Shiying Yu , Shudan Yan

Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, China
Author    Correspondence author
Journal of Energy Bioscience, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 2   doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0010
Received: 11 Feb., 2024    Accepted: 13 Mar., 2024    Published: 24 Mar., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Yu S.Y., and Yan S.D., 2024, Potential of microalgae in bioethanol production and optimization of cultivation conditions, Journal of Energy Bioscience, 15(2): 98-109 (doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0010)

Microalgae, particularly Chlorella vulgaris are considered a promising feedstock for bioethanol due to their high carbohydrate content and rapid growth rates. Enzymatic hydrolysis of C. vulgaris biomass yielded a glucose conversion rate of 90.4%, which was further converted to ethanol with a theoretical yield of up to 92.3% using simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) processes. This study highlights the importance of optimizing cultivation conditions, such as nutrient availability, light intensity, and CO₂ concentration, to maximize biomass and carbohydrate production. The integration of biorefinery approaches can enhance the economic viability of microalgae-based bioethanol production by co-producing valuable by-products. Microalgae present a viable and sustainable feedstock for bioethanol production. Optimizing cultivation conditions and employing integrated biorefinery strategies are crucial for improving yield and reducing production costs. Future research should focus on overcoming current technological and economic challenges to scale up microalgae-based bioethanol production to an industrial level. The study aims to explore the potential of microalgae in bioethanol production and to optimize the cultivation conditions to enhance yield and efficiency.

Microalgae; Bioethanol; Cultivation optimization; Chlorella vulgaris; Biorefinery