journal article Open Access Dec 29, 2024

Tackling Old Challenges in Microalgal Biotechnology: The Role of Photobioreactors to Advance the Technology Readiness Level

Processes Vol. 13 No. 1 pp. 51 · MDPI AG
View at Publisher Save 10.3390/pr13010051
Abstract
Microalgae biotechnology has taken the world by storm. However, despite its great potential promise, it still cannot be considered a fully consolidated technology due to a crucial challenge: the low rates of biomass productivity. To overcome this hurdle, photobioreactors have been developed as an innovative solution, promising to increase the efficiency of microalgae cultures by providing optimized conditions. However, the results obtained with these systems do not always meet initial expectations, and their large-scale implementation faces complex technical challenges. In light of this, the present review addresses the main aspects related to the design and engineering of photobioreactors, highlighting their potentialities and limitations in overcoming the critical challenges of microalgal biotechnology. Furthermore, we discuss the current technological readiness level and the commercial readiness index of microalgae-based bioproducts from the perspective of industrial-scale production.
Topics

No keywords indexed for this article. Browse by subject →

References
116
[1]
Razzak "Microalgae cultivation in photobioreactors: Sustainable solutions for a greener future" Green. Chem. Eng. (2024) 10.1016/j.gce.2023.10.004
[2]
McCreath "Biotechnology: Principles and applications" Pharmacognosy (2024)
[3]
Filippi "Sustainable biofabrication: From bioprinting to AI-driven predictive methods" Trends Biotechnol. (2024)
[4]
Yap "Advancement of green technologies: A comprehensive review on the potential application of microalgae biomass" Chemosphere (2021) 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130886
[5]
Hong, X., Fan, L., Yan, X., and Li, J. (2024). Structural and functional properties of proteins isolated from four species of microalgae and their application in air-water interface stabilization. Int. J. Biol. Macromol., 283. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.137531
[6]
Nunes, E., Odenthal, K., Nunes, N., Fernandes, T., Fernandes, I.A., and de Carvalho, M.A.P. (2024). Protein extracts from microalgae and cyanobacteria biomass. Techno-functional properties and bioactivity: A review. Algal Res., 82. 10.1016/j.algal.2024.103638
[7]
Thakur, A., Sharma, D., Saini, R., Suhag, R., and Thakur, D. (2024). Cultivating Blue Food Proteins: Innovating Next-Generation Ingredients from Macro and Microalgae. Biocatal. Agric. Biotechnol., 60. 10.1016/j.bcab.2024.103278
[8]
Williamson "Microalgae: Potential novel protein for sustainable human nutrition" Trends Plant Sci. (2024) 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.08.006
[9]
Jadhav "Functional triacylglycerols from microalgae and their use in the formulation of functional foods—Review" Food Chem. Adv. (2024) 10.1016/j.focha.2024.100695
[10]
Lim "Upstream bioprocessing of Spirulina platensis microalgae using rainwater and recycle medium from post-cultivation for C-phycocyanin production" J. Taiwan Inst. Chem. Eng. (2023) 10.1016/j.jtice.2023.104986
[11]
Shokrkar "Chlorophyll and carotenoid extraction from mixed microalgae; experimental and kinetic study" Biomass Convers. Biorefinery (2024) 10.1007/s13399-023-04068-1
[12]
Jorge "Sustainable extraction and utilization of chlorophyll from microalgae for eco-friendly wool dyeing" J. Clean. Prod. (2024) 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142009
[13]
Sharma "Microbial-Derived Carotenoids and Their Health Benefits" Microbiol. Res. (2024) 10.3390/microbiolres15030111
[14]
Duan "Bioaccessibility, bioavailability and bioactivities of carotenoids in microalgae: A review" Food Rev. Int. (2024) 10.1080/87559129.2023.2165095
