Abstract
There has been considerable discussion in recent years about the potential of micro-algae for the production of sustainable and renewable biofuels, but there may be other more readily exploitable commercial opportunities for microalgae. This paper briefly reviews the current and potential situation for the commercial application of the growth of microalgae for products other than biofuels.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Algatech (2004). Astaxanthin—The Algatech Story. Astaxanthin—The Algatech Story. [Online] Algatech. [Cited: 3 12 2008.] http://www.algatech.com/
American Cancer Society, Inc (2007) Chlorella. American Cancer Society, Inc. [Online] 26 6 2007. [Cited: 2 12 2008.] http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3X_Chlorella.asp?
Anitei S (2007) Vagina Shield Made from Algae. Softpedia. [Online] 16 1 2007. [Cited: 2 12 2008.] http://news.softpedia.com/news/Vagina-Shield-Made-From-Algae-44576.shtml
Anon (2008) Lonza DHA and VegaGels®—The entirely vegetarian solution. Innovations in Food Technology. May 2008. http://www.aboutdha.com/lonzadha/welcome/promotional_material/dhactivetm_in_the.-ParSys-0008-DownloadFile.tmp/Innovations%20in%20Food%20Technology%202008_DHA.pdf
BBC (2007) Algae Gel to Combat HIV infection. BBC News. [Online] 16 1 2007. [Cited: 2 12 2008.] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6266527.stm
Becker EW (1994) Microalgae. Biotechnology and Microbiology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994. ISBN 978-0-521-06113
Benemann J, Pedroni PR, Davison J, Becker H, Bergman P (2003) Technology roadmap for biofixation of CO2 and Greenhouse Gas Abatement with Microalgae. Second National Conference on Carbon Sequestration. [Online] 5 2003. [Cited: 25 11 2008.] http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/proceedings/03/carbon-seq/PDFs/017.pdf
Borowitzka MA (1995) Microalgae as sources of pharmaceuticals and other biologically active compounds. J Appl Phycol 7:3–15
Borowitzka MA (2005) Culturing of Microalgae in Outdoor Ponds. [Book auth.] R.A. Andersen. Algal Culturing Techniques. London: Elsevier, 14
Borowitzka MA (2006) Biotechnological & Environmental Applications of Microalgae. Biotechnological & Environmental Applications of Microalgae. [Online] Murdoch University, 2006. [Cited: 26 11 2008.] http://www.bsb.murdoch.edu.au/groups/beam/BEAM-Appl0.html
British Nutrition Foundation (2000) n-3 Fatty Acids and Health. British Nutrition Foundation. [Online] British Nutrition Foundation, 2000. [Cited: 3 12 2008.] http://www.nutrition.org.uk/home.asp?siteId=43§ionId=686&parentSection=341&which=
Cambridge Isotope Laboratories (2008). Spectra Stable Isotopes. Cambridge Isotope Laboratories. [Online] Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, 7 2008. [Cited: 9 12 2008.] http://www.spectrastableisotopes.com/
Chisti Y (2000) Marine biotechnology—a neglected resource. Editorial. Biotechnol Adv 18:547–548
Chisti Y (2006) Microalgae as Sustainable Cell Factories. Environ Eng Manage J 5(3):261–274
Chisti Y (2007) Biodiesel from Microalgae. Biotechnol Adv 25:294–306
Clarens AF, Resurreccion EP, White MA, Colosi LM (2010) Environmental Life Cycle Comparison of Algae to Other Bioenergy Feedstocks. Environ Sci Technol DOI: 10.1021/es902838n
Cognis (2008) Cognis Launches Betatene® 10% WDP. Cognis. [Online] Cognis, 22 10 2008. [Cited: 3 12 2008.] http://www.cognis.com/company/Press+and+Media/Press+Releases/2008/221008_EN_NHa.htm
Cyanotech Corporation (2007) Spirulina Pacifica. Cyanotech. [Online] 2007. [Cited: 03 12 2008.] http://www.cyanotech.com/spirulina.html
Cyanotech Corporation (2008) BioAstin Production and Purity. Cyanotech Corporation. [Online] Cyanotech Corporation, 2008. [Cited: 3 12 2008.] http://www.cyanotech.com/bioastin/bioastin_quality.html
Day JG (2009) Algal biotechnology: facts, fiction and future prospects. BioMara. [Online] 17 06 2009. [Cited: 17 08 2009.] http://www.biomara.org/algal-biotechnology/view?searchterm=Algal Biotechnology: facts, fiction and future prospects
DIC (2009) Private Communication. Tokyo: s.n., 2009
DIC Corporation (2008) Natural blue colorant derived from DIC Spirulina. DIC Corporation. [Online] DIC Corporation, 2008. [Cited: 9 12 2008.] http://www.dlt-l.co.jp/business/en/spirulina/linablue.html
Earthrise Nutritionals LLC (2004) Earthrise the Company. Earthrise Nutritionals. [Online] 2004. [Cited: 3 12 2008.] http://www.earthrise.com/company.asp?page=page5.html
Food Standards Agency (2008) Eat Well—Fish and Shell Fish. Eat Well. [Online] Food Standards Agency, 2008. [Cited: 3 12 2008.] http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/fishandshellfish/
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (2004) DHA-Rich Micro-algal oil from Ulkenia sp. As a Novel Food. Food Standards Australia New Zealand. [Online] Food Standards Australia New Zealand, 18 2 2004. [Cited: 3 12 2008.] http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/A522_Ulkenia_sp_IAR.pdf
Gavrilescu M, Chisti C (2005) Biotechnology—a sustainable alternative for chemical industry. Biotechnol Adv 23:471–499
