Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 3, 2026
04:40
Author Spotlight: Employing Green-Chemistry Principles for Safe and Sustainable Synthesis of Biodiesels
Published on: April 19, 2024
1.8K
Ultrasonic intensification as a tool for enhanced microbial biofuel yields
Balakrishnan Naveena1, Patricia Armshaw1, J Tony Pembroke1
1Molecular Biochemistry Laboratory, Materials and Surface Science Institute, Department of Chemical and Environmental Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Biotechnology for Biofuels
|September 18, 2015
Summary
Ultrasonication enhances microbial growth and product yields by improving biomass processing. This review explores its application in extracting compounds from algae and cyanobacteria for biofuel production.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Bioprocessing
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Ultrasonication is a novel bioprocessing tool for process intensification.
- Ultrasonic intensification improves biomass homogenization and mass transfer, enhancing microbial growth.
- It enables selective extraction of biomass components and boosts product yields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of ultrasonication in extraction and yield enhancement of compounds.
- Focus on algal and cyanobacterial biomass for biofuel production.
- Describe operating principles and influencing factors of ultrasonic intensification.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on ultrasonication in bioprocessing.
- Analysis of studies focusing on algal and cyanobacterial biomass.
- Examination of operating parameters: frequency, power intensity, duration, reactor design, and kinetics.
Main Results:
- Ultrasonic intensification enhances microbial growth and product yields.
- Effective for selective extraction of valuable compounds from microbial biomass.
- Significant potential for optimizing biofuel production from algae and cyanobacteria.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasonication is a valuable technique for process intensification in downstream processing.
- It offers economic benefits through enhanced yields and efficient extraction.
- Further research into operating conditions can optimize its application in biofuel production.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Biofuels
76
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...
76
01:22Bioreactor Controls-III
52
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...
52
01:18Bioreactor Controls-II
56
In aerobic fermentations, oxygen is vital for microbial growth and metabolite production. Since air comprises only about 20% oxygen and the gas is poorly soluble in water—just 9 ppm at 20°C—supplying sufficient oxygen becomes a critical challenge, especially in high-demand processes like yeast growth or citric acid production. Even a fully saturated broth may offer only a few seconds of oxygen availability.To address this, sterile or scrubbed air is introduced into the...
56
01:23Microbial Fermentation
1.9K
Fermentation is a crucial anaerobic metabolic process that enables microbes to derive energy from sugar without relying on oxygen or an electron transport chain. This process is fundamental to various biological and industrial applications and is classified based on the metabolic products generated.Role of Pyruvate in FermentationPyruvate and its derivatives serve as key electron acceptors in fermentative pathways. The oxidation of NADH to regenerate NAD+ is essential for the continuation of...
1.9K
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
1.5K
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
1.5K
01:26Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
63
Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to...
63