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

Rohit Dimri; Shivangi  Mall; Somya  Sinha; Naveen Chandra  Joshi; Pooja  Bhatnagar; Rohit Sharma; Vinod Kumar; Prateek  Gururani

doi:10.14719/pst.2460

Authors

Rohit Dimri Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India.
Shivangi Mall Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India.
Somya Sinha Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India.
Naveen Chandra Joshi Material Science & Nanotechnology Lab, Research & Development Division, Uttaranchal University Dehradun, Uttarakhand,248007, India
Pooja Bhatnagar
Rohit Sharma Biotech Engineering, University Institute of Engineering, Chandigarh University, Punjab, 140413, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9123-1063
Vinod Kumar Algal Research and Bioenergy Lab, Department of Food Science & Technology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, 248002, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1808-1980
Prateek Gururani https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4148-377X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.2460

Keywords:

Algae, Biopolymers, Pharmaceutical Industry, Food industry

Abstract

The escalating accumulation of petroleum-based polymers has depleted resources and raised environmental concerns due to their non-recyclable and non-biodegradable nature. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in bio-based plastics, particularly algal-based biopolymers, which offer recyclability and eco-friendliness. Algae-derived polymers have distinct advantages, such as autotrophic growth reducing greenhouse gas emissions, rapid growth rate, low nutritional requirements, and resilience to harsh environments. Additionally, algae exhibit higher photosynthetic potential (10-20%) compared to terrestrial plants (1%-2%). The range of algal-derived polymers includes alginate, laminarin, fucoidan, carrageenan, agar, ulvan, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and poly-(Hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). However, further efforts are required to implement them on a large scale. This review highlights algae's potential as a raw material for biopolymer production, exploring their characteristics and applications in diverse industries like food and pharmaceuticals.

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