Microalgal Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Capture and Utilization from the European Union Perspective

Abstract

The increasing concentration of anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere is causing a global environmental crisis, forcing significant reductions in emissions. Among the existing CO2 capture technologies, microalgae-guided sequestration is seen as one of the more promising and sustainable solutions. The present review article compares CO2 emissions in the EU with other global economies, and outlines EU’s climate policy together with current and proposed EU climate regulations. Furthermore, it summarizes the current state of knowledge on controlled microalgal cultures, indicates the importance of CO2 phycoremediation methods, and assesses the importance of microalgae-based systems for long-term storage and utilization of CO2. It also outlines how far microalgae technologies within the EU have developed on the quantitative and technological levels, together with prospects for future development. The literature overview has shown that large-scale take-up of technological solutions for the production and use of microalgal biomass is hampered by economic, technological, and legal barriers. Unsuitable climate conditions are an additional impediment, forcing operators to implement technologies that maintain appropriate temperature and lighting conditions in photobioreactors, considerably driving up the associated investment and operational costs.

Antioxidants from microalgae and their potential impact on human well-being

“…The field of microalgae research and applications presents a dynamic landscape filled with both challenges and opportunities. One of the major challenges lies in optimizing cultivation techniques to ensure consistent and high biomass yields, which requires addressing issues related to contamination, nutrient supply, and growth conditions [125,126]. Additionally, cost-effective harvesting and extraction methods for valuable compounds, such as antioxidants, remain areas of active exploration.…”

“…Their rapid growth rates and ability to thrive in diverse environments offer an avenue for addressing food security and environmental sustainability [128]. Research into novel cultivation systems, genetic modification, and biotechnological advancements opens doors to unlocking the full potential of microalgae [126]. Collaborations between researchers, industries, and regulatory bodies are key to harnessing these opportunities and overcoming the obstacles on the path to realizing the transformative potential of microalgae-derived products [119,121,129].…”

A Green Revolution in Antioxidant Research: Harnessing Microalgae for Wellness and Longevity

“…Regulatory complexities also pose challenges, as the development of microalgaebased products must align with evolving guidelines. However, amidst these challenges, there are promising opportunities [101,127].…”

Experimental assessment of lipid yield and phycoremediation potential of five indigenous microalgae under various nutrient regimes (N:P) in BBM

“…In the above context, research on generating microalgal biomass resources is highly signi cant as a multi-edged technological process. Microalgae being photosynthetically most e cient (20% better photosynthetic e ciency than terrestrial plants), their culture is the best biological carbon sequestration process and solar energy capture [10]. Algal culture can be an industrially enabled massive biomass production suitable for several bioenergy forms such as biodiesel, bioethanol, biobutanol, and biocrude [11].…”

“…The screening of lipid content and lipid productivity of the alga are signi cant for assessing the commercial exploitation of microalgal biomass for biofuel purposes [25][26][27]. In addition, optimization of growth parameters is also required, especially in selecting potential local microalgal strains for phycoremediation and biomass production because the effectiveness of phycoremediation is highly dependent on the species chosen [28] and their growth environment [10].…”