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Dewangan M, Singh VK, Kumar A. Unraveling the potential of Chlorella vulgaris in sustainable bioplastic production, carbon sequestration, and wastewater treatment using integrated approaches. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART A, TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2025; 60:46-53. [PMID: 40289903 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2025.2493002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2025] [Revised: 04/07/2025] [Accepted: 04/09/2025] [Indexed: 04/30/2025]
Abstract
With rising concerns over plastic pollution and climate change, microalgae-based bioplastics offer a promising alternative to petroleum-derived plastics. This study explores the dual role of Chlorella vulgaris in bioplastic synthesis and environmental remediation through its cultivation in a wastewater-fed bioreactor. By leveraging wastewater as a nutrient source, C. vulgaris achieved a biomass yield of 3.472 g/L, with 20 mg/L of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) extracted. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy validated the presence of PHA-specific ester functional groups, confirming its suitability for bioplastic applications. Additionally, the cultivation process resulted in a complete reduction of free CO2 within three days, demonstrating efficient carbon sequestration. Significant declines in wastewater contaminants, including COD, BOD, nitrogen, and phosphorus, highlight the microalga's bioremediation capabilities, making it a promising candidate for sustainable wastewater treatment. This study introduces a cost-efficient, self-sustaining microalgal bioprocess that eliminates the need for synthetic nutrients while achieving high-yield PHA production, complete CO2 sequestration, and efficient wastewater detoxification. By integrating three essential sustainability goals- bioplastic production, carbon capture, and water purification- this work bridges the gap between bio-based materials and environmental conservation. The results affirm C. vulgaris as a multifunctional bioresource that supports both biopolymer synthesis and climate change mitigation. This work advances microalgal biotechnology by demonstrating its potential for large-scale, closed-loop biomanufacturing, providing an eco-friendly, scalable solution for reducing plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions while promoting sustainable industrial practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Dewangan
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Raipur, CG, India
| | - Vivek Kumar Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Raipur, CG, India
| | - Awanish Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Raipur, CG, India
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Al-Hammadi M, Güngörmüşler M. New insights into Chlorella vulgaris applications. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:1486-1502. [PMID: 38343183 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Environmental pollution is a big challenge that has been faced by humans in contemporary life. In this context, fossil fuel, cement production, and plastic waste pose a direct threat to the environment and biodiversity. One of the prominent solutions is the use of renewable sources, and different organisms to valorize wastes into green energy and bioplastics such as polylactic acid. Chlorella vulgaris, a microalgae, is a promising candidate to resolve these issues due to its ease of cultivation, fast growth, carbon dioxide uptake, and oxygen production during its growth on wastewater along with biofuels, and other productions. Thus, in this article, we focused on the potential of Chlorella vulgaris to be used in wastewater treatment, biohydrogen, biocement, biopolymer, food additives, and preservation, biodiesel which is seen to be the most promising for industrial scale, and related biorefineries with the most recent applications with a brief review of Chlorella and polylactic acid market size to realize the technical/nontechnical reasons behind the cost and obstacles that hinder the industrial production for the mentioned applications. We believe that our findings are important for those who are interested in scientific/financial research about microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Al-Hammadi
- Division of Bioengineering, Graduate School, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Türkiye
| | - Mine Güngörmüşler
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Türkiye
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Abdul Rahman SNS, Chai YH, Lam MK. Taguchi approach for assessing supercritical CO 2 (sCO 2) fluid extraction of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from Chlorella Vulgaris sp. microalgae. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 355:120447. [PMID: 38460326 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
This research explicitly investigates the utilization of Chlorella Vulgaris sp. microalgae as a renewable source for lipid production, focusing on its application in bioplastic manufacturing. This study employed the supercritical fluid extraction technique employing supercritical CO2 (sCO2) as a green technology to selectively extract and produce PHA's precursor utilizing CO2 solvent as a cleaner solvent compared to conventional extraction method. The study assessed the effects of three extraction parameters, namely temperature (40-60 °C), pressure (15-35 MPa), and solvent flow rate (4-8 ml/min). The pressure, flowrate, and temperature were found to be the most significant parameters affecting the sCO2 extraction. Through Taguchi optimization, the optimal parameters were determined as 60 °C, 35 MPa, and 4 ml/min with the highest lipid yield of 46.74 wt%; above-average findings were reported. Furthermore, the pretreatment process involved significant effects such as crumpled and exhaustive structure, facilitating the efficient extraction of total lipids from the microalgae matrix. This study investigated the microstructure of microalgae biomatrix before and after extraction using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was utilized to assess the potential of the extracted material as a precursor for biodegradable plastic production, with a focus on reduced heavy metal content through inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis. The lipid extracted from Chlorella Vulgaris sp. microalgae was analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), identifying key constituents, including oleic acid (C18H34O2), n-Hexadecanoic acid (C16H32O2), and octadecanoic acid (C18H36O2), essential for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) formation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yee Ho Chai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak, Malaysia; HICoE-Center for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Sustainable Building Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak, Malaysia.
