It is expected that 84% of the global energy demands will be met through fossil fuels in 2030 due to increasing energy needs. However, due to their impact on the environment through the emission of anthropogenic green house gases, biofuels were introduced as alternative sources of energy. Biofuels of plant origin for the transport sector proved to be controversial due to competition for food production, fertile land and expensive production processes. As a secondary alternative, microalgae such as Scenedesmus obliquus, Chlorella vulgaris and Nannochloropsis sp. were found to be suitable candidates for liquid biofuels production. This review describes the production of transportation liquid biofuels from plant biomass and microalgae. Information is provided on how the controversies related to plant biomass lead to the use of algal biomass. The production processes involved in both generations are discussed and highlighted. Furthermore, details on the production of secondary products such as pigments, feed additives and valuable secondary metabolites are also provided.
Mauritius is a tropical island with a very rich biodiversity of endemic organisms with an unexplored pool of microalgae, especially in the Ulvophyceae class. From freshwater sources, an isolate was characterised using morphological traits and 18S rDNA region. It was determined to be Rhexinema paucicellulare and was further evaluated for its biochemical content against commercially available Spirulina sp. This study evaluates the lipids content and offers a first report on the carbohydrate and protein contents of this species. The biochemical profile of Spirulina sp. differed significantly from R. paucicellulare with respect to carbohydrate (17.36% vs. 20.31%); protein (45.09% vs. 25.71%) and lipids (5.86% vs. 13.88%). Further exploration of the fatty acids profile through GC analysis revealed high presence of alpha-linolenic acid at 26.48% and linoleic acid at 6.31%. The presence of important omega-3 FA was evidenced through GC/MS analysis with eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid which could make this isolate a potential candidate in the field of aquaculture.
The world population is ever increasing and so is the need to ensure food security. Food production needs to increase by about 70% within the next 40 years to cater for food consumption. Moreover, with increasing collective consciousness toward food supplementation for improving quality of health, the development of nutraceuticals has gained prominence in disease prevention, treatment, and overall health improvement. However, due to the constant controversial debate of food production for consumption against other uses, the search for better alternatives led to microalgae. Species such as Spirulina, Chlorella, Scenedesmus, and Dunaliella, among many others, are important sources of primary and secondary metabolites that play crucial roles in disease prevention and treatment. Understanding the significance of nutraceuticals and how microalgae can be used to produce those value-added molecules is necessary for any potential commercial exploitation. This review discusses the potential of microalgae to be exploited as promising sources of nutraceuticals. Here, essential biomolecules used as nutraceuticals are explored and their crucial roles in disease prevention, especially cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and strengthening the immune system. The composition of microalgae, which makes them suitable candidates to produce nutraceuticals, is discussed. Furthermore, the multifarious aspects of microalgae cultivation, in terms of cultivation systems and factors affecting biomass production and productivity regarding nutraceutical production, are reviewed. The multiple sustainable facets of microalgae culture, which can help in carbon sequestration, fast biomass production, and boosting health benefits, should interest stakeholders and potential commercial producers. Bioprocessing of microalgae for the extraction and purification of microalgae-based products is also reviewed, focusing on the key methods of pre-treatment, extraction, and purification of microalgal biomass.
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