386
M. C. Deprá et al.
implemented, so that in the near future the microalgae-based pigments have lower
environmental impacts compared to synthetic pigments.
15.8 Final Considerations and Future Prospects
The ability to naturally synthesize pigments with properties relevant to health makes
microalgae as a source potential for exploitation in the natural food colorants industry.
However, regardless of these potentialities, the establishment of life cycle analysis has
shown the weaknesses of these systems front the competition with the consolidated
chemical synthesis of pigments, based on fossil and non-renewable inputs. In this
way, new approaches to process engineering must be oriented toward the development
of economic and environmentally sustainable of the microalgae-based processes.
Process integration, process intensification, and the implementation of the biorefinery
concept have been considered as the main process engineering strategies that, in the
medium term, will consolidate processes and products based on microalgae.
The process integration mediated by microalgae is an appropriate and innovative
approach to complying with green engineering requirements, through the recovery
and reuse of surpluses energy, mass, water, and effluent from industrial processes.
Thus, different mass integration methodologies can be implemented to mitigate
the effects of economic and environmental impacts. This can be reflected in the
use of seawater/wastewater as an efficient way to contribute nutrients to cultures,
with parallel reuse of water, either directly or partially treated for use in other
processes. Additionally, the use of gaseous effluent streams from industrial combustion processes, rich in CO 2 and NOx, allowing the input of inorganic carbon and
nitrogen (N 2 ) in microalgae photosynthetic cultures. Since the microalgae can also
be grown heterotrophically, the wastewater integration allows the supply of essential nutrients, such as organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which are efficiently assimilated by these microorganisms. These bioprocesses offer a pathway
for biomass production using low-cost substrates and reducing the carbon and water
footprint. However, so that the different process integration strategies are developed
in practice, and it is necessary to couple a microalgae-based process in other industrial
facilities already established with the aim of reducing operating expenses.
In addition, the process intensification is related to the overall increase in the efficiency of the production process, by dramatically reducing inventory through smaller
equipment to improve reactor/yield, minimizing feedstock, energy consumption, and
waste generation. This progress may result in the extinction of some traditional
unit operations and even entire processes. Microalgal biomolecules, in most cases
present at low concentrations, only will be commercially viable through of extraction
techniques based on process intensification.
Finally, the chemical constitution of microalgal biomass has a potential of exploration of multiple products, besides feed and foods, such as fertilizers, fuels, and
bulk chemicals. The full exploration of this bioresource, however, requires a refinery
M. C. Deprá et al.
implemented, so that in the near future the microalgae-based pigments have lower
environmental impacts compared to synthetic pigments.
15.8 Final Considerations and Future Prospects
The ability to naturally synthesize pigments with properties relevant to health makes
microalgae as a source potential for exploitation in the natural food colorants industry.
However, regardless of these potentialities, the establishment of life cycle analysis has
shown the weaknesses of these systems front the competition with the consolidated
chemical synthesis of pigments, based on fossil and non-renewable inputs. In this
way, new approaches to process engineering must be oriented toward the development
of economic and environmentally sustainable of the microalgae-based processes.
Process integration, process intensification, and the implementation of the biorefinery
concept have been considered as the main process engineering strategies that, in the
medium term, will consolidate processes and products based on microalgae.
The process integration mediated by microalgae is an appropriate and innovative
approach to complying with green engineering requirements, through the recovery
and reuse of surpluses energy, mass, water, and effluent from industrial processes.
Thus, different mass integration methodologies can be implemented to mitigate
the effects of economic and environmental impacts. This can be reflected in the
use of seawater/wastewater as an efficient way to contribute nutrients to cultures,
with parallel reuse of water, either directly or partially treated for use in other
processes. Additionally, the use of gaseous effluent streams from industrial combustion processes, rich in CO 2 and NOx, allowing the input of inorganic carbon and
nitrogen (N 2 ) in microalgae photosynthetic cultures. Since the microalgae can also
be grown heterotrophically, the wastewater integration allows the supply of essential nutrients, such as organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which are efficiently assimilated by these microorganisms. These bioprocesses offer a pathway
for biomass production using low-cost substrates and reducing the carbon and water
footprint. However, so that the different process integration strategies are developed
in practice, and it is necessary to couple a microalgae-based process in other industrial
facilities already established with the aim of reducing operating expenses.
In addition, the process intensification is related to the overall increase in the efficiency of the production process, by dramatically reducing inventory through smaller
equipment to improve reactor/yield, minimizing feedstock, energy consumption, and
waste generation. This progress may result in the extinction of some traditional
unit operations and even entire processes. Microalgal biomolecules, in most cases
present at low concentrations, only will be commercially viable through of extraction
techniques based on process intensification.
Finally, the chemical constitution of microalgal biomass has a potential of exploration of multiple products, besides feed and foods, such as fertilizers, fuels, and
bulk chemicals. The full exploration of this bioresource, however, requires a refinery