ABSTRACT
Photosynthetic algae are a diverse group of organisms with the ability to fix atmospheric CO2 using sunlight and grow rapidly, are cultivable in sea water and produce more biomass per unit area than vascular plants. Unlike microalgae, macroalgae are well utilized by humans as sources of food, fertilizers, etc. This chapter focusses on microalgae, including cyanobacteria, and discusses how their ability to produce a variety of biomolecules can be exploited to produce diverse sustainable products that have applications in renewable energy, food, cosmetics, nutraceutical, biotechnology, biomedical and biomaterial industries. This chapter highlights the significance of various products from microalgae, like proteins, carbohydrates, pigments, lipids and other bioactive compounds for improving human life. Microalgae are also a rich source of several other biomolecules, like phenolics, phytoene/terpenoids, photoprotective compounds (mycosporine-like amino acids [MAAs], scytonemin), phytohormones, biocides (algaecides, herbicides and insecticides), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), biofertilizers, etc., which are not discussed in detail in this chapter. In addition, we have discussed some of the key technological challenges, bottlenecks and current limitations on the use of microalgae and microalgal products in food, feed, aquaculture, biofuel, nutraceutical, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries that need to be overcome before the full potential of microalgae can be commercially exploited.
