6 Remarks and Conclusion
The lineal system of our current economy (extraction, manufacture, use, and disposal) has reached its limits, entailing depletion of a number of natural resources
and fossil fuels (Mohan et al. 2016a). In a bio-based economy, biorefinery strategy
is a key factor to close the loop in a circular economy with a restorative and
regenerative production model that values waste and minimizes negative environmental impacts through a transition to renewable energy sources. Microalgae biomass is one of the best alternatives for a biorefinery due to the diverse products that
can be obtained. However, current applications of microalgae biomass are mainly
for food and feed, and biofuels are not produced at industrial scale. At present, the
high production cost of biomass and its subsequent fractionation make it economically nonviable, particularly when the production focuses on a single product,
such as fuel. Advances in genetic modification of strains, production systems, and
downstream processing, besides valorization and acceptance of a broad range of
products, could contribute to assess sustainability and profitability.
Acknowledgements This work was supported by CONACYT (Mexican Council for Science and
Technology) through project numbers 247402 and 247006.
References
Abd El Baky, H. H., & El-Baroty, G. S. (2013). Healthy benefit of microalgal bioactive
substances. Journal of Aquatic Science, 1(1), 11–22.
Acién, F. G., Molina, E., Fernández-Sevilla, J. M., Barbosa, M., Gouveia, L., Sepúlveda C., et al.
(2017). Economics of microalgae production. In R. Muñoz, C. González (Eds.),
Microalgae-based biofuels and bioproducts (pp. 485–503). Amsterdam: Elsevier Ltd. ISBN:
9780081010235.
Adam, F., Abert-vian, M., Peltier, G., & Chemat, F. (2012). “‘Solvent-free’” ultrasound-assisted
extraction of lipids from fresh microalgae cells: A green, clean and scalable process.
Bioresource Technology, 114, 457–465.
Adarme-Vega, T., Lim, D. K. Y., Timmins, M., Vernen, F., Li, Y., & Schenk, P. M. (2012).
Microalgal biofactories: A promising approach towards sustainable omega-3 fatty acid
production. Microbial Cell Factories, 11(1), 96.
Ahmad, N., Pandit, N., & Maheshwari, S. (2012). L-asparaginase gene-a therapeutic approach
towards drugs for cancer cell. International Journal of of Biosciences, 2(4), 1–11. Retrieved
from http://sanjiv08.6te.net/ijb1.pdf.
Albarelli, J. Q., Santos, D. T., Ensinas, A. V., Marechal, F., Cocero, M. J., & Meireles, M. A. A.
(2017). Product diversification in the sugarcane biorefinery through algae growth and
supercritical CO 2 extraction: Thermal and economic analysis. Renewable Energy, 1–10.
Al-Sherif, E. A., Ab El-Hameed, M. S., Mahmoud, M. A., & Ahmed, H. S. (2015). Use of
cyanobacteria and organic fertilizer mixture as soil bioremediation. American-Eurasian
Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Science, 15, 794–799.
Alzate, M. E., Muñoz, R., Rogalla, F., Fdz-Polanco, F., & Pérez-Elvira, S. I. (2012). Biochemical
methane potential of microalgae: Influence of substrate to inoculum ratio, biomass
concentration and pretreatment. Bioresource Technology, 123, 488–494.
5 Microalgae Biorefineries for Energy …
127
The lineal system of our current economy (extraction, manufacture, use, and disposal) has reached its limits, entailing depletion of a number of natural resources
and fossil fuels (Mohan et al. 2016a). In a bio-based economy, biorefinery strategy
is a key factor to close the loop in a circular economy with a restorative and
regenerative production model that values waste and minimizes negative environmental impacts through a transition to renewable energy sources. Microalgae biomass is one of the best alternatives for a biorefinery due to the diverse products that
can be obtained. However, current applications of microalgae biomass are mainly
for food and feed, and biofuels are not produced at industrial scale. At present, the
high production cost of biomass and its subsequent fractionation make it economically nonviable, particularly when the production focuses on a single product,
such as fuel. Advances in genetic modification of strains, production systems, and
downstream processing, besides valorization and acceptance of a broad range of
products, could contribute to assess sustainability and profitability.
Acknowledgements This work was supported by CONACYT (Mexican Council for Science and
Technology) through project numbers 247402 and 247006.
References
Abd El Baky, H. H., & El-Baroty, G. S. (2013). Healthy benefit of microalgal bioactive
substances. Journal of Aquatic Science, 1(1), 11–22.
Acién, F. G., Molina, E., Fernández-Sevilla, J. M., Barbosa, M., Gouveia, L., Sepúlveda C., et al.
(2017). Economics of microalgae production. In R. Muñoz, C. González (Eds.),
Microalgae-based biofuels and bioproducts (pp. 485–503). Amsterdam: Elsevier Ltd. ISBN:
9780081010235.
Adam, F., Abert-vian, M., Peltier, G., & Chemat, F. (2012). “‘Solvent-free’” ultrasound-assisted
extraction of lipids from fresh microalgae cells: A green, clean and scalable process.
Bioresource Technology, 114, 457–465.
Adarme-Vega, T., Lim, D. K. Y., Timmins, M., Vernen, F., Li, Y., & Schenk, P. M. (2012).
Microalgal biofactories: A promising approach towards sustainable omega-3 fatty acid
production. Microbial Cell Factories, 11(1), 96.
Ahmad, N., Pandit, N., & Maheshwari, S. (2012). L-asparaginase gene-a therapeutic approach
towards drugs for cancer cell. International Journal of of Biosciences, 2(4), 1–11. Retrieved
from http://sanjiv08.6te.net/ijb1.pdf.
Albarelli, J. Q., Santos, D. T., Ensinas, A. V., Marechal, F., Cocero, M. J., & Meireles, M. A. A.
(2017). Product diversification in the sugarcane biorefinery through algae growth and
supercritical CO 2 extraction: Thermal and economic analysis. Renewable Energy, 1–10.
Al-Sherif, E. A., Ab El-Hameed, M. S., Mahmoud, M. A., & Ahmed, H. S. (2015). Use of
cyanobacteria and organic fertilizer mixture as soil bioremediation. American-Eurasian
Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Science, 15, 794–799.
Alzate, M. E., Muñoz, R., Rogalla, F., Fdz-Polanco, F., & Pérez-Elvira, S. I. (2012). Biochemical
methane potential of microalgae: Influence of substrate to inoculum ratio, biomass
concentration and pretreatment. Bioresource Technology, 123, 488–494.
5 Microalgae Biorefineries for Energy …
127