Journal of Energy Bioscience 2024, Vol.15, No.2, 96-107 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/jeb 96 Feature Review Open Access Potential of Microalgae in Bioethanol Production and Optimization of Cultivation Conditions Shiying Yu, Shudan Yan Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, China Corresponding email: shudan.yan@jicat.org Journal of Energy Bioscience, 2024, Vol.15, No.2 doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0010 Received: 11 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 13 Mar., 2024 Published: 24 Mar., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Yu and Yan, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Yu S.Y., and Yan S.D., 2024, Potential of microalgae in bioethanol production and optimization of cultivation conditions, Journal of Energy Bioscience, 15(2): 96-107 (doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0010) Abstract Microalgae, particularly Chlorella vulgaris are considered a promising feedstock for bioethanol due to their high carbohydrate content and rapid growth rates. Enzymatic hydrolysis of C. vulgaris biomass yielded a glucose conversion rate of 90.4%, which was further converted to ethanol with a theoretical yield of up to 92.3% using simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) processes. This study highlights the importance of optimizing cultivation conditions, such as nutrient availability, light intensity, and CO2 concentration, to maximize biomass and carbohydrate production. The integration of biorefinery approaches can enhance the economic viability of microalgae-based bioethanol production by co-producing valuable by-products. Microalgae present a viable and sustainable feedstock for bioethanol production. Optimizing cultivation conditions and employing integrated biorefinery strategies are crucial for improving yield and reducing production costs. Future research should focus on overcoming current technological and economic challenges to scale up microalgae-based bioethanol production to an industrial level. The study aims to explore the potential of microalgae in bioethanol production and to optimize the cultivation conditions to enhance yield and efficiency. Keywords Microalgae; Bioethanol; Cultivation optimization; Chlorella vulgaris; Biorefinery 1 Introduction The global energy crisis, coupled with the environmental impact of fossil fuels, has necessitated the exploration of sustainable and renewable energy sources. Bioethanol, a type of biofuel, has emerged as a promising alternative due to its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels (Maity et al., 2014; Kim et al., 2020). Bioethanol production from renewable biomass sources, such as microalgae, offers a sustainable solution to meet the increasing energy demands while mitigating environmental concerns (John et al., 2011; Ramachandra and Hebbale, 2020). The production of bioethanol from microalgae not only addresses the energy crisis but also contributes to waste remediation and the recovery of value-added co-products (Kumar et al., 2019). Microalgae are microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that can grow in diverse aquatic environments, including freshwater and marine systems (Peng et al., 2019). They are considered an ideal feedstock for bioethanol production due to their high growth rates, ability to accumulate significant amounts of carbohydrates, and minimal land and water requirements compared to traditional crops (Khan et al., 2018; Pal et al., 2019). Certain species of microalgae can produce ethanol directly during dark-anaerobic fermentation, making them a direct source for bioethanol production (John et al., 2011). Additionally, microalgae can be cultivated using wastewater, which not only provides nutrients for their growth but also aids in wastewater treatment (Maity et al., 2014; Kumar et al., 2019). The co-production of bioethanol and other biofuels, such as biodiesel, from microalgae further enhances the economic viability of this renewable energy source (Dasan et al., 2019; Kim et al., 2020). This study aims to evaluate the various species of microalgae for their suitability as feedstock for bioethanol production; optimize the cultivation conditions, including nutrient availability, light intensity, and temperature, to enhance the growth rate and carbohydrate accumulation in microalgae; develop efficient pretreatment and fermentation processes to convert microalgal biomass into bioethanol and assess the economic and environmental sustainability of microalgae-based bioethanol production systems. By addressing these objectives, this study hope to contribute to the advancement of bioethanol production technologies and promote the use of microalgae as a sustainable and renewable energy source.
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