Ali Sameh S, Al-Tohamy Rania, Al-Zahrani Majid, Schagerl Michael, Kornaros Michael, Sun Jianzhong
Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China.
Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.
Microb Cell Fact. 2025 Mar 10;24(1):61. doi: 10.1186/s12934-025-02685-1.
The increasing global demand for sustainable protein sources necessitates the exploration of alternative solutions beyond traditional livestock and crop-based proteins. Microalgae present a promising alternative due to their high protein content, rapid biomass accumulation, and minimal land and water requirements. Furthermore, their ability to thrive on non-arable land and in wastewater systems enhances their sustainability and resource efficiency. Despite these advantages, scalability and economical feasibility remain major challenges in microalgal protein production. This review explores recent advancements in microalgal protein cultivation and extraction technologies, including pulsed electric field, ultrasound-assisted extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, and microwave-assisted extraction. These innovative techniques have significantly improved protein extraction efficiency, purity, and sustainability, while addressing cell wall disruption and protein recovery challenges. Additionally, the review examines protein digestibility and bioavailability, particularly in the context of human nutrition and aquafeed applications. A critical analysis of life cycle assessment studies highlights the environmental footprint and economical feasibility of microalgal protein production compared to conventional protein sources. Although microalgal protein production requires significant energy inputs, advancements in biorefinery approaches, carbon dioxide sequestration, and industrial integration can help mitigate these limitations. Finally, this review outlines key challenges and future research directions, emphasizing the need for cost reduction strategies, genetic engineering for enhanced yields, and industrial-scale process optimization. By integrating innovative extraction techniques with biorefinery models, microalgal proteins hold immense potential as a sustainable, high-quality protein source for food, feed, and nutraceutical applications.
全球对可持续蛋白质来源的需求不断增加，这就需要探索传统畜牧和作物基蛋白质之外的替代解决方案。微藻因其高蛋白含量、快速的生物质积累以及对土地和水的需求极少而成为一种有前景的替代方案。此外，它们在非耕地和废水系统中生长的能力提高了其可持续性和资源利用效率。尽管有这些优势，但可扩展性和经济可行性仍然是微藻蛋白质生产中的主要挑战。本综述探讨了微藻蛋白质培养和提取技术的最新进展，包括脉冲电场、超声辅助提取、酶辅助提取和微波辅助提取。这些创新技术显著提高了蛋白质提取效率、纯度和可持续性，同时解决了细胞壁破坏和蛋白质回收方面的挑战。此外，该综述还研究了蛋白质的消化率和生物利用度，特别是在人类营养和水产饲料应用方面。对生命周期评估研究的批判性分析突出了微藻蛋白质生产与传统蛋白质来源相比的环境足迹和经济可行性。尽管微藻蛋白质生产需要大量的能源投入，但生物炼制方法、二氧化碳封存和产业整合方面的进展有助于减轻这些限制。最后，本综述概述了关键挑战和未来研究方向，强调了降低成本策略、通过基因工程提高产量以及工业规模工艺优化的必要性。通过将创新提取技术与生物炼制模型相结合，微藻蛋白质作为食品、饲料和营养保健品应用的可持续、高质量蛋白质来源具有巨大潜力。
