Cultivation and Downstream Processing of Algal Biomass

Dear Colleagues,

Microalgae are a group of organisms that are physiologically and morphologically heterogeneous. High growth rate, high photosynthetic efficiency, content of biologically active and energy-rich chemicals, experience with large-scale cultivation, and down-stream processing technologies have focused increased attention on microalgae. Lipids for biodiesel or as a feedstock for the chemical industry, ω-3 fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, pigments, biohydrogen, bioethanol, food supplements, animal feed, etc., are only a few examples of the wide-ranging potential for microalgae. However, there are only a few commercially-successful microalgal technologies, since the production costs of microalgae delimit their application only to high-value products. To improve the economic feasibility of microalgal biotechnologies, the production costs have to be reduced significantly. The development of an economically feasible industrial-scale production of microalgae, or products derived from them, requires a complex multidisciplinary approach.

While microalgae are unicellular organisms, macroalgae (or seaweed) are multicellular macroscopic organisms, which can be classified into red, green, and brown algae. Macroalgae proliferation can be unwanted in the case of eutrophication in rivers, lakes, and maritime basins. However, macroalgae can at the same time be the solution to the eutrophication problem, because they absorb excess nutrients and, therefore, they clean the same polluted waters. Like microalgae, also macroalgae can be used to produce biofuels and chemicals and they are a source of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. In addition, macroalgae can also provide food and nutrients to different organisms, including humans. The main steps in the cultivation and use of macroalgae are: species selection, production of juvenile algae, growth, harvest, transport, and further treatment. The whole supply chain has to be carefully analyzed to understand if the use of macroalgae in the green chemistry industry is economically, socially, and environmentally feasible.

In this Special Issue, we invite authors to submit original research and review articles that increase our understanding of photobioreactors and other technologies for the production of microalgal biomass. Some of the topics of interest are: the correlation between eutrophication and macroalgae formation, the methods of harvesting macro- and microalgae, and the downstream processing techniques of the algal biomass for product recovery. Further, original research articles and reviews focused on products from macro- and microalgae, macro- and microalgae for human and animal consumption, macro- and microalgae for novel foods and food supplements, macro- and microalgae as a source of fine chemicals, and their use in environmental applications are welcome. Contributions on potential algal biofuels and biorefineries based on macro- and microalgae are particularly welcome.

Prof. Dr. Tomáš Brányik
Dr. Pietro Bartocci
Guest Editors

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