From the above-mentioned reactor configurations for process intensification, it
can be said that the ultrasound and microwave reactors have been already employed
for biodiesel production from microalgae as the feedstock and remaining need to be
utilized via process intensification study to make process economically feasible. As
mentioned in Sect. 5.2 and 5.3, microwave- and ultrasound-assisted processes have
also been employed in enhanced bioethanol and biogas production from microalgae. It can be concluded that the study on US and MW is quite progressive as
compared to other technologies available and more research needs to be performed
for establishment of other available technologies in biodiesel production from
microalgae as they might have a potential to overcome the disadvantages of US and
MW, especially at large scale of operation.
7 Conclusions
Biofuels produced from microalgae can be considered as an effective alternative to
petrochemical fuels but there are limited technologies available currently which can
be commercially applied. Application of process intensification approaches at different stages of processing can give an energy efficient process with scope for
commercialization as demonstrated in the current chapter. The techniques involved
in harvesting as the very first stage of processing and subsequent lipid extraction
need to be developed into efficient techniques based on process intensification to
achieve economic feasibility of process. Innovative solutions are also required to
build strategies for the subsequent reactions and separations which will give a
possible solution maintaining the positive aspects of current methods and remove
the undesired ones which will make the process costeffective and give positive
energy gains. The development of microalgae biorefinery can be a feasible solution
as high-value products which can be beneficial to the cosmetics, pharmaceutical,
and nutritional industries remain largely unexplored, and this will essentially shift
the current focus from only biofuels production to diversification of the other
products with biofuels. The processes developed must be applicable to the
microalgal species which are available commonly and should be easily transformed
into continuous mode which can be applicable on commercial scale. Process
intensification can help to improve the working of current processes making them
efficient in aspects of time and energy. It has been established from the research
articles available that biodiesel from microalgae is more feasible as compared to
bioethanol and biogas. Biogas and bioethanol production from microalgae can also
be improved via process intensification techniques like ultrasound and microwave
with benefits as lower times, lower requirement of reactants, and lower temperature.
Overall, it can be concluded that microalgae can be a potential feedstock for production of biofuels (biodiesel, bioethanol, and biogas) at commercial scale and
process intensification aspects can be integrated to give production at lower cost
and energy.
82
S. Joshi and P. Gogate
can be said that the ultrasound and microwave reactors have been already employed
for biodiesel production from microalgae as the feedstock and remaining need to be
utilized via process intensification study to make process economically feasible. As
mentioned in Sect. 5.2 and 5.3, microwave- and ultrasound-assisted processes have
also been employed in enhanced bioethanol and biogas production from microalgae. It can be concluded that the study on US and MW is quite progressive as
compared to other technologies available and more research needs to be performed
for establishment of other available technologies in biodiesel production from
microalgae as they might have a potential to overcome the disadvantages of US and
MW, especially at large scale of operation.
7 Conclusions
Biofuels produced from microalgae can be considered as an effective alternative to
petrochemical fuels but there are limited technologies available currently which can
be commercially applied. Application of process intensification approaches at different stages of processing can give an energy efficient process with scope for
commercialization as demonstrated in the current chapter. The techniques involved
in harvesting as the very first stage of processing and subsequent lipid extraction
need to be developed into efficient techniques based on process intensification to
achieve economic feasibility of process. Innovative solutions are also required to
build strategies for the subsequent reactions and separations which will give a
possible solution maintaining the positive aspects of current methods and remove
the undesired ones which will make the process costeffective and give positive
energy gains. The development of microalgae biorefinery can be a feasible solution
as high-value products which can be beneficial to the cosmetics, pharmaceutical,
and nutritional industries remain largely unexplored, and this will essentially shift
the current focus from only biofuels production to diversification of the other
products with biofuels. The processes developed must be applicable to the
microalgal species which are available commonly and should be easily transformed
into continuous mode which can be applicable on commercial scale. Process
intensification can help to improve the working of current processes making them
efficient in aspects of time and energy. It has been established from the research
articles available that biodiesel from microalgae is more feasible as compared to
bioethanol and biogas. Biogas and bioethanol production from microalgae can also
be improved via process intensification techniques like ultrasound and microwave
with benefits as lower times, lower requirement of reactants, and lower temperature.
Overall, it can be concluded that microalgae can be a potential feedstock for production of biofuels (biodiesel, bioethanol, and biogas) at commercial scale and
process intensification aspects can be integrated to give production at lower cost
and energy.
82
S. Joshi and P. Gogate