Algae - A quintessential and positive resource of bioethanol production: A comprehensive review

Alternate renewable energy has created a tremendous place for itself in today's scenario of energy studies. Depleting fossil fuels and high environmental pollution leading to threatening climatic changes have led to the search of alternative energy systems. Fuels derived from biological sources, the third generation biofuels - biodiesel, biohydrogen and bioethanol are being explored by researchers and scientists extensively and renewable fuel yielding biomass is now a center of attention. Algae, one such biomass, are unique biological sources with distinctive characters to produce biofuel. They are highly adaptable and can grow in all types of land and water, yielding high content of lipids or carbohydrates. Bioethanol is a biofuel reducing green house gases, carbon-di-oxide emissions and global warming, yet research have been carried out to standardize its potentialities and commercialization. This review throws limelight on potentially utilizing macroalgae for producing bioethanol and application of nano technology for extracting carbohydrates for bioethanol production. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.