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Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
Published on: July 18, 2025
Microalgae-based bioplastics from wastewater: a bibliometric, technological, and sustainability review
Koko Iwan Agus Kurniawan1, Muhammad Naufal Rauf Ibrahim2, Laila Dina Amalia Purba3
1Department of Agroindustrial Technology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia. koko.kurniawan@unpad.ac.id.
Abstract:
The rising demand for sustainable plastics has intensified interest in microalgae-based bioplastics, particularly polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). This review adopts a hybrid semi-systematic review framework integrating bibliometric analysis and qualitative narrative synthesis to examine microalgae cultivation coupled with wastewater treatment for bioplastic production. A bibliometric assessment of 491 research articles reveals a sharp increase in research activity since 2018, with China, India, and Spain leading in publication output. Bibliometric mapping using Visualization of Similarities Viewer (VOSviewer) identified key research clusters in biorefinery integration, PHA synthesis, wastewater treatment, and nutrient removal, alongside emerging themes such as genetically engineered microalgae, bacterial co-cultivation, saline wastewater utilization, circular economy applications, and CO₂ biofixation. The technological review highlights advances in nutrient-limited and mixotrophic cultivation using agro-industrial wastewaters, while the sustainability assessment demonstrates contributions to greenhouse gas reduction, economic viability, and resource recovery. Despite notable progress, challenges persist in techno-economic feasibility, process optimization, and industrial scalability. This review identifies critical knowledge gaps and proposes a strategic roadmap to enhance biomass productivity, improve biopolymer yield, and enable integrated systems that position microalgae as a viable platform for next-generation sustainable bioplastics within a circular bioeconomy.
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