ABSTRACT
Heterotrophic microalgae have biotechnological advantages as sustainable resources of high-value compounds, ranging from therapeutic proteins to fatty acid-based fuels. The dark cultivation of lipid-accumulating micro-algae on organic compounds as simple as glucose is being investigated as a promising alternative to biodiesel and other biofuels. A wide range of literature is available on the production and application of microalgal lipids. In this chapter, critical aspects of algal lipids in producing biodiesel are described systematically. The production of triglycerides as feedstock for biodiesel is summarized for different types of microalgae grown on cheap, low-cost renewable carbon sources. The choice of feedstock and fuel properties of the end product are two critical factors in the biomassto-biodiesel production process which are in turn determined by the strain 280involved and growth substrate. Strategies to improve productivity, e.g., optimization of bioprocess, direct (one-step) transesterification, and genetic engineering are discussed. The importance of physicochemical fuel properties is also highlighted.
