Extraction of biomolecules from microalgae

Microalgae offer great potential for producing several valuable biomolecules due to their fast growth rate, and the feasibility for large-scale production on waste resources. As the global demand for microalgae grows, several technical barriers need to be addressed before the practical implementation of microalgae-based process development becomes a reality. To this end, this chapter reviews both the vast potential of biomolecules available from microalgae and also various cell disruption and extraction methods aimed at optimizing the extraction efficiency of such molecules. Of particular importance are nutraceuticals and antioxidants, which have a growing market in the health foods sector. Moreover, the conversion of three major microalgae components (lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates) into different types of biofuels is discussed extensively. Finally, future research directions are presented.