[15]
Novoveská, L., Nielsen, S.L., Eroldoğan, O.T., Haznedaroglu, B.Z., Rinkevich, B., Fazi, S., and Einarsson, H. (2023). Overview and challenges of large-scale cultivation of photosynthetic microalgae and cyanobacteria. Mar. Drugs, 21. 10.3390/md21080445
[16]
Palladino, F., Marcelino, P.R.F., Schlogl, A.E., José, Á.H.M., Rodrigues, R.D.C.L.B., Fabrino, D.L., and Rosa, C.A. (2024). Bioreactors: Applications and Innovations for a sustainable and healthy future—A critical review. Appl. Sci., 14. 10.3390/app14209346
[17]
Smith "Applying ecological principles of crop cultivation in large-scale algal biomass production" Algal Res. (2014) 10.1016/j.algal.2013.11.005
[18]
Noorman "An industrial perspective on bioreactor scale-down: What we can learn from combined large-scale bioprocess and model fluid studies" Biotechnol. J. (2011) 10.1002/biot.201000406
[19]
Xia "Understanding the scale-up of fermentation processes from the viewpoint of the flow field in bioreactors and the physiological response of strains" Chin. J. Chem. Eng. (2021) 10.1016/j.cjche.2020.12.004
[20]
Herrmann "Strategies and engineering aspects on the scale-up of bioreactors for different bioprocesses" Syst. Microbiol. Biomanuf. (2024) 10.1007/s43393-023-00205-z
[21]
(2024, December 17). PharSol—Pharmaceutical Solutions. Available online: https://pharsol.com/knowledge-hub/blog/scaling-up-or-out.
[22]
Xu, P., Shao, S., Qian, J., Li, J., Xu, R., Liu, J., and Zhou, W. (2024). Scale-up of microalgal systems for decarbonization and bioproducts: Challenges and opportunities. Bioresour. Technol., 398. 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130528
[23]
Legrand "A review on photobioreactor design and modelling for microalgae production" React. Chem. Eng. (2021) 10.1039/d0re00450b
[24]
Peixoto "Kinetic model implementation in raceway pond reactors with hydrodynamic and radiation fields" Chem. Eng. Res. Des. (2024) 10.1016/j.cherd.2024.08.030
[25]
Barboza-Rodríguez, R., Rodríguez-Jasso, R.M., Rosero-Chasoy, G., Aguado, M.L.R., and Ruiz, H.A. (2024). Photobioreactor configurations in cultivating microalgae biomass for biorefinery. Bioresour. Technol., 394. 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130208
[26]
Penloglou, G., Pavlou, A., and Kiparissides, C. (2024). Recent Advancements in Photo-Bioreactors for Microalgae Cultivation: A Brief Overview. Processes, 12. 10.3390/pr12061104
[27]
Pandey "Biodiesel production from microalgae: A comprehensive review on influential factors, transesterification processes, and challenges" Fuel (2024) 10.1016/j.fuel.2024.131547
[28]
Li "Effect of light intensity and photoperiod on high-value production and nutrient removal performance with bacterial-algal coupling system" J. Environ. Manag. (2024) 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120595
[29]
Sartori "The Role of Light on the Microalgae Biotechnology: Fundamentals, Technological Approaches, and Sustainability Issues" Recent Pat. Biotechnol. (2024) 10.2174/1872208317666230504104051
[30]
Ahangar, A.K., Yaqoubnejad, P., Divsalar, K., Mousavi, S., and Taghavijeloudar, M. (2023). Design a novel internally illuminated mirror photobioreactor to improve microalgae production through homogeneous light distribution. Bioresour. Technol., 387. 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129577
[31]
Chiarini "The light/dark cycle of microalgae in a thin-layer photobioreactor" J. Appl. Phycol. (2021) 10.1007/s10811-020-02310-1
[32]
Luzi, G., and McHardy, C. (2022). Modeling and simulation of photobioreactors with computational fluid dynamics—A comprehensive review. Energies, 15. 10.3390/en15113966
[33]
Brzychczyk, B., Giełżecki, J., Kijanowski, K., Hebda, T., and Rzepka, F. (2023). Automation of the Photobioreactor Lighting System to Manage Light Distribution in Microalgae Cultures. Energies, 16. 10.3390/en16207183
