Biochemical Conversion of Microalgae Biomass into Biofuel

Biofuel production via microalgae is a promising and sustainable alternative to replace the typical fossil fuel that is the main contributor to the global warming. However, for a cost-effective biofuel production, further advanced research is still needed for large-scale operation. This article is a tutorial review on conversion processes of microalgae into biofuel, with emphasis on biochemical conversion. The following topics are discussed: (i) microalgae biomass and its composition, (ii) thermochemical conversion, (iii) chemical conversion, and (iv) biochemical conversion. In addition, various aspects of anaerobic digestion, digester designs, and effects of operating conditions on the production of methane, bioethanol, and biohydrogen are discussed. The general kinetics of biomass conversion into biofuel is presented. This study suggests, if that biomass contains less than 50 % moisture, then it is recommended to use the direct combustion method; otherwise, biochemical conversion is the most suitable process to biofuel production.