A Review of Novel Materials and Technologies for the Sustainable Development of Microalgae Biofuel

Abstract

Recently, microalgae has been identified as a renewable fuel source and shown advantages over other biomass-based fuels in terms of low natural resource utilization, low environmental footprint and high energy efficiency. However, with current technologies, scaling up the production of algal biofuels is facing many challenges. This paper evaluates the factors (technological, environmental, economic and political) involved in microalgae biofuel production and reviews novel materials and technologies that can make microalgae biofuel become sustainable and cost-efficient at the larger scale.