University of Patras (GR)
  • University of Vienna (AT)
  • Ghent University (BE)
  • Tanta University (EG)
Corresponding author
  • Ali, Sameh Samir
  • Schagerl, Michael
  • Sun, Jianzhong
Venue
Energy Reports
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-11
Volume
8
Pages
13253-13280
ISSN
2352-4847 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4306399896
Cited by
86
References
304
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 19
FWCI
3.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Energy Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (publishedVersion)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Austrian Academy of Sciences
  • Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (IK-I-1-87)
  • National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFE0107 100)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (3177 2529)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
Keywords
microalgae, wastewater treatment, microalgal biofuels, bioremediation, microalgal biomass, thermochemical conversion, CO2 utilization, renewable energy, bioenergy production, microalgal biomass valorization

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