Shu Wen Huang

Bio: Shu Wen Huang is an academic researcher from National Cheng Kung University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Raw material & Biomass. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 443 citations.

The promising future of microalgae: current status, challenges, and optimization of a sustainable and renewable industry for biofuels, feed, and other products

Abstract: Microalgae have recently attracted considerable interest worldwide, due to their extensive application potential in the renewable energy, biopharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries. Microalgae are renewable, sustainable, and economical sources of biofuels, bioactive medicinal products, and food ingredients. Several microalgae species have been investigated for their potential as value-added products with remarkable pharmacological and biological qualities. As biofuels, they are a perfect substitute to liquid fossil fuels with respect to cost, renewability, and environmental concerns. Microalgae have a significant ability to convert atmospheric CO2 to useful products such as carbohydrates, lipids, and other bioactive metabolites. Although microalgae are feasible sources for bioenergy and biopharmaceuticals in general, some limitations and challenges remain, which must be overcome to upgrade the technology from pilot-phase to industrial level. The most challenging and crucial issues are enhancing microalgae growth rate and product synthesis, dewatering algae culture for biomass production, pretreating biomass, and optimizing the fermentation process in case of algal bioethanol production. The present review describes the advantages of microalgae for the production of biofuels and various bioactive compounds and discusses culturing parameters.

Microalgae to biofuels: ‘Promising’ alternative and renewable energy, review

Abstract: The rapid growth of human population has led to mounting energy demands, which is projected to increase by 50% or more by 2030. The natural petroleum can not catch-up the current consumption rate, which is already reported to be 105 times faster than nature can create. Besides, the use of fossil fuels is devastating to our environment through greenhouse gas emissions and consequent global warming. Therefore, the search for ‘clean’ energy has become the most overwhelming challenges. Currently, several alternatives are being studied and implemented. Biofuels, fuels from living organisms, provide environmental benefits, since their use leads to a decrease in the harmful emissions of CO2 and hydrocarbons and, to the elimination of SOx emissions, with a consequent decrease in the greenhouse effects. Unfortunately, the present biofuel projections are based on feed-stocks that are also food commodities and resources suitable for conventional agriculture. One possibility to overcome the problem is the cultivation of micro-algae and switching to third generation biofuels, which seem to be a promising source since algae are able to efficiently convert sunlight, water, and CO2 into a variety of products suitable for renewable energy applications. Therefore, this review is intended to recapitulate current works on micro-algal biofuel production potential and discuss possible ways to put it into practice. This review starts by highlighting the advantages and various forms of micro-algal biofuels. Some of the micro-algal species proved to be suitable for biofuel production so far are considered, with particular emphasis on Scenedesmus obliquus. The recent attempts and achievements in improving the economies of production through genetic and metabolic engineering of micro-algal strains are also addressed. Other potential applications such as wastewater treatment and CO2 mitigation that can be coupled with biofuel production are described. Finally, the promises and challenges of algae to biofuel industry are uncovered.