Ratha S K, Prasanna R
Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110012, India.
Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol. 2012 Mar-Apr;48(2):133-49.
Microalgae and cyanobacteria are potential foods, feeds, sources of high-value bioactive molecules and biofuels, and find tremendous applications in bioremediation and agriculture. Although few efforts have been undertaken to index the microalgal germplasm available in terms of lipid content, information on suitability of strains for mass multiplication and advances in development of methods for extraction and generating biofuel are scarce. Our review summarizes the potential of microalgae, latest developments in the field and analyzes the "pitfalls" in oversimplification of their promise in the years to come. Microalgae represent "green gold mines" for generating energy; however, the path to success is long and winding and needs tremendous and concerted efforts from science and industry, besides political will and social acceptance for overcoming the limitations. The major advantages of second generation biofuels based on microalgal systems, include their higher photon conversion efficiency, growth all around the year, even in wastewaters, and production of environment friendly biodegradable biofuels.
微藻和蓝细菌是潜在的食物、饲料、高价值生物活性分子来源和生物燃料，并且在生物修复和农业中有大量应用。尽管在根据脂质含量对现有的微藻种质进行编目方面所做的工作很少，但关于适合大规模繁殖的菌株的信息以及提取和生产生物燃料方法的进展却很匮乏。我们的综述总结了微藻的潜力、该领域的最新进展，并分析了在未来几年对其前景过度简化的“陷阱”。微藻是产生能源的“绿色金矿”；然而，成功之路漫长而曲折，除了需要政治意愿和社会认可来克服限制外，还需要科学界和产业界付出巨大且协同的努力。基于微藻系统的第二代生物燃料的主要优点包括其更高的光子转换效率、全年均可生长（甚至在废水中）以及生产环境友好的可生物降解生物燃料。
