Table 1
(continued)
Application
Microalgae
Examples of functions and/or
molecules
Market volume or price
References
Fertilizer and
biostimulants
Anabaena, Nostoc
Spirulina, Haematococcus,
Chlorella
sp.,
Nannochloropsis
sp.
Upgrade soil quality and fertility
by acting as water retainer,
releasing essential nutrients
(phosphate, nitrogen, and trace
elements). Require less chemical
fertilizer and act as promoters for
plant growth and preventing plant
infection by synthetizing
biochemical components with
antiviral and antibacterial
activities
Biostimulant represents 27% of
the USD 3.4 billons with prices
of
€1300–1500/ton for
microalgal biostimulant
Abd El Baky and El-Baroty
(2013), Hannon et al. (2010), van
der Voort et al. (2015)
Cosmetic
Spirulina, Chlorella,
Haematococcus
Proteins, vitamins, minerals, and
pigments which have effects on
skin. Skin-care and hair-care
products already for sale. Help
tissue to regenerate, collagen
synthesis is improved
Astaxanthin produced by
Haematococcus pluvialis
has
market prices between 1900 and
7000 USD/kg
Adarme-Vega et al. (2012),
Hariskos et al. (2014), Shah et al.
(2016), Spolaore et al. (2006),
Yaakob et al. (2014)
Pharmaceuticals Nannochloropsis oculata,
Tolypothrix byssoidea,
Chlamydomonas
Zeaxanthin pigment reduces
tyrosinase activity by inhibition.
Used in whitening creams.
Tubercidin has activities in
lymphocytic leukemia. Growth of
lymphosarcoma (blood tumor
cells) in mice has been stopped
by L-asparaginase
Until today no microalgal-derived
pharmaceuticals have entered the
market yet. But total global
pharmaceutical industry had a
value of USD 955 billion in 2011
(LEK 2013), and the market of
active ingredients for
pharmaceuticals had a size of
USD 101 billions
Ahmad et al. (2012), Paul (1982),
van der Voort et al. (2015)
(continued)
5 Microalgae Biorefineries for Energy …
93
(continued)
Application
Microalgae
Examples of functions and/or
molecules
Market volume or price
References
Fertilizer and
biostimulants
Anabaena, Nostoc
Spirulina, Haematococcus,
Chlorella
sp.,
Nannochloropsis
sp.
Upgrade soil quality and fertility
by acting as water retainer,
releasing essential nutrients
(phosphate, nitrogen, and trace
elements). Require less chemical
fertilizer and act as promoters for
plant growth and preventing plant
infection by synthetizing
biochemical components with
antiviral and antibacterial
activities
Biostimulant represents 27% of
the USD 3.4 billons with prices
of
€1300–1500/ton for
microalgal biostimulant
Abd El Baky and El-Baroty
(2013), Hannon et al. (2010), van
der Voort et al. (2015)
Cosmetic
Spirulina, Chlorella,
Haematococcus
Proteins, vitamins, minerals, and
pigments which have effects on
skin. Skin-care and hair-care
products already for sale. Help
tissue to regenerate, collagen
synthesis is improved
Astaxanthin produced by
Haematococcus pluvialis
has
market prices between 1900 and
7000 USD/kg
Adarme-Vega et al. (2012),
Hariskos et al. (2014), Shah et al.
(2016), Spolaore et al. (2006),
Yaakob et al. (2014)
Pharmaceuticals Nannochloropsis oculata,
Tolypothrix byssoidea,
Chlamydomonas
Zeaxanthin pigment reduces
tyrosinase activity by inhibition.
Used in whitening creams.
Tubercidin has activities in
lymphocytic leukemia. Growth of
lymphosarcoma (blood tumor
cells) in mice has been stopped
by L-asparaginase
Until today no microalgal-derived
pharmaceuticals have entered the
market yet. But total global
pharmaceutical industry had a
value of USD 955 billion in 2011
(LEK 2013), and the market of
active ingredients for
pharmaceuticals had a size of
USD 101 billions
Ahmad et al. (2012), Paul (1982),
van der Voort et al. (2015)
(continued)
5 Microalgae Biorefineries for Energy …
93