Enhancing lipid accumulation in marine microalgae for sustainable biofuel applications: A review of Nannochloropsis and Tetraselmis

IF 7 2区生物学 Q1 AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

Biomass & Bioenergy Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-05 DOI:10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109210

Linh Doan , Anh Q.V. Tran , Quynh K.L. Ong , Khanh G. Huynh , Khoa Tran , Thanh Khoa Phung

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Abstract

Marine microalgae are increasingly recognized as promising feedstocks for sustainable biofuel production due to their rapid growth rates, high lipid productivity, and ability to utilize saline water resources. Among them, Nannochloropsis and Tetraselmis have attracted particular attention because of their robust cultivation characteristics, favorable fatty acid profiles, and adaptability to large-scale systems. This review critically examines lipid biosynthesis pathways in these two genera and systematically analyzes environmental, metabolic, and cultivation strategies employed to enhance lipid accumulation. Key approaches, including nutrient limitation, carbon supplementation, light and salinity modulation, and metabolic engineering, are evaluated in terms of lipid yield, fatty acid composition, and process feasibility. A focused comparison between Nannochloropsis and Tetraselmis is provided to highlight their respective advantages, limitations, and application scenarios in biofuel production. In addition, integration with wastewater treatment, co-cultivation systems, and techno-economic considerations are discussed to assess industrial viability. Unlike previous generalized reviews, this work emphasizes the linkage between biochemical mechanisms, enhancement strategies, and scalable biofuel applications. Finally, current technological bottlenecks and future research directions are outlined to support the transition of marine microalgal lipid production from laboratory studies to sustainable industrial deployment.

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促进海洋微藻脂质积累用于可持续生物燃料应用：纳米绿藻和四鳃藻综述

海洋微藻因其生长速度快、脂质产量高和利用咸水资源的能力而越来越被认为是可持续生物燃料生产的有前途的原料。其中，Nannochloropsis和Tetraselmis因其强大的栽培特性、有利的脂肪酸谱和对大规模系统的适应性而受到特别关注。本文综述了这两个属的脂质生物合成途径，并系统地分析了促进脂质积累的环境、代谢和培养策略。关键方法，包括营养限制，碳补充，光和盐度调节，以及代谢工程，在脂质产量，脂肪酸组成和工艺可行性方面进行了评估。本文重点比较了纳米绿藻和四鳃草的优势、局限性和在生物燃料生产中的应用前景。此外，还讨论了与废水处理、共培养系统和技术经济考虑的整合，以评估工业可行性。与以往的综述不同，这项工作强调了生物化学机制、增强策略和可扩展的生物燃料应用之间的联系。最后，概述了当前的技术瓶颈和未来的研究方向，以支持海洋微藻脂质生产从实验室研究过渡到可持续的工业部署。

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来源期刊

Biomass & Bioenergy 工程技术-能源与燃料

CiteScore

11.50

自引率

3.30%

发文量

258

审稿时长

60 days

期刊介绍： Biomass & Bioenergy is an international journal publishing original research papers and short communications, review articles and case studies on biological resources, chemical and biological processes, and biomass products for new renewable sources of energy and materials. The scope of the journal extends to the environmental, management and economic aspects of biomass and bioenergy. Key areas covered by the journal: • Biomass: sources, energy crop production processes, genetic improvements, composition. Please note that research on these biomass subjects must be linked directly to bioenergy generation. • Biological Residues: residues/rests from agricultural production, forestry and plantations (palm, sugar etc), processing industries, and municipal sources (MSW). Papers on the use of biomass residues through innovative processes/technological novelty and/or consideration of feedstock/system sustainability (or unsustainability) are welcomed. However waste treatment processes and pollution control or mitigation which are only tangentially related to bioenergy are not in the scope of the journal, as they are more suited to publications in the environmental arena. Papers that describe conventional waste streams (ie well described in existing literature) that do not empirically address ''new'' added value from the process are not suitable for submission to the journal. • Bioenergy Processes: fermentations, thermochemical conversions, liquid and gaseous fuels, and petrochemical substitutes • Bioenergy Utilization: direct combustion, gasification, electricity production, chemical processes, and by-product remediation • Biomass and the Environment: carbon cycle, the net energy efficiency of bioenergy systems, assessment of sustainability, and biodiversity issues.