Hamed Imen
Biotechnology Research and Application Centre, Cukurova Univ, Adana, Turkey.
Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2016 Nov;15(6):1104-1123. doi: 10.1111/1541-4337.12227. Epub 2016 Sep 26.
Microalgal biotechnology has emerged due to the health-promoting properties of microalgae related to their bioactive compounds and the great diversity of products that can be developed from algal biomass. Microalgal biomasses have been produced industrially for applications in different fields such as food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and animal feed industries. They can be cultivated either in open systems or in closed systems (photobioreactors). Another important area is the use of microalgal biomass for energy production. It has become obvious that petroleum-derived fuels are unsustainable, due to depleting world reserves and greenhouse gas emissions. Microalgae can provide several different types of renewable biofuels. These include methane produced by anaerobic digestion of the algal biomass, biodiesel derived from trans-esterification of microalgal lipids, bioethanol produced from carbohydrate fermentations, and photobiologically produced biohydrogen. The idea of using microalgae as a source of fuel is not new. However, it is now being taken seriously because of increases in petroleum prices and, more significantly, the increasing concern about global warming as associated with burning fossil fuels. This review offers an update on information about microalgae, specifically emphasizing their biotechnological importance.
微藻生物技术的出现，是因为微藻具有与生物活性化合物相关的促进健康特性，以及可从藻类生物质开发出的产品种类繁多。微藻生物质已在工业上生产，用于食品、制药、营养保健品、化妆品和动物饲料等不同领域。它们可以在开放系统或封闭系统（光生物反应器）中培养。另一个重要领域是利用微藻生物质生产能源。由于世界储量不断减少和温室气体排放，显然以石油为原料的燃料是不可持续的。微藻可以提供几种不同类型的可再生生物燃料。这些包括通过藻类生物质厌氧消化产生的甲烷、微藻脂质酯交换产生的生物柴油、碳水化合物发酵产生的生物乙醇以及光生物产生的生物氢气。将微藻用作燃料来源的想法并不新鲜。然而，由于石油价格上涨，更重要的是，与燃烧化石燃料相关的全球变暖问题日益受到关注，现在人们开始认真对待这一想法。本综述提供了有关微藻的最新信息，特别强调了它们的生物技术重要性。