| | - Man Kee Lam
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak, Malaysia; HICoE-Center for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Sustainable Building Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak, Malaysia
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Joshi JS, Langwald SV, Ehrmann A, Sabantina L. Algae-Based Biopolymers for Batteries and Biofuel Applications in Comparison with Bacterial Biopolymers-A Review. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:610. [PMID: 38475294 DOI: 10.3390/polym16050610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Algae-based biopolymers can be used in diverse energy-related applications, such as separators and polymer electrolytes in batteries and fuel cells and also as microalgal biofuel, which is regarded as a highly renewable energy source. For these purposes, different physical, thermochemical, and biochemical properties are necessary, which are discussed within this review, such as porosity, high temperature resistance, or good mechanical properties for batteries and high energy density and abundance of the base materials in case of biofuel, along with the environmental aspects of using algae-based biopolymers in these applications. On the other hand, bacterial biopolymers are also often used in batteries as bacterial cellulose separators or as biopolymer network binders, besides their potential use as polymer electrolytes. In addition, they are also regarded as potential sustainable biofuel producers and converters. This review aims at comparing biopolymers from both aforementioned sources for energy conversion and storage. Challenges regarding the production of algal biopolymers include low scalability and low cost-effectiveness, and for bacterial polymers, slow growth rates and non-optimal fermentation processes often cause challenges. On the other hand, environmental benefits in comparison with conventional polymers and the better biodegradability are large advantages of these biopolymers, which suggest further research to make their production more economical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jnanada Shrikant Joshi
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 33619 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Sarah Vanessa Langwald
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 33619 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Andrea Ehrmann
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 33619 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Lilia Sabantina
- Department of Apparel Engineering and Textile Processing, Berlin University of Applied Sciences-HTW Berlin, 12459 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Textile and Paper Engineering, Higher Polytechnic School of Alcoy, Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), 03801 Alcoy, Spain
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Abreu AP, Martins R, Nunes J. Emerging Applications of Chlorella sp. and Spirulina ( Arthrospira) sp. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:955. [PMID: 37627840 PMCID: PMC10451540 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10080955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlorella sp. and Spirulina (Arthrospira) sp. account for over 90% of the global microalgal biomass production and represent one of the most promising aquiculture bioeconomy systems. These microorganisms have been widely recognized for their nutritional and therapeutic properties; therefore, a significant growth of their market is expected, especially in the nutraceutical, food, and beverage segments. However, recent advancements in biotechnology and environmental science have led to the emergence of new applications for these microorganisms. This paper aims to explore these innovative applications, while shedding light on their roles in sustainable development, health, and industry. From this state-of-the art review, it was possible to give an in-depth outlook on the environmental sustainability of Chlorella sp. and Spirulina (Arthrospira) sp. For instance, there have been a variety of studies reported on the use of these two microorganisms for wastewater treatment and biofuel production, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts. Moreover, in the health sector, the richness of these microalgae in photosynthetic pigments and bioactive compounds, along with their oxygen-releasing capacity, are being harnessed in the development of new drugs, wound-healing dressings, photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy, tissue engineering, and anticancer treatments. Furthermore, in the industrial sector, Chlorella sp. and Spirulina (Arthrospira) sp. are being used in the production of biopolymers, fuel cells, and photovoltaic technologies. These innovative applications might bring different outlets for microalgae valorization, enhancing their potential, since the microalgae sector presents issues such as the high production costs. Thus, further research is highly needed to fully explore their benefits and potential applications in various sectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana P. Abreu
- Association BLC3—Technology and Innovation Campus, Centre Bio R&D Unit, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal; (R.M.); (J.N.)
| | - Rodrigo Martins
- Association BLC3—Technology and Innovation Campus, Centre Bio R&D Unit, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal; (R.M.); (J.N.)
| | - João Nunes
- Association BLC3—Technology and Innovation Campus, Centre Bio R&D Unit, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal; (R.M.); (J.N.)
- BLC3 Evolution Lda, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal
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Huang Y, Zhang M, Wang J, Xu D, Zhong C. Engineering microbial systems for the production and functionalization of biomaterialsBiomaterials engineering with microorganisms. Curr Opin Microbiol 2022; 68:102154. [PMID: 35568018 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
A new trend in biomaterials synthesis is harnessing the production of microorganisms, owing to the low cost and sustainability. Because microorganisms use DNA as a production code, it is possible for humans to reprogram these cells and thus build living factories for the production of biomaterials. Over the past decade, advances in genetic engineering have enabled the development of various intriguing biomaterials with useful properties, with commercially available biomaterials representing only a few of these. In this review, we discuss the common strategies for the production of bulk and commodity biogenic polymers, and highlight several notable approaches such as modular protein engineering and pathway optimization in achieving these goals. We finally investigate the available synthetic biology tools that allow engineering of living materials, and discuss how this emerging class of materials has expanded the application scope of biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Huang
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Cas Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mingyi Zhang
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Cas Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Cas Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China; Electrobiomaterials Institute, Key Laboratory for Anisotropy and Texture of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Dake Xu
- Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China; Electrobiomaterials Institute, Key Laboratory for Anisotropy and Texture of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chao Zhong
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Cas Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
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