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•Biodiesel is a renewable and ecofriendly biofuel.•It can be produced using transesterification, emulsification and pyrolysis process etc.•Enzyme catalyzed and biomass derived ...catalysts reactions are economic and ecofriendly.•Process intensification technology results in higher yield with lower wastes.
Biodiesel is a non-toxic renewable energy source that is gaining attention globally owing to its direct applicability in preexisting engines without any modification. Various technologies from laboratory scale to industrial scale have been developed, and many plants have been established for biodiesel production using various feedstocks. Using biobased technology in biodiesel production is advantageous as these methods generate less waste and are considered ecofriendly. This article mainly discusses the availability of various oil resources (edible, non-edible, waste cooking oils (WCO)) and the advancements in technology related to oil extraction. Specifically, biobased methods, such as immobilized enzymes (matrix) and heterogeneous catalysts (derived from biomass), reported to catalyze the transesterification reaction for biodiesel production are discussed in detail. Biodiesel production using conventional technologies results in low yield and purity and is time-consuming. Newly introduced process intensification technologies (microreactor, membrane reactor, microwave, reactive distillation, and centrifugal contractor) to overcome these issues are also discussed. The need to develop integrated process technologies for biodiesel production to make the process more economical is emphasized.
With the growing use of fossil fuels and industrial activity, the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission is continuously increasing and is considered a primary contributor to climate change. CO2 ...emissions from stationary resources (coal fire, cement plants, and other industry) can be reduced by using various carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies. In this article, recent advancements in various biological methods (i.e., carbonic anhydrase (CA), hydrogenation of CO2 to formate, reduction of CO2 to methane, CO2 conversion into methanol by enzyme cascade, and the role of RuBisCo enzyme) that have been reported for CO2 capture are discussed, along with their advantages and limitations. A brief overview of other physicochemical (absorption, adsorption, cryogenic, and membrane) technologies is also provided. Although biological methods are ecofriendly and can be performed under ambient conditions, these approaches are still not cost effective, as the reactions require cofactors, and the enzymes lose activity when exposed to hot flue gas and ionic liquids. Most captured CO2 is stored by mineralization using a geological and ocean storage method without providing any economic benefit. It is a question of interest as to how we can utilize CO2 and generate revenue. Utilization of CO2 as a feedstock to produce bioenergy is a possible approach. Various microbes capable of utilizing CO2 as feedstock and producing biofuels (biodiesel and bioalcohol) have been reported. These two technologies, i.e., CO2 capture and bioconversion of CO2 into bioenergy, can be integrated to develop a process that not only mitigates CO2 effects on the environment but also solves energy problems while generating revenue.
•Carbon dioxide (CO2) is contributing in global warming.•CO2 can be used as a resource for bioenergy production.•Electro-biological and integrated system are efficient methods for CO2 to bioenergy conversion.
•Analyzing the recent developments in pyrolysis processes of microalgae.•Mechanism of the various types of pyrolysis was summarized.•Biochemical composition was discussed in detail.•Microwave ...assisted pyrolysis has achieved more significance than other process.•Quality of the bio-oil in catalytic pyrolysis was higher than thermal pyrolysis.
Algae become reasonable feedstock in recent times for biofuel production as they are environmentally benign, sustainable and renewable biomass. Biofuels are produced from algal biomass by chemical, biochemical, and thermochemical methods. Among the thermochemical techniques, pyrolysis is a well-known method involving high temperature and high pressure to produce biochar and bio-oil from numerous algal biomasses. Therefore, this review was undertaken to collate and discuss different pyrolytic processes employed for the conversion of algal biomass into biochar and bio-oil production. At the outset, different pyrolysis methods slow pyrolysis, fast/flash pyrolysis, catalytic pyrolysis, microwave assisted pyrolysis and hydropyrolysis operated for the conversion of various microalgae and cyanobacteria into biochar and bio-oil were reviewed using copious literature. Further, challenges arisen out of using above-said pyrolysis methods were critically highlighted to pave the way to choose an appropriate pyrolysis method for obtaining desirable quantity and quality of bio-oil from algae.
Microbes can act as a factory for the conversion of a variety of carbon and nitrogen sources into diverse kinds of intracellular and extracellular biopolymers, including polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) ...and exopolysaccharides (EPS), under different stress conditions ....
Fermentation processes in foods often lead to changes in nutritional and biochemical quality relative to the starting ingredients. Fermented foods comprise very complex ecosystems consisting of ...enzymes from raw ingredients that interact with the fermenting microorganisms’ metabolic activities. Fermenting microorganisms provide a unique approach towards food stability via physical and biochemical changes in fermented foods. These fermented foods can benefit consumers compared to simple foods in terms of antioxidants, production of peptides, organoleptic and probiotic properties, and antimicrobial activity. It also helps in the levels of anti-nutrients and toxins level. The quality and quantity of microbial communities in fermented foods vary based on the manufacturing process and storage conditions/durability. This review contributes to current research on biochemical changes during the fermentation of foods. The focus will be on the changes in the biochemical compounds that determine the characteristics of final fermented food products from original food resources.
