Microalgae as source of biofuel, food, fodder, and medicines

Macroalgae-Derived Biofuel: A Review of Methods of Energy Extraction from Seaweed Biomass

“…The moisture content of biomass can reduce the heat available compared to that from dry biomass by 20% [38] and the direct combustion of biomass is "feasible" only for biomass with a moisture content of less than 50% [42,43]. Nevertheless, it has been suggested that the relatively simple process of direct combustion of dried seaweed (Ulva) could avoid the "additional technological problems" of producing liquid fuels from macroalgae (see below) [44].…”

“…Fast pyrolysis is capable of achieving greater liquid product and gas yields of around 70%-80%, compared to 15%-65% achieved through slow pyrolysis [35,43]. Bio-oil is generally thought of as a more attractive end product than either char or syngas as it has a higher energy density and is easily transported and stored [60].…”

Effect of growth conditions and extraction solvents on enhancement of antimicrobial activity of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris

“…In the current study, the possible effects of growth conditions and extraction solvents on antimicrobial potential of C. vulgaris was determined. In the last few decades, researchers have recognized the increasing importance and value of microalgae as a potential source of novel antimicrobial agents (20,21). Several studies documented antibacterial activity of Chlorella species (22)(23)(24).…”

Methods of energy extraction from microalgal biomass: a review

“…Fast pyrolysis is considered a more effective process than slow pyrolysis (Ghasemi et al 2012), with the capability of achieving greater liquid product and gas yields of around 70-80 %, compared to 15 -65 % for slow pyrolysis (Brennan and Owende 2010;Varfolomeev and Wasserman 2011). The properties of bio-oil from fast pyrolysis have also been reported to be more suitable for refining to liquid fuels ).…”

“…The moisture content of biomass can reduce the available heat compared to that from dry biomass by 20 % (Demirbas 2001) and the direct combustion of biomass is feasible only for biomass with a moisture content of less than 50 % (McKendry 2002;Varfolomeev and Wasserman 2011). Large biomass plants can be as efficient as fossil fuel plants, but the higher moisture content of biomass results in additional costs (Demirbas 2001).…”