Bio-Based Products from Microalgae Cultivated in Digestates

Koutra, Eleni; Economou, Christina Ν.; Tsafrakidou, Panagiota; Kornaros, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.02.015

Cited by 147 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…This involves the need for the development of low-cost but highly efficient photo-bioreactors, cultivation and harvesting methods, including inexpensive technologies for concentration of dilute microalgae suspensions at harvest. Some promising approaches for cost reduction include the combination of cultivation with wastewater treatment for nutrient supply [115,116], additional use of aquatic biomass for extraction of high-value compounds prior to biogas production [106,115,117], or the integration with advanced cultivation systems such as integrated multi-trophic aquaculture [109]. Further research is necessary to improve the methane production potential and anaerobic conversion of aquatic biomass through selection of appropriate species and optimization of cultivation conditions for high gas yields, and the development of strategies to increase process stability and to avoid inhibition which may be caused for instance, by high protein, lipid, sulphur, polyphenol, halogen, or saline concentrations in some algae or aquatic plants [115,118].…”

Section: Aquatic Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Future Agricultural Biogas Plant in Germany: A Vision

et al. 2019

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After nearly two decades of subsidized and energy crop-oriented development, agricultural biogas production in Germany is standing at a crossroads. Fundamental challenges need to be met. In this article we sketch a vision of a future agricultural biogas plant that is an integral part of the circular bioeconomy and works mainly on the base of residues. It is flexible with regard to feedstocks, digester operation, microbial communities and biogas output. It is modular in design and its operation is knowledge-based, information-driven and largely automated. It will be competitive with fossil energies and other renewable energies, profitable for farmers and plant operators and favorable for the national economy. In this paper we discuss the required contribution of research to achieve these aims.

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Section: Aquatic Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Future Agricultural Biogas Plant in Germany: A Vision

et al. 2019

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“…General chemical characteristics (emphasis on N and P) of different wastewater sources. [16][17][18] matter, and about 99% of which is liquid and the remaining 1% is a solid waste. [14] Wastewaters, therefore are generated from a variety of sources.…”

Section: Current Status Of Wastewater Treatment In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Algal Cultivation for Treating Wastewater in African Developing Countries: A Review

Nwoba

Vadiveloo

Ogbonna

et al. 2020

CLEAN Soil Air Water

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The tremendous increase in human population and rapid decline in freshwater resources have necessitated the development of innovative and sustainable wastewater treatment methods. Africa as a developing continent is currently backing on sustainable solutions to tackle impending water resource crisis brought forward by wastewater‐induced environmental pollution and climate change. Microalgae‐based wastewater treatment systems represent an emerging technology that is capable of meeting the new demand for improved wastewater treatment and climate change mitigation strategies in an environmentally friendly manner. This review critically looks at the opportunities of Africa in harnessing and exploiting the potential of microalgae for the treatment of various wastewaters based on their capacity to recycle nutrients and for concurrent production of valuable biomass and several useful metabolites. Wastewaters, if improperly/completely untreated and discharged, simultaneously pollute freshwater sources and present significant health and environmental risks. Nutrients in wastewater can be utilized and recovered in the form of marketable biomass and products when integrated with the cultivation of microalgae. Several valuable bioproducts can be generated from wastewater‐grown microalgal biomass including biofuels, biofertilizers, animal feed, and various bioactive compounds. This biorefinery approach would most certainly improve wastewater treatment process economics, enhancing the technical feasibility of algae‐based wastewater remediation in African countries.

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“…carotenoids and keto-carotenoids) and fatty acids (i.e. omega-3 fatty acids), showing several applications already commercialized in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical markets (Bilal et al 2017, Ng et al 2017, Koutra et al 2018, Maeda et al 2018, Renuka et al 2018. Algae-base products are however still not competitive in larger markets since costs for biomass production, harvesting and processing are still too high (Acién Fernández et al 2012, Lam et al 2018.…”

Section: Potential Of Microalgae As Source Of Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential of quantitative models to improve microalgae photosynthetic efficiency

Perin

Bellan

Bernardi

et al. 2019

Physiologia Plantarum

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The massive increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere driven by human activities is causing huge negative consequences and new sustainable sources of energy, food and materials are highly needed. Algae are unicellular photosynthetic microorganisms that can provide a highly strategic contribution to this challenge as alternative source of biomass to complement crops cultivation. Algae industrial cultures are commonly limited by light availability, and biomass accumulation is strongly dependent on their photon‐to‐biomass conversion efficiency. Investigation of algae photosynthetic metabolism is thus strategic for the generation of more efficient strains with higher productivity. Algae are cultivated at industrial scale in conditions highly different from the natural niches they adapted to and strains development efforts must fully consider the seminal influence on productivity of regulatory mechanism of photosynthesis as well as of cultivation parameters like cells concentration, light distribution in the culture, mixing, nutrients and carbon dioxide availability. In this review we will focus in particular on how mathematical models can account for the complex influence of all environmental parameters and can be exploited for development of improved algae strains.

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Bio-Based Products from Microalgae Cultivated in Digestates

Cited by 147 publications

References 87 publications

The Future Agricultural Biogas Plant in Germany: A Vision

The Future Agricultural Biogas Plant in Germany: A Vision

Algal Cultivation for Treating Wastewater in African Developing Countries: A Review

The potential of quantitative models to improve microalgae photosynthetic efficiency

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