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•PHA production from biowaste is an economic and ecofriendly approach.•Microbes are able to recover resource from waste and produce PHA.•C, N, P and dissolved oxygen are the main ...factors that affect PHA production.•The downstream process has a big impact on whole cost of PHA production.•Functionalization of PHA has potential to improve their applications.
Biowaste management is a challenging job as it is high in nutrient content and its disposal in open may cause a serious environmental and health risk. Traditional technologies such as landfill, bio-composting, and incineration are used for biowaste management. To gain revenue from biowaste researchers around the world focusing on the integration of biowaste management with other commercial products such as volatile fatty acids (VFA), biohydrogen, and bioplastic (polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)), etc. PHA production from various biowastes such as lignocellulosic biomass, municipal waste, waste cooking oils, biodiesel industry waste, and syngas has been reported successfully. Various nutrient factors i.e., carbon and nitrogen source concentration and availability of dissolved oxygen are crucial factors for PHA production. This review is an attempt to summarize the recent advancements in PHA production from various biowaste, its downstream processing, and other challenges that need to overcome making bioplastic an alternate for synthetic plastic.
Oxidative stress originates from an elevated intracellular level of free oxygen radicals that cause lipid peroxidation, protein denaturation, DNA hydroxylation, and apoptosis, ultimately impairing ...cell viability. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, which further helps to prevent cellular damage. Medicinal plants, fruits, and spices are the primary sources of antioxidants from time immemorial. In contrast to plants, microorganisms can be used as a source of antioxidants with the advantage of fast growth under controlled conditions. Further, microbe-based antioxidants are nontoxic, noncarcinogenic, and biodegradable as compared to synthetic antioxidants. The present review aims to summarize the current state of the research on the antioxidant activity of microorganisms including actinomycetes, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microalgae, and yeast, which produce a variety of antioxidant compounds, i.e., carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamins, and sterol, etc. Special emphasis is given to the mechanisms and signaling pathways followed by antioxidants to scavenge Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), especially for those antioxidant compounds that have been scarcely investigated so far.
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•Renewable energy seems a promising approach to fulfill the future energy demand.•Biochar is an economic, and efficient material for energy production.•It can be utilized for ...electrode preparation used in MFC.•Biochar is also used as a catalyst for biodiesel and hydrogen production.•Need to work on technology for biochar synthesis with desired properties.
Tremendous population growth and industrialization have increased energy consumption unprecedentedly. The depletion of fossil-based energy supplies necessitates the exploration of solar, geothermal, wind, hydrogen, biodiesel, etc. as a clean and renewable energy source. Most of these energy sources are intermittent, while bioelectricity, biodiesel, and biohydrogen can be produced using abundantly available organic wastes regularly. The production of various energy resources requires materials that are costly and affect the applicability at a large scale. Biomass-derived materials (biochar) are getting attention in the field of bioenergy due to their simple method of synthesis, high surface area, porosity, and availability of functional groups for easy modification. Biochar synthesis using various techniques is discussed and their use as an electrode (anodic/cathodic) in a microbial fuel cell (MFC), catalysts in transesterification, and anaerobic digestion for energy production are reviewed. Renewable energy production using biochar would be a sustainable approach to create an energy secure world.
"Microbial Biopolymers: Trends in Synthesis, Modification and Applications" is a comprehensive reprint that explores the latest research and innovations in the field of biopolymers. The reprint ...covers the production and functionalization of two key types of microbial biopolymers: polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and exopolysaccharides (EPSs). With contributions from leading experts in the field, the reprint provides a thorough overview of the production processes, chemical and physical properties, and applications of these biopolymers. The reprint is an essential resource for researchers, engineers, and industry professionals interested in developing sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics and materials.
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•Algae capture CO2 and produce biomass.•Algal biomass requires mild pretreatment to produce bio-sugars.•Algal hydrolysate pretreatment results in less side products.•It can be used as ...feedstock for hydrogen production in dark fermentation.•Dark fermentation process can be coupled with photo fermentation and methanogenesis.
Hydrogen has gained attention as an alternative source of energy because of its non-polluting nature as on combustion it produces only water. Biological methods are eco-friendly and have benefits in waste management and hydrogen production simultaneously. The use of algal biomass as feedstock in dark fermentation is advantageous because of its low lignin content, high growth rate, and carbon-fixation ability. The major bottlenecks in biohydrogen production are its low productivity and high production costs. To overcome these issues, many advances in the area of biomass pretreatment to increase sugar release, understanding of algal biomass composition, and development of fermentation strategies for the complete recovery of nutrients are ongoing. Recently, mixed substrate fermentation, multistep fermentation, and the use of nanocatalysts to improve hydrogen production have increased. This review article evaluates the current progress in algal biomass pretreatment, key factors, and possible solutions for increasing hydrogen production.
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