1.7.3 Environmental Considerations
There are three dimensions of sustainability and they basically are very much
interrelated. They are economy, environment, and society. Sustainability occurs at
the intersection of the three domains. A system becomes more sustainable when all
three domains, as represented by the intersection of the three domains and also easy
to evaluate relative sustainability of a selected system. Microalgal biomass can be
pyrolyzed to produce different kinds of other biofuels such as hydrocarbons, biogas,
and biohydrogen. Microalgae cultivation opens new possibilities for its combination
with processes, such as wastewater and flue gas treatments, removal and sequestration of carbon dioxide, with the potential for reducing additional environmental
impacts. Various researchers demonstrated use of microalgae for pollution control
and production of useful products and energy cogeneration combustion (Hodaifa
et al. 2008; Murakami et al. 1998). Thus microalgae can be environmentally
sustainable and cost effective for the production of biofuels. Microalgae are also
an important part of a biotechnology supply chain that can yield many of the basic
chemicals necessary for the development. The growth and cultivation of microalgae
needs less land area as compared to other agricultural feedstocks. Mata et al. (2010)
reported, microalgae cultivation utilize 49 percent or 132 times less when compared
to rapeseed and soybean crops, respectively. Also, factors like quantity of nutrients
available, solar irradiation, and other environmental conditions have great role to
select the most adequate species for biofuels production (Mata et al. 2010). Other
algal production facilities may use nonnative species or species that have been
selected and bred or genetically modified for desirable characteristics for algal
biofuel production.
1.7.4 Future Opportunities for Algal Biofuel to Improve
Sustainability
Algal biofuel production process includes growth and higher biomass production,
separation, and conversion of microalgae biomass. At the end of separating process
the preferred biofuel product and significant portion of byproduct remains. For the
environmental sustainability of the process it is important that byproducts have a
useful and safe purpose. Menetrez (2010) evaluated environmental impact on the
cellulosic ethanol production from algae carbohydrate with the help of genetically
modified organisms. The waste outlet contains biological toxins, allergens,
carcinogens produced by these microorganisms. Bioprospecting is important to
identify algal species that have desired traits like high lipid content, growth rates,
growth densities, and/or the presence of valuable co-products while growing on
low-cost media. Despite the potential of these strategies, it is difficult to identify
species. To overcome this hurdle genetic engineering and breeding will be required
to bring these strains to economic viability.
The genetically modified algal strain have improved lipid biogenesis and enhance
crop protection along with valuable enzyme and protein as co-products. Moreover,
1 Algal Biofuel: A Sustainable Approach for Fuel of Future Generation
23
There are three dimensions of sustainability and they basically are very much
interrelated. They are economy, environment, and society. Sustainability occurs at
the intersection of the three domains. A system becomes more sustainable when all
three domains, as represented by the intersection of the three domains and also easy
to evaluate relative sustainability of a selected system. Microalgal biomass can be
pyrolyzed to produce different kinds of other biofuels such as hydrocarbons, biogas,
and biohydrogen. Microalgae cultivation opens new possibilities for its combination
with processes, such as wastewater and flue gas treatments, removal and sequestration of carbon dioxide, with the potential for reducing additional environmental
impacts. Various researchers demonstrated use of microalgae for pollution control
and production of useful products and energy cogeneration combustion (Hodaifa
et al. 2008; Murakami et al. 1998). Thus microalgae can be environmentally
sustainable and cost effective for the production of biofuels. Microalgae are also
an important part of a biotechnology supply chain that can yield many of the basic
chemicals necessary for the development. The growth and cultivation of microalgae
needs less land area as compared to other agricultural feedstocks. Mata et al. (2010)
reported, microalgae cultivation utilize 49 percent or 132 times less when compared
to rapeseed and soybean crops, respectively. Also, factors like quantity of nutrients
available, solar irradiation, and other environmental conditions have great role to
select the most adequate species for biofuels production (Mata et al. 2010). Other
algal production facilities may use nonnative species or species that have been
selected and bred or genetically modified for desirable characteristics for algal
biofuel production.
1.7.4 Future Opportunities for Algal Biofuel to Improve
Sustainability
Algal biofuel production process includes growth and higher biomass production,
separation, and conversion of microalgae biomass. At the end of separating process
the preferred biofuel product and significant portion of byproduct remains. For the
environmental sustainability of the process it is important that byproducts have a
useful and safe purpose. Menetrez (2010) evaluated environmental impact on the
cellulosic ethanol production from algae carbohydrate with the help of genetically
modified organisms. The waste outlet contains biological toxins, allergens,
carcinogens produced by these microorganisms. Bioprospecting is important to
identify algal species that have desired traits like high lipid content, growth rates,
growth densities, and/or the presence of valuable co-products while growing on
low-cost media. Despite the potential of these strategies, it is difficult to identify
species. To overcome this hurdle genetic engineering and breeding will be required
to bring these strains to economic viability.
The genetically modified algal strain have improved lipid biogenesis and enhance
crop protection along with valuable enzyme and protein as co-products. Moreover,
1 Algal Biofuel: A Sustainable Approach for Fuel of Future Generation
23