Microalgae Isolation and Cultivation Technology for Mass Production

Microalgae are microorganisms that are often found in freshwater, marine, and brackish water systems. Due to the metabolic diversity of these microorganisms, they may be used for biotechnological applications to address environmental issues, food insecurity, and illnesses. Microalgae culture on a large scale for the production of lipids, nutraceuticals, bioenergy, etc., has significant obstacles. In order to effectively and efficiently recover products from microalgae, higher growth and biomass production are essential. This chapter provides an overview of microalgae isolation and growing techniques for mass production, including autotrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic cultivation techniques. In addition, this chapter summarizes the many designs of open and closed photobioreactors, which are the two most common categories. Open photoreactors include open ponds and open raceway ponds, while closed photobioreactors may be tubular, column, or flat-panel. Each design has its unique emphasis on the essential factors for optimum microalgae development, such as light intensity, operating costs, and contamination. In addition, this chapter discusses the growth model of microalgae, which covers factors that affect the microalgae survival, such as light incident angle, light intensity, transfer of gases, nutrient uptake, and photosynthesis kinetics. Finally, the economic perspective and future prospects of microalgae production on a large scale are discussed.