Chapter 11

Current Production of Microalgae at Industrial Scale

Luis G. Ramírez-Mérida, Leila Queiroz Zepka and Eduardo Jacob-Lopes

Abstract

The microalgae culture has a potential for obtaining bioproducts that can be used in various commercial segments. The microalgae industry generates interest in the investors who recognize good performance and suitability in the production of various microalgal products. In recent years, research projects and microalgal industries worldwide have been increased with a focus on the agriculture, aqualculture, human and animal nutrition, bulk and fine chemicals, cosmetics and biofuels. The microalgae biomass production has a limited scale, due to the problems presented in the scaling of the production process. The industrial production is dominated by open systems, allowing growth only of some microalgal species. The consolidation of microalgaebased products has been focused on improvements in the culture systems and production costs, making this industrial sector more competitive.

Total Pages: 278-296 (19)

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