[34]
Wang "Microalgae cultivation in photobioreactors: An overview of light characteristics" Eng. Life Sci. (2014) 10.1002/elsc.201300170
[35]
Huang "Design of photobioreactors for mass cultivation of photosynthetic organisms" Engineering (2017) 10.1016/j.eng.2017.03.020
[36]
Jacob-Lopes, E., Zepka, L.Q., Mérida, L.G.R., Maroneze, M.M., and Neves, C. (2014). Bioprocess of Conversion of Carbon Dioxide from Industrial Emissions, Bioproducts, Their Uses and Hybrid Photobioreactor. (WO 2014/2014000333), Patent.
[37]
Jacob-Lopes, E., Zepka, L.Q., Mérida, L.G.R., Maroneze, M.M., and Neves, C. (2016). Bioprocess for the Conversion of Carbon Dioxide from Industrial Emissions, Bioproducts Use Thereof and Hybrid Photobioreactor. (WO 2016/041028 A1), Patent.
[38]
Zepka "Hybrid photobioreactors: The success-to-failure experiences on pilot scale" 3rd Generation Biofuels (2022)
[39]
Pandey "Design of photobioreactors for algal cultivation" Biofuels from Algae (2019)
[40]
Zeriouh "Biofouling in photobioreactors for marine microalgae" Crit. Rev. Biotechnol. (2017) 10.1080/07388551.2017.1299681
[41]
Posten "Design and performance parameters of photobioreactors" TATuP-J. Technol. Assess. Theory Pract. (2012)
[42]
Haghanifar "Ultrahigh-transparency, ultrahigh-haze nanograss glass with fluid-induced switchable haze" Optica (2017) 10.1364/optica.4.001522
[43]
Wu "Optical and thermal properties of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bearing phenyl and adamantyl substituents" Colloids Surf. A Physicochem. Eng. (2022) 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.130018
[44]
Wu "Polycarbonate composites with high light transmittance, haze, and flame retardancy based on a series of incomplete-cage oligomeric silsesquioxanes" J. Mater. Sci. (2021) 10.1007/s10853-020-05235-9
[45]
Vogler "A thermodynamic model of short-term cell adhesion in vitro" Colloids Surf. (1989) 10.1016/0166-6622(89)80343-9
[46]
Soriano-Jerez, Y., Gallardo-Rodríguez, J.J., López-Rosales, L., García-Camacho, F., Bressy, C., Molina-Grima, E., and Cerón-García, M.C. (2024). Preventing biofouling in microalgal photobioreactors. Bioresour. Technol., 407. 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131125
[47]
Bernard "Influence of temperature on Chlorella vulgaris growth and mortality rates in a photobioreactor" Algal Res. (2016) 10.1016/j.algal.2016.06.016
[48]
Pires "Photobioreactor design for microalgae production through computational fluid dynamics: A review" Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. (2017) 10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.064
[49]
Boyd "Temperature response of Rubisco kinetics in Arabidopsis thaliana: Thermal breakpoints and implications for reaction mechanisms" J. Exp. Bot. (2019) 10.1093/jxb/ery355
[50]
Gurrieri "Dark complexes of the Calvin-Benson cycle in a physiological perspective" Semin. Cell Biol. (2024) 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.03.002

Showing 50 of 116 references

Cited By
15
Microalgae biotechnology and its role in sustainable and healthy food design

Adriane Terezinha Schneider, Richard Luan Silva Machado · 2025

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Bio...
Related

You May Also Like

DPPH Radical Scavenging Assay

İlhami Gulçin, Saleh H. Alwasel · 2023

946 citations

Alkaline Water Electrolysis Powered by Renewable Energy: A Review

Jörn Brauns, Thomas Turek · 2020

696 citations

A Review of Stereolithography: Processes and Systems

Junxi Huang, Qin Qin · 2020

504 citations

Various Approaches for the Detoxification of Toxic Dyes in Wastewater

Abdulmohsen K. D. Alsukaibi · 2022

357 citations

Metal Ions, Metal Chelators and Metal Chelating Assay as Antioxidant Method

İlhami Gulçin, Saleh H. Alwasel · 2022

343 citations