Bio-Based Products from Microalgae Cultivated in Digestates

Abstract

In recent years the increasing demand for food, energy, and valuable chemicals has necessitated research and development on renewable, novel, and sustainable sources. Microalgae represent a promising option to produce various products with environmentally friendly applications. However, several challenges must be overcome to reduce production cost. To this end, using effluents from biogas production units, called digestates, in cultivation systems can help to optimize bioprocesses, and several bioproducts including biofuels, biofertilizers, proteins and valuable chemicals can be obtained. Nevertheless, several parameters, including the productivity and quality of biomass and specific target products, downstream processes, and cost-effectiveness, must be improved. Further investigations will be necessary to take full advantage of the produced biomass and effectively upscale the process.

Keywords: biofuels; biomass valorization; digestate; fine chemicals; microalgae.