Microalgae ormicrophytes aremicroscopicalgae invisible to thenaked eye. They arephytoplankton typically found infreshwater andmarine systems, living in both thewater column andsediment.[1] They areunicellular species which exist individually, or in chains or groups. Depending on the species, their sizes can range from a few micrometers (μm) to a few hundred micrometers. Unlike higher plants, microalgae do not have roots, stems, or leaves.[2] They are specially adapted to an environment dominated by viscous forces.
Microalgae, capable of performingphotosynthesis, are important for life on earth; they produce approximately half of the atmospheric oxygen[3] and use thegreenhouse gas carbon dioxide to grow photoautotrophically. "Marine photosynthesis is dominated by microalgae, which together withcyanobacteria, are collectively calledphytoplankton."[4] Microalgae, together with bacteria, form the base of thefood web and provide energy for all thetrophic levels above them. Microalgaebiomass is often measured withchlorophylla concentrations and can provide a useful index of potential production.[5][6] Microalgae are very similar to terrestrial plants because they contain chlorophyll, as well as they require sunlight in order to grow and live. They can often be found floating in the top part of the ocean, which is where sunlight touches the water. Microalgae require nitrates, phosphates, and sulfur which they convert into carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.[7] Due to this converting ability, they are known to have health and nutritional benefits. It has been found to work as an ingredient in some foods, as well as a biostimulant in agricultural products.[8]
Thebiodiversity of microalgae is enormous and they represent an almost untapped resource. It has been estimated that about 200,000-800,000 species in many different genera exist of which about 50,000 species are described.[9] Over 15,000 novel compounds originating from algal biomass have been chemically determined.[10] Examples includecarotenoids,fatty acids,enzymes,polymers,peptides,toxins andsterols.[11] Besides providing these valuable metabolites, microalgae are regarded as a potential feedstock forbiofuels and has also emerged as a promising microorganism inbioremediation.[12] Microalgae is an aquatic organism that has a lot of different bioactive compounds that compose it, including carotenoids, peptides, phenolics, and vitamin B12. Many of them have been found to have positive health effects, which includes anticancer, antihypertensive, anti-obesity, antioxidative, and cardiovascular protection. It has faced lots of challenges due to species diversity and variations in biomass and cultivation factors.[13]
An exception to the microalgae family is the colorlessPrototheca which are devoid of anychlorophyll. These achlorophic algae switch toparasitism and thus cause the diseaseprotothecosis in human and animals.
A variety of unicellular and colonial freshwater microalgae
The chemical composition of microalgae is not an intrinsic constant factor but varies over a wide range of factors, both depending on species and on cultivation conditions. Some microalgae have the capacity to acclimate to changes in environmental conditions by altering their chemical composition in response to environmental variability. A particularly dramatic example is their ability to replace phospholipids with non-phosphorus membrane lipids in phosphorus-depleted environments.[14] It is possible to accumulate the desired products in microalgae to a large extent by changing environmental factors, like temperature, illumination, pH,CO2 supply, salt and nutrients.
Microphytes also produce chemical signals which contribute to prey selection, defense, and avoidance. These chemical signals affect large scale tropic structures such asalgal blooms but propagate by simple diffusion and laminar advective flow.[15][16] Microalgae such as microphytes constitute the basic foodstuff for numerous aquaculture species, especiallyfiltering bivalves.
