Valorization of Microalgae Biomass to Biofuel Production: A review

With growing concern about fossil fuel combustion and its environmental impact, a significant amount of research is being conducted to develop alternative renewable energy sources. Microalgae can be considered a feedstock for biofuel production in this regard due to their inherent advantages. This is because microalgae have a high organic carbon density and a rapid growth rate in non-arable lands, in addition to their ability to capture CO2 and treat wastewater. Additionally, microalgae contain a high concentration of oils and starches, making them an excellent source of high-quality biofuel. This article presents a critical review with a particular emphasis on the utilization of microalgae biomass for the production of high-quality biofuels. This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of methods for converting algal biomass into a variety of biofuel products, including biodiesel, syngas, biogas, and bioethanol. The article highlights various aspects of biomass analysis, including a) dry weight, b) carbon content, c) lipid content, and productivity. Additionally, this review discusses novel technologies for lipid extraction and lipid analysis in the context of biodiesel production. This review focuses on the most advanced processes for the production of biofuels and biodiesel, reaction kinetics, homogeneous, heterogeneous, and enzymatic transesterification reactions.