Microalgae Biomass Production for Biofuels in Brazilian Scenario: A Critical Review

The Brazilian environmental, economic, and social conditions for the long-term establishment of mass culture of microalgae for either biofuel production or greenhouse gases (GHG) abatement are described in detail. A brief historical introduction of the microalgal biotechnology is presented followed by a compilation of Brazilian published research works on microalgae, with special emphasis on microalgal Brazilian biodiversity and applied phycology. Several case studies on Brazilian microalgal biorefineries are presented with special emphasis on wastewater (WW) treatment. The manuscript also adds valuable new information about which regions of the country offer better growing conditions for dozens of endemic species. Favorable climatic and environmental conditions for the cultivation of several microalgae (green) and cyanobacteria species in specific regions of the country are suggested. Finally, based on realistic biomass productivities and product yields for the Brazilian context, several scenarios for biofuel production and/or carbon dioxide (CO2) abatement have been designed, and results are presented and critically discussed. Brazilian self-sufficiency on either fuels for transportation or GHG abatement using exclusively microalgae is quite challenging but achievable accordingly with the present state of the art.