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Review
. 2015 Feb 11:2:90.
doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2014.00090. eCollection 2014.

Scope of algae as third generation biofuels

Shuvashish Behera  1 , Richa Singh  1 , Richa Arora  1 , Nilesh Kumar Sharma  1 , Madhulika Shukla  1 , Sachin Kumar  1
Affiliations
Review

Scope of algae as third generation biofuels

Shuvashish Behera et al. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. .

Abstract

An initiative has been taken to develop different solid, liquid, and gaseous biofuels as the alternative energy resources. The current research and technology based on the third generation biofuels derived from algal biomass have been considered as the best alternative bioresource that avoids the disadvantages of first and second generation biofuels. Algal biomass has been investigated for the implementation of economic conversion processes producing different biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas, biohydrogen, and other valuable co-products. In the present review, the recent findings and advance developments in algal biomass for improved biofuel production have been explored. This review discusses about the importance of the algal cell contents, various strategies for product formation through various conversion technologies, and its future scope as an energy security.

Keywords: algae; biodiesel; bioethanol; biofuels; biogas; biohydrogen; microalgae.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Algal biomass conversion process for biofuel production.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Transesterification of oil to biodiesel. R1–3 are hydrocarbon groups.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Process for bioethanol production from microalgae.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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