Microalgae based biorefinery promoting circular bioeconomy-techno economic and life-cycle analysis

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 302; p. 122822
• Main Authors: Rajesh Banu, J., Preethi, Kavitha, S., Gunasekaran, M., Kumar, Gopalakrishnan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2020
• Subjects: Algal biorefinery; Animals; Bio-fuels; biodiesel; Biofuels; biogas; Biomass; biorefining; Costs and Cost Analysis; energy balance; feeds; fermentation; life cycle assessment; Lipid; Lipids; Microalgae; Pigment; Techno economic assessment; Pigment; Techno economic assessment; Bio-fuels; Lipid; Algal biorefinery
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122822

[Display omitted] •Microalgae are the sustainable source of renewable biorefinery.•Microalgal based biorefinery enhances the circular bioeconomy.•Higher biomass production cost seems unfeasible in microalgal biofuel recovery.•Life cycle analysis evaluates the feasibility of microalgal biorefinery routes. Microalgae are source of third generation biofuel having the key advantage of high lipid productivity. In recent times, biorefinery is seen as promising option to further reduce the production cost of microalgae biofuel. However, exact energy balance analysis has not been performed on important biorefinery routes. In this aspect, three biorefinery routes, all based on lipid based biorefinery route are evaluated for economical production of microalgal biofuel and valorised products. Biorefinery route 1 involves production of biodiesel, pigments, and animal feed. Biorefinery route 2 involves biogas and pigments production and two stage fermentation, and third biorefinery route involves bio-hydrogen and pigments production. Finally, the technoeconomic assessment of three biorefinery routes were reviewed, net energy savings, and life-cycle costing approaches to economize microalgal biorefinery are suggested.