Novel Trends in Microalgal Bioprocess and Its Biochemical Conversion into Value-Added Products and Fuels

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, our society has faced multiple challenges, from the depletion of fossil fuel reserves, the growth of global energy and food demand, to environmental and climate crisis. Microalgae are an alternative sustainable feedstock for food, feed, bulk chemicals, bio-based materials, fine chemicals, fuels and energy production. Microalgal biomass is transformed into methane, biohydrogen, syngas, biodiesel, bioethanol, bioaceton, biomethanol, bio-char and bio-oil using different thermochemical, chemical and biochemical routes. 

Microalgal biomass is a rich source of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, sterols, pigments, hydrocarbons, vitamins and diverse bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, antiviral and anticancer activity. Unlike crops, microalgae do not require arable land and a freshwater supply for their cultivation. The cultivation of microalgae is independent of the seasonal climate conditions, and biomass can be harvested all year round. Microalgae are easy to cultivate, grow rapidly and have a higher lipid yield than oil crops, making them attractive for commercial exploitation. Due to the high capability of CO₂ sequestering, microalgal-based processes are able to mitigate climate change.

This Special Issue welomes original research articles and reviews on the development of sustainable microalgal-based bioprocesses, the downstream processing of biofuel applications and the conversion of microalgal biomass/products to biofuels using thermochemical, biochemical and chemical routes. This Special Issue addressess various topics, including the isolation and characterization of novel microalgal strains, cultivation, biomass/product isolation,  purification, and process optimization.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Optimization of growth conditions, composition of growth media and cultivation strategies for improved biomass production and/or product synthesis (e.g., lipids as feedstocks for biodiesel production);
• Conversion of microalgal biomass to biofuels;
• Valorization of microalgal biomass as a potential feedstock for the production of biofuels and value-added products in biorefinery;
• Microalgae biorefinery for the production of biofuels and value-added products;
• Downstream processing of microalgal biomass: harvesting, dewatering/drying, cell disruption, extraction;
• Modelling and optimization of microalgal biofuel production;
• Life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of microalgal biorefinery.

Dr. Mirela Ivančić Šantek
Prof. Dr. Tonči Rezić
Guest Editors

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• microalgae
• biofuels
• thermochemical conversion
• transesterification
• biochemical conversion
• photobioreactors
• raceways
• modelling
• optimization
• CO₂ mitigation
• downstream processing
• life cycle assessment
• techno-economic analysis