Microalgal bioreactors: Challenges and opportunities |
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| Authors: | Ling Xu Pamela J. Weathers Xue‐Rong Xiong Chun‐Zhao Liu |
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| Affiliation: | 1. National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China;2. School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China;3. Department Biology/Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA;4. Arkansas Bioscience Institute, Arkansas State University, State University, AR 72467, USA;5. Division of Industrial Biotechnology, Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, P. R. China |
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| Abstract: | Cultivating and harvesting of products from microalgae has led to increasing commercial interest in their use for producing valuable substances for food, feed, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and biodiesel, as well as for mitigation of pollution and rising CO2 in the environment. This review outlines different bioreactors and their current status, and points out their advantages and disadvantages. Compared with open‐air systems, there are distinct advantages to using closed systems, but technical challenges still remain. In view of potential applications, development of a more controllable, economical, and efficient closed culturing system is needed. Further developments still depend on continued research in the design of photobioreactors and break‐throughs in microalgal culturing technologies. |
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| Keywords: | Microalgae Photobioreactor Scale‐up |
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