The majority of microalgae is not edible, so most of its uses are not connected to food or energy. Instead, they are used in various biofertilizers, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.[17] Microalgae are seen as valuable biofertilizers because they help to improve both plant growth and soil fertilization. They are known to be a more sustainable option compared to agrochemicals due to their ability to decrease the usage of synthetic fertilizers, improve soil fertility, and optimize nutrients.[18] The use of microalgae in cosmetic products is also becoming more prevalent. This is due to some of the benefits that arise from microalgae's compounds, including anti-aging, skin brightening, and UV protection. Algal can be found in many cosmetic products that people use on a daily basis. The compounds are used in antioxidants, moisturizing agents, skin sensitizers, sunscreens, thickening agents, etc.[19] There are many different uses for microalgae in the pharmaceutical world. They produce bioactive compounds which possess therapeutic properties and serve as a drug delivery system. The extracellular-vesicles, which are derived from the microalgae, can be used for drug delivery. They are capable of crossing biological barriers, encapsulating proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules.[20]
Photosynthetic and chemosynthetic microbes can also form symbiotic relationships with host organisms. They provide them with vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids, necessary for the growth of the bivalves which are unable to synthesize it themselves.[21] Microalgae also is a rich source of bioactive compounds and nutrients. They are considered to be valuable in environmental applications, food, and pharmaceuticals due to the presence of lipids, proteins, and vitamins found within.[22] In addition, because the cells grow in aqueous suspension, they have more efficient access to water, CO2, and other nutrients.
Whilefish oil has become famous for itsomega-3 fatty acid content, fish do not actually produce omega-3s, instead accumulating their omega-3 reserves by consuming microalgae. These omega-3 fatty acids can be obtained in the human diet directly from the microalgae that produce them.
Microalgae can accumulate considerable amounts of proteins depending on species and cultivation conditions. Due to their ability to grow on non-arable land microalgae may provide an alternative protein source for human consumption or animal feed.[23] Microalgae proteins are also investigated asthickening agents[24] oremulsion andfoam stabilizers[25] in the food industry to replace animal based proteins.
Microalgae cultivation can take place in closed systems and open ponds. Open ponds are often seen as a more economically sound choice for production in a commercial setting.[28]A range of microalgae species are produced in hatcheries and are used in a variety of ways for commercial purposes, including forhuman nutrition,[29] asbiofuel,[30] in theaquaculture of other organisms,[31] in the manufacture ofpharmaceuticals andcosmetics,[32] and asbiofertiliser.[33] However, the low cell density is a major bottleneck in commercial viability of many microalgae derived products, especially low cost commodities.[34]
Studies have investigated the main factors in the success of a microalgae hatchery system to be:[35][34]
Geometry and scale of cultivation systems (referred asphotobioreactors);
Light intensity;
Concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the gas phase
^Thurman, H. V. (1997).Introductory Oceanography. New Jersey, USA: Prentice Hall College.ISBN978-0-13-262072-7.
^phys.org: News on microalgae,backup Citat: "...Depending on the species, their sizes can range from a few micrometers (μm) to a few hundreds of micrometers..."
^Cardozo, Karina H.-M.; Thais, Guaratini; Marcelo P., Barros; Vanessa R., Falcão; Angela P., Tonon; Norberto P., Lopes; Sara, Campos; Moacir A., Torres; Anderson O., Souza; Pio, Colepicolo; Ernani, Pinto (2006-06-29). "Metabolites from algae with economical impact".Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C.146 (1–2):60–78.doi:10.1016/j.cbpc.2006.05.007.PMID16901759.
^Ratha SK, Prasanna R (February 2012). "Bioprospecting microalgae as potential sources of "Green Energy"—challenges and perspectives".Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology.48 (2):109–125.doi:10.1134/S000368381202010X.PMID22586907.S2CID18430041.
^Yuvraj (2022). "Microalgal Bioremediation: A Clean and Sustainable Approach for Controlling Environmental Pollution".Innovations in Environmental Biotechnology. Vol. 1. Singapore: Springer Singapore. pp. 305–318.doi:10.1007/978-981-16-4445-0_13.ISBN978-981-16-4445-0.
^Isuru Wijesekara; Ratih Pangestuti; Se-Kwon Kim (2010). "Biological activities and potential health benefits of sulfated polysaccharides derived from marine algae".Carbohydrate Polymers.84 (1):14–21.doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2010.10.062.
^abYuvraj; Ambarish Sharan Vidyarthi; Jeeoot Singh (2016). "Enhancement of Chlorella vulgaris cell density: Shake flask and bench-top photobioreactor studies to identify and control limiting factors".Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering.33 (8):2396–2405.doi:10.1007/s11814-016-0087-5.S2CID99110136.
