number since 70s probably due to the general awareness regarding the depletion of
conventional energy resources and the environmental problems associated with the
widespread utilization of fossil-oriented energy carriers. The published patents
presented herein were classified into three main categories, i.e., upstream, mainstream, and downstream strategies. The upstream strategies were focused on algal
strain selection and genetic modification for enhancing the quality and quantity of
biomass produced. The mainstream strategies concerned improving cultivation
systems and conditions, while downstream strategies dealt with improving harvesting, dewatering, and lipid extraction.
References
Brennan, L., & Owende, P. (2010). Biofuels from microalgae—A review of technologies for
production, processing, and extractions of biofuels and co-products. Renewable and
Sustainable Energy Reviews, 14(2), 557–577.
Chisti, Y. (2008). Biodiesel from microalgae beats bioethanol. Trends in Biotechnology Advances,
26, 126–131.
Courchesne, N. M. D., Parisien, Wang, B., & Lan, C. Q. (2009). Enhancement of lipid production
using biochemical, genetic and transcription factor engineering approaches. Journal of
Biotechnology, 141, 31–41.
Craggs, R., Heubeck, S., Lundquist, T., & Benemann, J. (2011). Algal biofuels from wastewater
treatment high rate algal ponds. Water Science and Technology, 63(4), 660–665.
Craggs, R., Sutherland, D., & Campbell, H. (2012). Hectare-scale demonstration of high rate algal
ponds for enhanced wastewater treatment and biofuel production. Journal of Applied
Phycology, 24(3), 329–337.
de la Jara, A., Assunção, P., Portillo, E., Freijanes, K., & Mendoza, H. (2016). Evolution of
microalgal biotechnology: A survey of the European Patent Office database. Journal of Applied
Phycology, 28(5), 2727–2740.
De-Bashan, L. E., & Bashan, Y. (2010). Immobilized microalgae for removing pollutants: Review
of practical aspects. Bioresource Technology, 101(6), 1611–1627.
Faba, L., Díaz, E., & Ordóñez, S. (2015). Recent developments on the catalytic technologies for
the transformation of biomass into biofuels: A patent survey. Renewable and Sustainable
Energy Reviews, 51, 273–287.
John, R. P., Anisha, G. S., Nampoothiri, K. M., & Pandey, A. (2011). Micro and macroalgal
biomass: A renewable source for bioethanol. Bioresource Technology, 102, 186–193.
Lardon, L., Hlias, A., Sialve, B., Steyer, J. P., & Bernard, O. (2009). Life-cycle assessment of
biodiesel production from microalgae. Environmental Science and Technology, 43,
6475–6481.
Lee, J. W. (2010). Switchable photosystem-II designer algae for photobiological hydrogen
production. US Patent 7642405B2.
Medina, C., García, R., Reyes, P., Fierro, J. L. G., & Escalona, N. (2010). Fischer-Tropsch
synthesis from a simulated biosyngas feed over Co(x)/SiO 2 catalysts: Effect of co-loading.
Applied Catalysis A: General, 373, 71–75.
Ndimba, B. K., Ndimba, R. J., Johnson, T. S., Waditee-Sirisattha, R., Baba, M., Sirisattha, S., et al.
(2013). Biofuels as a sustainable energy source: An update of the applications of proteomics in
bioenergy crops and algae. Journal of proteomics, 93, 234–244.
Park, J. B. K., & Craggs, R. J. (2011). Nutrient removal and nitrogen balances in high rate algal
ponds with carbon dioxide addition. Water Science and Technology, 63(8), 1758–1764.
14 Recent Patents on Biofuels from Microalgae
305
conventional energy resources and the environmental problems associated with the
widespread utilization of fossil-oriented energy carriers. The published patents
presented herein were classified into three main categories, i.e., upstream, mainstream, and downstream strategies. The upstream strategies were focused on algal
strain selection and genetic modification for enhancing the quality and quantity of
biomass produced. The mainstream strategies concerned improving cultivation
systems and conditions, while downstream strategies dealt with improving harvesting, dewatering, and lipid extraction.
References
Brennan, L., & Owende, P. (2010). Biofuels from microalgae—A review of technologies for
production, processing, and extractions of biofuels and co-products. Renewable and
Sustainable Energy Reviews, 14(2), 557–577.
Chisti, Y. (2008). Biodiesel from microalgae beats bioethanol. Trends in Biotechnology Advances,
26, 126–131.
Courchesne, N. M. D., Parisien, Wang, B., & Lan, C. Q. (2009). Enhancement of lipid production
using biochemical, genetic and transcription factor engineering approaches. Journal of
Biotechnology, 141, 31–41.
Craggs, R., Heubeck, S., Lundquist, T., & Benemann, J. (2011). Algal biofuels from wastewater
treatment high rate algal ponds. Water Science and Technology, 63(4), 660–665.
Craggs, R., Sutherland, D., & Campbell, H. (2012). Hectare-scale demonstration of high rate algal
ponds for enhanced wastewater treatment and biofuel production. Journal of Applied
Phycology, 24(3), 329–337.
de la Jara, A., Assunção, P., Portillo, E., Freijanes, K., & Mendoza, H. (2016). Evolution of
microalgal biotechnology: A survey of the European Patent Office database. Journal of Applied
Phycology, 28(5), 2727–2740.
De-Bashan, L. E., & Bashan, Y. (2010). Immobilized microalgae for removing pollutants: Review
of practical aspects. Bioresource Technology, 101(6), 1611–1627.
Faba, L., Díaz, E., & Ordóñez, S. (2015). Recent developments on the catalytic technologies for
the transformation of biomass into biofuels: A patent survey. Renewable and Sustainable
Energy Reviews, 51, 273–287.
John, R. P., Anisha, G. S., Nampoothiri, K. M., & Pandey, A. (2011). Micro and macroalgal
biomass: A renewable source for bioethanol. Bioresource Technology, 102, 186–193.
Lardon, L., Hlias, A., Sialve, B., Steyer, J. P., & Bernard, O. (2009). Life-cycle assessment of
biodiesel production from microalgae. Environmental Science and Technology, 43,
6475–6481.
Lee, J. W. (2010). Switchable photosystem-II designer algae for photobiological hydrogen
production. US Patent 7642405B2.
Medina, C., García, R., Reyes, P., Fierro, J. L. G., & Escalona, N. (2010). Fischer-Tropsch
synthesis from a simulated biosyngas feed over Co(x)/SiO 2 catalysts: Effect of co-loading.
Applied Catalysis A: General, 373, 71–75.
Ndimba, B. K., Ndimba, R. J., Johnson, T. S., Waditee-Sirisattha, R., Baba, M., Sirisattha, S., et al.
(2013). Biofuels as a sustainable energy source: An update of the applications of proteomics in
bioenergy crops and algae. Journal of proteomics, 93, 234–244.
Park, J. B. K., & Craggs, R. J. (2011). Nutrient removal and nitrogen balances in high rate algal
ponds with carbon dioxide addition. Water Science and Technology, 63(8), 1758–1764.
14 Recent Patents on Biofuels from Microalgae
305