Current and novel approaches to downstream processing of microalgae: A review

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Phycology
• Bioprocess Engineering

Background:

• Microalgae cultivation holds significant promise for biofuels, food, feed, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and environmental remediation.
• Industrial-scale microalgae applications are hindered by challenges in culture scale-up, harvesting, and efficient extraction of target molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current techniques for harvesting and extracting biomolecules from microalgae.
• To discuss the impact of cell wall composition on microalgae cell disruption.
• To summarize recent advancements and promising experimental methods for industrial application.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of harvesting and extraction techniques.
• Analysis of cell wall composition's role in cell disruption.
• Survey of energetic assessments for different techniques.

Main Results:

• Bead milling and high-pressure homogenization show advantages for extracting high-value compounds.
• Enzyme hydrolysis is identified as a promising emerging technique for microalgae processing.
• Cell wall characteristics significantly influence the effectiveness of disruption methods.

Conclusions:

• Overcoming challenges in harvesting and extraction is crucial for the industrialization of microalgae.
• Standardized comparison methods are needed to evaluate different microalgae processing techniques.
• Further research into efficient cell disruption and extraction is essential for unlocking microalgae's full biotechnological potential.