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Unveiling the potential of microalgae for bioplastic production from wastewater – current trends, innovations, and future prospects
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Researchers reviewed the use of microalgae grown on wastewater as feedstock for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics, finding that this dual-purpose approach simultaneously treats nutrient-rich effluents and produces biodegradable polymers with competitive mechanical and chemical properties.
Bioplastics derived from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are among the promising substitutes for unsustainable petroleum-based polymers. PHA-based polymers demonstrate superior chemical and physical properties, such as hydrophobicity, insolubility in water, iso-tacticity, UV resistance, hydrolysis resistance, and absolute biodegradability. Compared with conventional plastics, bioplastics are more beneficial due to their reduced carbon footprint, energy efficiency, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, and have hence revolutionized the polymer industry. However, further research is needed to explore novel strategies to overcome their limitations, such as decreasing water absorption and brittleness, while increasing the crystallization ability and increasing the thermal degradation temperature. These constraints can be addressed by supplementing the bioplastic synthesis process with reinforcements and plasticizers. The development and adoption of biopolymers as an environmentally friendly and economically viable substitutes for synthetic plastics is imperative, considering the degree of the subsequent exhaustion of petrochemical supplies and the worldwide environmental contamination instigated by the industrial production of synthetic plastics. The goal of this appraisal is to provide an in-depth account of the most recent advancements in the generation of bioplastics derived from various wastewater streams via the use of microalgae, and subsequent harvesting technologies. Bioplastics from microalgae are of higher quality and are made of polymeric biomolecules and include polymers based on cellulose, starch, proteins, PHA, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyethylene (PE), polylactic acid (PLA), and poly vinyl chloride (PVC). Various types of bioplastic manufacturing methodologies have also been highlighted for researchers and capitalists alike to investigate ways to harness these renewable resources for the development of sustainable bioplastics. Additionally, various innovations, challenges, potential possibilities for the future, and life cycle evaluations of bioplastics are addressed.
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The quintessence of algal biomass in bioplastic production: insightful advancement and sustainable use
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This review examined advances in algal bioplastics using key polymers like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and polylactic acid (PLA), with focus on CRISPR-Cas systems for improving yield and genetic tools for enhancing carbon flux. The authors identify barriers including low biomass productivity and processing costs, emphasizing the need for standardized life cycle assessments and supportive regulatory frameworks to achieve commercial feasibility.
Production of biopolymers from microalgae and cyanobacteria
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This review examines the production of biopolymers, particularly polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), from microalgae and cyanobacteria as sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics, synthesizing studies on biomass accumulation and production pathways. The authors discuss the properties, applications, and scalability challenges of microalgae- and cyanobacteria-derived bioplastics in the context of reducing plastic pollution and fossil fuel dependence.
PHA-Based Bioplastic: a Potential Alternative to Address Microplastic Pollution
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This review examines polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-based bioplastics as biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-derived plastics, highlighting their potential to reduce microplastic pollution while discussing challenges in scaling production and improving material properties.
A review on microbes mediated resource recovery and bioplastic (polyhydroxyalkanoates) production from wastewater
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Researchers reviewed microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from wastewater organic carbon and nitrogen, finding that while mixed microbial cultures can achieve competitive bioplastic yields, process scale-up is constrained by inconsistent feedstock composition and high downstream extraction costs.
Biopolymers production from microalgae and cyanobacteria cultivated in wastewater: Recent advances
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This review explores how microalgae and cyanobacteria grown in wastewater can produce biodegradable biopolymers as an alternative to conventional plastics. Researchers found that these organisms can manufacture polyhydroxyalkanoates and other bioplastics while simultaneously helping to treat wastewater. The approach offers a promising dual benefit of reducing plastic pollution and creating value from waste streams.
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