Advances in Sustainable Applications of Microalgae discusses different mechanisms used by microalgae to treat various gaseous streams, wastewaters, and pollution bioremediation. In addition, the advantages of the application of microalgal biomass in the agricultural and food/feed sectors are presented and bioenergy from microalgae with a view to sustainability is explored. The present covers the use of microalgal cultures in various applications, such as: the treatment of gaseous streams by removing various contaminants, wastewater treatment through the removal of several pollutants, biomass valorization for agriculture purposes, bioenergy from microalgae, and industrial integration of all these processes in a biorefinery concept.
Finally, the book emphasizes the importance of gathering scientific knowledge to overcome drawbacks related to microalgal production and develops the concept of biorefinery based on microalgal biomass for a more sustainable future.
- Presents recent advances and future trends in the microalgal field
- Provides an integrated point-of-view of the applications as a concept of biorefinery based on microalgal biomass for a more sustainable future
- Explores wastewater treatment, heavy metals, environmental contaminants, and nutrient recovery in relation to microalgae cultivation
- Emphasizes sustainability aspects of microalgae cultivation and processing which provides an outlook on the integrated processes available that can enhance the biomass production and its environmental impact
Dr. José Carlos Magalhães Pires is a Senior Researcher at the University of Porto, Portugal. He holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the same institution and has over 18 years of experience in teaching and research within the fields of environmental sciences and process systems engineering. His research interests include process modeling and optimization, sustainable microalgal cultivation strategies, bioreactor design, and the applications of microalgae in water treatment, CO2 capture and bioenergy production.
AF Esteves graduated in Environmental Engineering, by FEUP in 2019. AF Esteves is currently a PhD student in Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Portugal. The PhD, entitled Light optimisation on microalgae cultivation and production of high-value products: from laboratory to pilot scale, aimed the intensification of microalgal biomass production and the content in high-value products, optimising the light supply. Her work also includes the application of stress conditions to infer about its effect on biochemical composition of the biomass. She published 7 papers in international peer-reviewed journals (3 as first author), 4 book chapters and her research work was discussed in 3 international meetings and in 3 national meetings.
EM Salgado is a PhD student in Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), Portugal. She graduated in Bioengineering specialising in Biological Engineering, by FEUP in 2021.She published 2 articles in international peer-reviewed journals, 1 as the first author, and 2 book chapters, 1 as the first author. Her research work was discussed in 5 international meetings, winning the best poster award in one of them. Her research interests include the use of microalgal cultures for wastewater treatment, removal of contaminants of emerging concern such as siloxanes, biogas upgrading, and employing innovative photobioreactor designs in these processes under the principles of a circular economy.
