11 Microalgae-Based Processes for Pigments Production
259
11.7 Concluding Remarks
Pigments derived from microalgae are steadily gaining ground in the most diverse
branches of industry. The successful marketing of β-carotene, astaxanthin, and
phycocyanin derived from these microorganisms, reflects the presence and importance of niche markets in which consumers are willing to pay more for products that
contain natural ingredients with bioactive properties.
However, to expand this market, they must be produced at a competitive price,
because synthetic pigments or extracted from conventional sources can generally
be produced more economically. In this sense, researchers and companies around
the world must develop strategies to improve the performance of microalgae-based
processes, reduce production costs, and consequently increase viability.
The main challenges to consolidate the microalgae industry are related to the
development of cultivation systems that allow higher productivity at a lower cost,
development of integration strategies and intensification of processes that will enable
the complete commercial exploitation of biomass, as well as the improvement of
downstream processes, especially harvesting, and cell disruption.
References
Acién Fernandes, F. G., Molina, E., Reis, A., Torzillo, G., Zittelli, G. C., Sepúlveda, C., & Masojídek,
J. (2017). Photobioreactors for the production of microalgae. In C. Gonzalez-Fernandez & E.
Muñoz (Eds), Microalgae-based biofuels and bioproducts (pp. 1–44).
Acién Fernández, F. G., Fernández Sevilla, J. M., & Molina Grima, E. (2019). Costs analysis of
microalgae production. In D. J. Lee, A. Pandey, J. -S. Chang, Y. Chisti, & C. Soccol (Eds),
Biomass, biofuels, biochemicals (2nd ed., pp. 551–566).
AstaReal. (2019). Our company. Retrieved August 28, 2019, from http://astarealusa.com/about-us/.
Ayalon, O. (2014). (Algatechnologies Ltd.): Astaxanthin derivatives for heat stress prevention and
treatment. WO2014057493 A1.
Barros, A., Pereira, H., Campos, J., Marques, A., Varela, J., & Silva, J. (2019). Heterotrophy as a
tool to overcome the long and costly autotrophic scale-up process for large-scale production of
microalgae. Scientific Reports, 9, 13935–13942.
Belay, A. (2013). Biology and industrial production of Arthrospira (Spirulina). In A. Richmond & Q.
Hu (Eds.), Handbook of microalgal culture: Applied phycology and biotechnology (pp. 339–358).
Ben-Amotz, A. (1995). New mode of Dunaliella biotechnology: Two-phase growth for β-carotene
production. Journal of Applied Phycology, 7(1), 65–68.
Ben-Amotz, A., Katz, A., & Avron, M. (1982). Accumulation of carotene in halotolerant
algae: Purification and characterization of carotene-rich globules from Dunaliella bardawil
(Chlorophyceae). Journal of Phycology, 18(4), 529–537.
Ben-Amotz, A., Polle, J. E. W., & Subba Rao, D. V. (2009). The Alga Dunaliella: Biodiversity,
physiology, genomics and biotechnology. NH: Science Publishers, Enfield.
259
11.7 Concluding Remarks
Pigments derived from microalgae are steadily gaining ground in the most diverse
branches of industry. The successful marketing of β-carotene, astaxanthin, and
phycocyanin derived from these microorganisms, reflects the presence and importance of niche markets in which consumers are willing to pay more for products that
contain natural ingredients with bioactive properties.
However, to expand this market, they must be produced at a competitive price,
because synthetic pigments or extracted from conventional sources can generally
be produced more economically. In this sense, researchers and companies around
the world must develop strategies to improve the performance of microalgae-based
processes, reduce production costs, and consequently increase viability.
The main challenges to consolidate the microalgae industry are related to the
development of cultivation systems that allow higher productivity at a lower cost,
development of integration strategies and intensification of processes that will enable
the complete commercial exploitation of biomass, as well as the improvement of
downstream processes, especially harvesting, and cell disruption.
References
Acién Fernandes, F. G., Molina, E., Reis, A., Torzillo, G., Zittelli, G. C., Sepúlveda, C., & Masojídek,
J. (2017). Photobioreactors for the production of microalgae. In C. Gonzalez-Fernandez & E.
Muñoz (Eds), Microalgae-based biofuels and bioproducts (pp. 1–44).
Acién Fernández, F. G., Fernández Sevilla, J. M., & Molina Grima, E. (2019). Costs analysis of
microalgae production. In D. J. Lee, A. Pandey, J. -S. Chang, Y. Chisti, & C. Soccol (Eds),
Biomass, biofuels, biochemicals (2nd ed., pp. 551–566).
AstaReal. (2019). Our company. Retrieved August 28, 2019, from http://astarealusa.com/about-us/.
Ayalon, O. (2014). (Algatechnologies Ltd.): Astaxanthin derivatives for heat stress prevention and
treatment. WO2014057493 A1.
Barros, A., Pereira, H., Campos, J., Marques, A., Varela, J., & Silva, J. (2019). Heterotrophy as a
tool to overcome the long and costly autotrophic scale-up process for large-scale production of
microalgae. Scientific Reports, 9, 13935–13942.
Belay, A. (2013). Biology and industrial production of Arthrospira (Spirulina). In A. Richmond & Q.
Hu (Eds.), Handbook of microalgal culture: Applied phycology and biotechnology (pp. 339–358).
Ben-Amotz, A. (1995). New mode of Dunaliella biotechnology: Two-phase growth for β-carotene
production. Journal of Applied Phycology, 7(1), 65–68.
Ben-Amotz, A., Katz, A., & Avron, M. (1982). Accumulation of carotene in halotolerant
algae: Purification and characterization of carotene-rich globules from Dunaliella bardawil
(Chlorophyceae). Journal of Phycology, 18(4), 529–537.
Ben-Amotz, A., Polle, J. E. W., & Subba Rao, D. V. (2009). The Alga Dunaliella: Biodiversity,
physiology, genomics and biotechnology. NH: Science Publishers, Enfield.