Algal biomass conversion to bioethanol - a step-by-step assessment
Razif Harun1, Jason W S Yip, Selvakumar Thiruvenkadam
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia. mh_razif@upm.edu.my.
Biotechnology Journal
|November 15, 2013
Summary
Algal biomass offers a sustainable alternative to energy crops for bioethanol production. Research focuses on optimizing pretreatment and fermentation technologies for cost-effective, high-yield biofuel synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Renewable Energy
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Rising global population and energy demand necessitate sustainable alternatives to finite fossil fuels.
- Fossil fuels contribute to pollution and global warming, driving interest in renewable energy sources like bioethanol.
- Current bioethanol production relies on energy crops, facing economic and temporal limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and assess pretreatment and fermentation technologies for bioethanol production from algal biomass.
- To critically evaluate the applicability of different methods for converting algal biomass into bioethanol.
- To explore the viability of algal biomass as a feedstock for sustainable biofuel generation.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on pretreatment technologies for biomass conversion.
- Analysis of single-stage fermentation and two-stage gasification/fermentation processes.
- Assessment of the economic and technical feasibility of algal biomass utilization.
Main Results:
- Algal biomass presents a viable alternative feedstock for bioethanol production.
- Various pretreatment and fermentation technologies are applicable to algal biomass conversion.
- Both single-stage and two-stage fermentation routes show potential for bioethanol synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to develop cost-effective and scalable methods for algal bioethanol production.
- Optimization should focus on maximizing bioethanol yield under economically viable conditions.
- Algal biomass holds significant promise for sustainable future energy needs.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Biofuels
108
The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...
108
01:22Bioreactor Controls-III
70
Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...
70
01:21Green Algae
1.1K
Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...
1.1K
01:20Energy-requiring Steps of Glycolysis
158.0K
Glucose is the source of nearly all energy used by organisms. The first step of converting glucose into usable energy is called glycolysis. Glycolysis occurs in the cytosol of the cell over two phases: an energy-requiring phase and an energy-releasing phase. Over the first three steps, glucose is converted into different forms and attached to two phosphate groups donated by two ATP molecules, resulting in an unstable sugar. In the next two stages, the unstable sugar splits into two sugar...
158.0K
01:20Fates of Pyruvate
9.1K
Pyruvate is the end product of glycolysis, where glucose is oxidized to pyruvate, simultaneously reducing NAD+ to NADH. Two molecules of ATP are also produced by substrate-level phosphorylation.
In aerobic organisms, pyruvate is metabolized via the citric acid cycle to produce reduced coenzymes NADH and FADH2. These coenzymes are then oxidized in the electron transport chain to produce ATP and, in the process, regenerate the NAD+ and FAD. As seen in some cell types and organisms, fermentation...
In aerobic organisms, pyruvate is metabolized via the citric acid cycle to produce reduced coenzymes NADH and FADH2. These coenzymes are then oxidized in the electron transport chain to produce ATP and, in the process, regenerate the NAD+ and FAD. As seen in some cell types and organisms, fermentation...
9.1K