Integrating Microalgal Production with Industrial Outputs - Reducing Process Inputs and Quantifying the Benefits
2016 (English)In: Industrial Biotechnology, ISSN 1550-9087, E-ISSN 1931-8421, Vol. 12, no 4, p. 219-234Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The cultivation and processing of microalgal biomass is resource- and energy-intensive, negatively affecting the sustainability and profitability of producing bulk commodities, limiting this platform to the manufacture of relatively small quantities of high-value compounds. A biorefinery approach where all fractions of the biomass are valorized might improve the case for producing lower-value products. However, these systems are still likely to operate very close to thresholds of profitability and energy balance, with wide-ranging environmental and societal impacts. It thus remains critically important to reduce the use of costly and impactful inputs and energy-intensive processes involved in these scenarios. Integration with industrial infrastructure can provide a number of residual streams that can be readily used during microalgal cultivation and downstream processing. This review critically considers some of the main inputs required for microalgal biorefineries - such as nutrients, water, carbon dioxide, and heat - and appraises the benefits and possibilities for industrial integration on a more quantitative basis. Recent literature and demonstration studies will also be considered to best illustrate these benefits to both producers and industrial operators. Additionally, this review will highlight some inconsistencies in the data used in assessments of microalgal production scenarios, allowing more accurate evaluation of potential future biorefineries.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2016. Vol. 12, no 4, p. 219-234
Keywords [en]
Carbon, Carbon dioxide, Processing, Profitability, Refining, Downstream-processing, Industrial infrastructure, Industrial integration, Industrial outputs, Microalgal biomass, Microalgal cultivations, Reducing process, Societal impacts, Sustainable development
National Category
Natural Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-27634DOI: 10.1089/ind.2016.0006Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84983379983OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ri-27634DiVA, id: diva2:1059530
2016-12-222016-12-212020-12-01Bibliographically approved