Microalgae represent the most promising source of biomass feedstock for advanced biofuels with minimal competition for land and water with food crops. Microalgae's ability to efficiently utilize carbon dioxide from industrial sources for photosynthesis provides an added environmental benefit. However, microalgae also are the least known biological system and microalgal biofuels research and development are still in the early stages. In this presentation, I will first present the current understanding of the pathways for lipid synthesis and the molecular and cellular mechanisms for lipid accumulation in microalgae, using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a model system. Algal biology-inspired metabolic engineering of microalgae for trait development, particularly enhanced lipid production, will be highlighted. I will then provide updates on photobioreactor development and algal mass culture with special emphases on microbial contamination and the need for development of the best management practices plan for sustainable microalgal feedstock production. Finally, I will describe the path forward for microalgae-based biofuels with respect to both challenges and opportunities across the entire microalgal biofuels value chain.

Advances, challenges, and opportunities of microalgal biofuels

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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