Henrikson R (2008) In the beginning were blue-green algae. Spirulina Source. com. [Online] Ronore Enterprises, 2008. [Cited: 26 11 2008.] http://www.spirulinasource.com/earthfoodch1a.html
Huesemann M, Bartha R, Hausmann T (2003) An Innovative Approach for Screening Marine Microalgae for Maximum Flue Gas CO2 Biofixation Potential. Second Annual Conference on Carbon Sequestration. [Online] 5 2003. [Cited: 25 11 2008.] http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/proceedings/03/carbon-seq/PDFs/017.pdf
Huntley ME, Redalje DJ (2007) CO2 Mitigation and Renewable Oil from Photosynthetic Microbes: A New Appraisal. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change. 12(4): 573–608. http://www.hrbp.com/PDF/Huntley%20&%20Redalje%202006.pdf
Koletzko B, Baker S, Cleghorn G, Neto UF, Gopalan S (2005) J Paed Gastroenterol Nut. 41
Kovalyova S (2009) European body sees algae fuel industry in 10–15 years. Reuters. [Online] Thomson Reuters, 3 6 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5526HY20090603
Lee Y-K (1997) Commercial Production of Microalgae in the Asia-Pacific rim. J Appl Phycol 9:403–411
Lonza (2005) Lonza acquires DHA-business from Nutrinova, a subsidiary of Celanese Corporation. Lonza. [Online] Lonza, 19 12 2005. [Cited: 3 12 2008.] http://www.lonza.com/group/en/company/news/archive/news_2005/acquisition_of_dha-business.html
Martek Biosciences (2008) History of Martek. Martek Biosciences. [Online] Martek Biosciences. [Cited: 3 12 2008.] http://aboutmartek.martek.com/history/
Milledge J J, (2010) The challenge of algal fuel: economic processing of the entire algal biomass. Condensed Matter -Materials Engineering Newsletter. Hamilton, McMaster University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering. 1(6): 4–6. http://mse.mcmaster.ca/Condensed%20Matter/January2010.pdf
Molina-Grima E, Belarbi E-H, Acien-Fernandez FG, Robles-Medina A, Chisti C (2003) Recovery of microalgal biomass and metabolites: process options and economics. Biotechnol Adv 20:491–515
Nakamura T, Senior C, Olaizola M, Cushman M, Masutani (2001) Capture & Sequestration of CO2 from Stationary Combustion Systems by Photosynthesis Microalgae. First National Conference on Carbon Sequestration. [Online] may 2001. [Cited: 26 11 2008.] http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/proceedings/01/carbon_seq/p15.pdf
Ono E, Cuello JL (2003) Selection of Optimal Microalgae Species for CO2 Sequestration. Second National Conference on Carbon Sequestration. [Online] 5 2003. [Cited: 25 11 2008.] http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/proceedings/03/carbon-seq/PDFs/158.pdf
Pienkos PT, Darzins A (2009) The Promise and Challenges of Microalgal-derived Biofuels. Biofuels, Bioprod, Bioref. 3:431–440
ProZyme (1999) Phycobiliproteins. ProZyme. [Online] ProZyme, 1999. [Cited: 9 12 2008.] http://www.prozyme.com/technical/pbvrwdata.html#R-Phycoerythrin
Radmer RJ, Parker BC (1994) Commercial Applications of algae: Opportunities and Constraints. J Appl Phycol 6:93–98
Raja R, Hemaiswarya S, Ashok Kumar N, Sridhar S, Rengasamy R (2008) A Perspective on Biotechnological Potential of Microalgae. Crit Rev Microbiol 34:34–77
Sheehan J, Dunahay T, Benemann J, Roessler P (1998) A Look Back at the US Department of Energy’s Aquatic Species Program—Biodiesel from Algae. National Renewable Energy Laboratory NREL. [Online] National Renewable Energy Laboratory NREL, 7 1998. [Cited: 26 11 2008.] http://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/fy98/24190.pdf. NREL/TP-580-24190
Singh S, Bhushan KN, Banerjee UC (2005) Bioactive Compounds from Cyanobacteria and Microalgae: An Overview. Critical Review Biotechnology 25(3):73–95
Spolaore P, Joannis-Cassan C, Duran E, Isambet A (2006) Commercial Applications of Microalgae. J Biosci Bioeng 101(2):87–96
University of Maryland Medical Centre (2007) Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA. University of Maryland Medical Centre. [Online] University of Maryland Medical Centre, 1 9 2007. [Cited: 3 12 2008.] http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/docosahexaenoic-acid-000300.htm
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2001) Dietary Fads and Frauds. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. [Online] 19 12 2001. [Cited: 3 12 2008.] http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/NN/B/C/R/R/_/nnbcrr.pdf
Weissman JC, Benemann JR (2003) Comparison of Marine Microalgae Culture Systems. Second National Conference on Carbon Sequestration. [Online] 5 2003. [Cited: 25 11 2008.] http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/proceedings/03/carbon-seq/PDFs/217.pdf
Wijffels RH (2007) Potential of Sponges and Microalgae for Marine Biotechnology. Trends Biotechnol 26(1):26–31
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Milledge, J.J. Commercial application of microalgae other than as biofuels: a brief review. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 10, 31–41 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-010-9214-7
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-010-9214-7