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Energies
Volume 14
Issue 9
10.3390/en14092566
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Review

Immobilising Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Biocomposites: New Opportunities to Intensify Algae Biotechnology and Bioprocessing

by
Gary S. Caldwell
1,*,
Pichaya In-na
2,
Rachel Hart
1,
Elliot Sharp
3,
Assia Stefanova
4,
Matthew Pickersgill
2,5,
Matthew Walker
1,
Matthew Unthank
3,
Justin Perry
3 and
Jonathan G. M. Lee
2
1
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
2
School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
3
Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
4
School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
5
Northumbrian Water Ltd., Bran Sands, Tees Dock Road, Middlesbrough TS6 6UE, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Energies 2021, 14(9), 2566; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092566
Submission received: 1 April 2021 / Revised: 26 April 2021 / Accepted: 28 April 2021 / Published: 29 April 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microalgae Cultures: Environmental Tool and Bioenergy Source)
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Abstract

There is a groundswell of interest in applying phototrophic microorganisms, specifically microalgae and cyanobacteria, for biotechnology and ecosystem service applications. However, there are inherent challenges associated with conventional routes to their deployment (using ponds, raceways and photobioreactors) which are synonymous with suspension cultivation techniques. Cultivation as biofilms partly ameliorates these issues; however, based on the principles of process intensification, by taking a step beyond biofilms and exploiting nature inspired artificial cell immobilisation, new opportunities become available, particularly for applications requiring extensive deployment periods (e.g., carbon capture and wastewater bioremediation). We explore the rationale for, and approaches to immobilised cultivation, in particular the application of latex-based polymer immobilisation as living biocomposites. We discuss how biocomposites can be optimised at the design stage based on mass transfer limitations. Finally, we predict that biocomposites will have a defining role in realising the deployment of metabolically engineered organisms for real world applications that may tip the balance of risk towards their environmental deployment.
Keywords: bioreactor; carbon capture; carbon dioxide; eutrophication; immobilization; latex polymers; process intensification; wastewater bioreactor; carbon capture; carbon dioxide; eutrophication; immobilization; latex polymers; process intensification; wastewater
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MDPI and ACS Style

Caldwell, G.S.; In-na, P.; Hart, R.; Sharp, E.; Stefanova, A.; Pickersgill, M.; Walker, M.; Unthank, M.; Perry, J.; Lee, J.G.M. Immobilising Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Biocomposites: New Opportunities to Intensify Algae Biotechnology and Bioprocessing. Energies 2021, 14, 2566. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092566

AMA Style

Caldwell GS, In-na P, Hart R, Sharp E, Stefanova A, Pickersgill M, Walker M, Unthank M, Perry J, Lee JGM. Immobilising Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Biocomposites: New Opportunities to Intensify Algae Biotechnology and Bioprocessing. Energies. 2021; 14(9):2566. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092566

Chicago/Turabian Style

Caldwell, Gary S., Pichaya In-na, Rachel Hart, Elliot Sharp, Assia Stefanova, Matthew Pickersgill, Matthew Walker, Matthew Unthank, Justin Perry, and Jonathan G. M. Lee. 2021. "Immobilising Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Biocomposites: New Opportunities to Intensify Algae Biotechnology and Bioprocessing" Energies 14, no. 9: 2566. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092566

APA Style

Caldwell, G. S., In-na, P., Hart, R., Sharp, E., Stefanova, A., Pickersgill, M., Walker, M., Unthank, M., Perry, J., & Lee, J. G. M. (2021). Immobilising Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Biocomposites: New Opportunities to Intensify Algae Biotechnology and Bioprocessing. Energies, 14(9), 2566. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092566

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