56
Sulfur is abundant in microalgae cells and is released as a mechanism of responses
to the distinct environmental conditions in which these microorganisms are exposed,
both biotic and abiotic (Giordano and Raven 2014; Lee et al. 2017). The release of
sulfur compounds can contribute significantly to the biogeochemical sulfur cycle,
contributing to environmental disturbances related to acid rain (Giordano and Raven
2014). Sulfur compounds are responsible for strong putrid odors and are produced
during bacterial degradation of microalgae in natural water sources (Suurnäkki
et al. 2015; Watson et al. 2016).
In fact, microalgae VOCs have some undesirable environmental implications.
But these robust microorganisms have so many other favorable forward skills to
sustainability that these issues become small. Microalgae-based process for CO 2
conversion into useful VOCs is one of the options. Associated with this, microalgae
may be a promising alternative to alter the formation of odoriferous compounds.
Recent studies on laboratory scale have shown the application of microalgae for
the production of a variety of volatile bioproducts for industrial purposes (Durme
et al. 2013; Santos et al. 2016a, b; López-Pérez et al. 2017).
Santos et al. (2018) evaluated the biogeneration of aromatic VOCs from
Phormidium autumnale cultivated mixotrophically in a photobioreactor. With the
same strain, Santos et al. (2016b) did not detect the compounds that cause unpleasant odor such as 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin. In the study by Hosoglu (2018),
were identified as characteristic aroma compounds of five species of microalgae
that could minimize aesthetically unpleasant effects. In contrast, Severo et al.
(2018b) developed an integrated process, where a photobioreactor captures CO 2 and
biologically generates VOCs for use as gaseous biofuels in a combustion system.
Therefore, it is perceived that the VOC detection has a wide reach of implications
in nature. At the same time, these molecules can open up a new perspective to be
exploited facing the industry.
2.6 Insights on Industrial Applications
Microalgae-based products have been very successful in the academic and manufacturing sectors. These microorganisms can biosynthesize CO 2 very efficiently and
biotransform it into VOCs. These, in turn, present potential industrial application in
the chemical, petrochemical, food, and pharmaceutical sectors (Jacob-Lopes and
Franco 2013; Claassens et al. 2016; Gong et al. 2018).
Numerous are the VOCs originated by microalgae, covering several classes of
small molecular weight carbonic chain compounds (Achyuthan et al. 2017). About
the commercialization of these molecules, the sale price can be 1000 times superior
to the synthetic sources. Some investments in research and development are being
made by companies that aim to manufacture volatile compounds of biological origin. This has excellent potential to expand revenue and market business in the coming years (Abdel-Raouf et al. 2012).
I. A. Severo et al.
Sulfur is abundant in microalgae cells and is released as a mechanism of responses
to the distinct environmental conditions in which these microorganisms are exposed,
both biotic and abiotic (Giordano and Raven 2014; Lee et al. 2017). The release of
sulfur compounds can contribute significantly to the biogeochemical sulfur cycle,
contributing to environmental disturbances related to acid rain (Giordano and Raven
2014). Sulfur compounds are responsible for strong putrid odors and are produced
during bacterial degradation of microalgae in natural water sources (Suurnäkki
et al. 2015; Watson et al. 2016).
In fact, microalgae VOCs have some undesirable environmental implications.
But these robust microorganisms have so many other favorable forward skills to
sustainability that these issues become small. Microalgae-based process for CO 2
conversion into useful VOCs is one of the options. Associated with this, microalgae
may be a promising alternative to alter the formation of odoriferous compounds.
Recent studies on laboratory scale have shown the application of microalgae for
the production of a variety of volatile bioproducts for industrial purposes (Durme
et al. 2013; Santos et al. 2016a, b; López-Pérez et al. 2017).
Santos et al. (2018) evaluated the biogeneration of aromatic VOCs from
Phormidium autumnale cultivated mixotrophically in a photobioreactor. With the
same strain, Santos et al. (2016b) did not detect the compounds that cause unpleasant odor such as 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin. In the study by Hosoglu (2018),
were identified as characteristic aroma compounds of five species of microalgae
that could minimize aesthetically unpleasant effects. In contrast, Severo et al.
(2018b) developed an integrated process, where a photobioreactor captures CO 2 and
biologically generates VOCs for use as gaseous biofuels in a combustion system.
Therefore, it is perceived that the VOC detection has a wide reach of implications
in nature. At the same time, these molecules can open up a new perspective to be
exploited facing the industry.
2.6 Insights on Industrial Applications
Microalgae-based products have been very successful in the academic and manufacturing sectors. These microorganisms can biosynthesize CO 2 very efficiently and
biotransform it into VOCs. These, in turn, present potential industrial application in
the chemical, petrochemical, food, and pharmaceutical sectors (Jacob-Lopes and
Franco 2013; Claassens et al. 2016; Gong et al. 2018).
Numerous are the VOCs originated by microalgae, covering several classes of
small molecular weight carbonic chain compounds (Achyuthan et al. 2017). About
the commercialization of these molecules, the sale price can be 1000 times superior
to the synthetic sources. Some investments in research and development are being
made by companies that aim to manufacture volatile compounds of biological origin. This has excellent potential to expand revenue and market business in the coming years (Abdel-Raouf et al. 2012).
I. A. Severo et al.