Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Biotechnologies for bulk production of microalgal biomass: from mass cultivation to dried biomass acquisition

This review covers the current technologies for mass-producing microalgal biomass, from large-scale cultivation to harvesting and drying methods. Researchers discuss the challenges that keep production costs high, including contamination control and energy-intensive processing steps. The study highlights microalgae as a sustainable bioresource for food, pharmaceuticals, and feed, while noting that further innovation is needed to make commercial-scale production economically viable.

2023 Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Microalgae in the Mediterranean area: A geographical survey outlining the diversity and technological potential

This review surveys microalgal biodiversity and technological applications across the Mediterranean region. Researchers found that Mediterranean microalgae share common characteristics such as adaptation to high light intensity that make them suitable for various technological applications, and that many species remain underexplored, offering potential for innovative uses in biotechnology and industry.

2024 Algal Research 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Algal bioplastics: current market trends and technical aspects

Researchers reviewed the status and commercial potential of algal bioplastics as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics, finding that microalgae outperform plants and microbes for bioplastic feedstock due to their fast growth and wastewater remediation capacity, while cost remains a key barrier to scale-up.

2022 Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Harnessing microalgae for sustainable aquaculture and mariculture: Marine pollution mitigation and circular economy strategies

Researchers reviewed how microalgae can serve as a multipurpose bioremediation tool in aquaculture and mariculture, removing excess nutrients, capturing carbon, and reducing microplastic pollution, while also providing biomass for feed and supporting circular economy approaches that align with UN sustainability goals.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Valorization of Wastewater Resources Into Biofuel and Value-Added Products Using Microalgal System

This review examined how microalgal cultivation systems can be integrated into wastewater treatment to simultaneously remove nutrients, produce biofuels, and generate high-value compounds such as pigments and proteins, evaluating the current technical and economic barriers to commercial-scale implementation.

2021 Frontiers in Energy Research 104 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of nanoparticles on microalgae and the prospects for biofuel production: Current advancements and future outlook

This study investigates the impact of nanoparticles on microalgae growth and their implications for biofuel production. Researchers reviewed current knowledge on how various nanoparticles can either enhance or inhibit algal growth depending on concentration and type. The findings suggest that understanding nanoparticle-microalgae interactions is important for developing sustainable biofuel technologies while managing environmental pollution concerns.

2024 Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine monitoring in Europe: is it adequate to address environmental threats and pressures?

A review of European coastal monitoring programs found significant gaps in detecting and tracking environmental threats, including microplastic pollution. The study calls for better integration of monitoring networks to provide the data needed for effective ocean management and pollution control.

2020 Ocean science 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics reduce microalgal biomass by decreasing single-cell weight: The barrier towards implementation at scale

Researchers found that microplastics significantly reduce biomass production in three industrially relevant microalgae species by decreasing single-cell weight by up to 47%, posing a serious barrier to scaling microalgal industries in contaminated waters.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 9 citations
Article Tier 2

International Law and Regulation of Marine Microplastics: Current Situation, Problems, and Development

This study evaluated the current international legal framework governing marine microplastic pollution and identified significant gaps in regulatory coverage. Researchers found that existing global and regional legal instruments lack the specificity and enforcement mechanisms needed to effectively address microplastic contamination. The study offers recommendations for strengthening international law to better regulate the sources and impacts of marine microplastic pollution.

2024 Sustainability 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of microalgae as a sustainable alternative of biopolymers and its application in industries

Not a microplastics paper — this review examines the potential of algae-derived biopolymers (such as alginate, carrageenan, and polyhydroxyalkanoates) as biodegradable, eco-friendly replacements for petroleum-based plastics, highlighting their advantages but noting challenges for large-scale production.

2023 Plant Science Today 14 citations
Article Tier 2

From the ocean to jellies forth and back? Microplastics along the commercial life cycle of red algae

This study identified knowledge gaps about microplastic contamination throughout the commercial life cycle of red algae, from ocean harvesting through industrial processing into agar and carrageenan food additives, raising concerns about microplastic transfer into widely consumed food and personal care products.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Southern Atlantic marine waters: Review of current trends, sources, and perspectives

This review examines the current state of microplastic pollution research in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, where contamination levels are among the highest found globally. Researchers found that despite the severity of pollution, relatively few studies have been conducted in this region, and there is still no consensus on standardized sampling methods. The study calls for more research on microplastic distribution, chemical interactions, and potential risks to both marine ecosystems and human health.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 69 citations
Article Tier 2

The emergence of microplastics: charting the path from research to regulations

This study summarized recent groundbreaking microplastic research and emerging regulations, charting the path from scientific discovery to policy action and providing recommendations to overcome remaining regulatory barriers.

