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Microalgae with unlimited potential: How to become a renewable energy and food source in the future?
In the vast waters, there is a group of tiny organisms hidden - microalgae. Although these microscopic algae cannot be seen with the naked eye, they have the potential to change the future. Microalgae are phytoplankton that live in freshwater and seawater systems and exist mainly as single cells, or in chains or colonies. Although microalgae range in size from a few to hundreds of microns, they play an integral role in Earth's ecosystems.
Microalgae photosynthesize, producing about half of the Earth's atmospheric oxygen, and use the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide to grow photoautotrophically.
Microalgae are not only primary producers, but also the basis of the food chain, providing energy for higher-order organisms. The diversity of microalgae is estimated to be considerable, with between 200,000 and 800,000 species, many of which have yet to be described. More than 15,000 new compounds have been chemically identified in these microalgae, including carotenoids, fatty acids, enzymes, polymers, peptides, toxins and sterols. These precious metabolites not only diversify ecosystems, but also provide potential raw materials for fuel and other uses.
Features and Applications
The chemical composition of microalgae is not a constant factor, but varies with species and culture conditions. Some microalgae are able to adapt to environmental changes by changing their chemical composition. Certain species of microalgae show their adaptability by very vigorously replacing their membrane fats in phosphorus-deficient environments. In addition, by changing environmental factors such as temperature, light, pH, carbon dioxide supply, salt and nutrients, desired products can be accumulated in microalgae in large quantities.
Microalgae are an essential food source for many aquaculture species, especially filter bivalves.
Photosynthetic and chemosynthetic microorganisms can also form symbiotic relationships with host organisms, providing them with necessary vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids that the host cannot synthesize on its own. And because microalgae cells grow in water, they can obtain water, carbon dioxide and other nutrients in a more efficient way. These microalgae play an important role in marine ecosystems, both by fixing inorganic carbon into organic molecules and by releasing oxygen in the waters. So far, Omega-3 fatty acids produced in the food chain, including microalgae, are not only vital to fish but may also become a healthy source in the human diet.
Cultivation of microalgae
Various microalgae species have been produced in hatcheries and used for a variety of commercial purposes including sources of human nutrition, biofuels, aquaculture of other organisms, production of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, and as biofertilizers . However, low cell density is a major bottleneck in the commercialization of many microalgae-derived products. Research points out that the main factors for the success of microalgae incubation systems include: the geometry and size of the culture system (known as a photobioreactor); light intensity; carbon dioxide concentration in the gas phase; nutrient levels (mainly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) ; and the stirring of culture.
Future Outlook
Microalgae are receiving increasing attention as global demand for renewable energy and sustainable food sources continues to rise. The potential of these small creatures seems endless, but whether they can play a larger-scale role in our daily lives still awaits further exploration and innovation?
