Abstract
Micro-algae offer potentially significant advantages over other approaches to overcome the current challenges of energy shortages and for pollution control. In addition major new directions in the genetic manipulation of algae and in new bioreactor design have been initiated in an effort to design new systems and approaches for this purpose. However, significant barriers for the commercialization of microalgae still exist including economic barriers, the level of technology readiness and lack of established co-products to make the overall process of energy from algae attractive. Mixotrophic algae cultivation offers the benefits of high biomass productivity and allows for integrated approaches which combine both photosynthetic and heterotrophic components during the diurnal cycle. This chapter focuses mainly on mixotrophic algae, the different methods of cultivation and different roles of algae in energy production. The large number of algal species and their versatile habitats and adaptability make mixotrophic microalgae serious candidates for applied research and development and for commercialization of new technologies. Approaches based on mixotrophic cultivation of algae will continue to play a role in efforts to mitigate the above mentioned challenges.
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Abbreviations
- ATP:
-
Adenosine triphosphate
- DOC:
-
Dissolved Organic Carbon
- DW:
-
Dry weight
- FPR:
-
Flat Panel or Plate Reactor
- HTR:
-
Horizontal tube Reactor
- TAG:
-
Triaclyglycerol
- VTR:
-
Vertical tube Reactor
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Bassi, A., Saxena, P., Aguirre, AM. (2014). Mixotrophic Algae Cultivation for Energy Production and Other Applications. In: Bajpai, R., Prokop, A., Zappi, M. (eds) Algal Biorefineries. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7494-0_7
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