2023 Environmental Science Advances 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Food safety hazards in the European seaweed chain

Researchers reviewed food safety hazards in the European seaweed supply chain, ranking 22 potential hazards based on available evidence. Arsenic, cadmium, iodine, and Salmonella were identified as major hazards, while micro- and nanoplastics were among the hazards where significant data gaps exist. The study recommends collecting more data on these under-researched hazards, noting that factors like seaweed type, cultivation location, and processing methods all influence contaminant levels.

2020 Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 184 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

The Environmental Risks Associated With the Development of Seaweed Farming in Europe - Prioritizing Key Knowledge Gaps

This systematic review of environmental risks from European seaweed farming identified disease facilitation, population genetic alterations, and changes to the local physiochemical environment as the highest-priority concerns. While current small-scale operations are considered low risk, expanding to large-scale cultivation will require better understanding of scale-dependent environmental changes.

2019 Frontiers in Marine Science 298 citations
Article Tier 2

Biomass valorization via pyrolysis in microalgae-based wastewater treatment: Challenges and opportunities for a circular bioeconomy

Researchers reviewed how microalgae grown in wastewater treatment systems can have their leftover biomass converted into useful products — biochar, bio-oil, and gas — through a heating process called pyrolysis. While promising for a circular economy, major challenges remain including high energy demands and potential harmful emissions that need to be addressed before the approach can be widely adopted.

2023 Journal of Applied Phycology 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Grand Challenges in Application of Microalgae for Nutrient Recovery

This review examines grand challenges in applying microalgae to nutrient recovery from wastewater, noting that these systems can remove up to 99% of nitrogen and 100% of phosphorus but face obstacles in cultivation efficiency, harvesting methods, pre- and post-treatment integration, and scaling to existing infrastructure.

2023 Journal of Resource Recovery 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Current Status and Future Trends in Removal, Control, and Mitigation of Algae Food Safety Risks for Human Consumption

This review examines food safety risks associated with algae consumption including physical, chemical, and microbiological hazards, emphasizing the urgent need for rapid detection methods for toxic microbial contamination in algal products.

2022 Molecules 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Jellyfishing in Europe: Current Status, Knowledge Gaps, and Future Directions towards a Sustainable Practice

This review assessed the current status and future potential of jellyfish fisheries in Europe, identifying knowledge gaps in sustainable harvesting practices and exploring jellyfish applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and other industries.

2021 Sustainability 28 citations
Article Tier 2

The Microplastics Iceberg: Filling Gaps in Our Understanding

This review provides a broad overview of microplastic pollution across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, identifying key knowledge gaps that still limit our understanding of the problem. Researchers highlight the lack of standardized sampling and analysis methods as a major barrier to comparing results across studies. The study calls for more research into the long-term environmental and biological impacts of microplastics, particularly regarding smaller particles that are harder to detect.

2023 Polymers 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Microalgae for bioremediation: advances, challenges, and public perception on genetic engineering

This review examined the potential of microalgae to clean up contaminated wastewater as a sustainable alternative to traditional treatment methods. Researchers found that microalgae can effectively remove nutrients and contaminants including microplastics, and that genetic engineering could further enhance their remediation capabilities. The study also discusses public perception and safety considerations around using genetically modified microalgae at industrial scale.

2024 BMC Plant Biology 36 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics in the Mediterranean marine environment: a combined bibliometric and systematic analysis to identify current trends and challenges

This systematic review analyzes microplastic research trends in the Mediterranean Sea region, where contamination levels are a growing concern. The study identifies key research areas and gaps in understanding how microplastics in this semi-enclosed sea affect marine life and could impact the health of the millions of people living along its coasts.

2022 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Progress on microalgae cultivation in wastewater for bioremediation and circular bioeconomy

This review explores the potential of microalgae cultivation in wastewater for bioremediation and circular bioeconomy, highlighting how microalgae can simultaneously treat wastewater while producing valuable biomass for various applications.

2022 Environmental Research 90 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Micro- and Nanoplastic Exposure Effects in Microalgae: A Meta-Analysis of Standard Growth Inhibition Tests

This meta-analysis examines how micro- and nanoplastic particles affect the growth of microalgae, which form the base of aquatic food chains. The results show mixed outcomes, with some studies finding growth inhibition and others finding stimulation. Understanding how microplastics affect algae is important because disruptions at the base of the food chain can cascade up to the fish and seafood we eat.

2020 Frontiers in Environmental Science 39 citations