Review article

Microalgae – a potential source of lipids for biodiesel production

Tonči Rezić ; Zavod za biokemijsko inženjerstvo, Prehrambeno-biotehnološki fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Pierottijeva 6/IV, HR-10000 Zagreb, Hrvatska
Jelena Filipović ; Zavod za biokemijsko inženjerstvo, Prehrambeno-biotehnološki fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Pierottijeva 6/IV, HR-10000 Zagreb, Hrvatska
Božidar Šantek ; Zavod za biokemijsko inženjerstvo, Prehrambeno-biotehnološki fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Pierottijeva 6/IV, HR-10000 Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

Microalgal biomass represents valuable raw material for pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetic industry (proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, antioxidants, pigments, pharmaceuticals and immunostimulant) as well as for biofuels production (biodiesel). A base of efficient microalgal biomass production for biofuels production is the use of bioprocess engineering knowledge related to the selection of microalgae species, cultivation medium and conditions, bioprocess cultivation techniques in different bioreactor systems as well as microalgal biomass separation and purification. Selection criteria for microalgae species has to be related to the microalgae physiological potentials and its abilities to accumulate lipids during
bioprocess. Cultivation medium and conditions as well as bioprocess cultivation techniques in bioreactor system are key parameters for successful production of microalgal biomass with high lipid content. In order to produce large quantities of microalgal biomass for biofuels production different bioreactor systems with one or more subunits (equipped with different monitoring systems) are used. Beside cultivation conditions and bioprocess cultivation techniques in bioreactor system for efficient biofuels production it is necessary to select appropriate methods for biomass as well as lipid separation and purification from microalgal biomass. Therefore, in this work the overview of different methods for biomass and lipids separation and purification from microalgal biomass is also presented.

Keywords

microalgae; biotechnological production; bioreactors; biofuels; biomass and lipids separation and purification methods

Hrčak ID:

126092

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/126092

Publication date:

31.7.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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