Progress in two-stage culture of microalgae

Abstract:

Microalgae are rich in lipids, starch and other high-value metabolites that can be used in the production of food, feed, chemicals, and energy. However, the trade-off between the growth and product accumulation of microalgae in large-scale culture restricts the commercial application of microalgae. The two-stage culture of microalgae can overcome this problem by separating cell growth from product accumulation. It is one of the key means to promote the commercialization of microalgae, with high productivity, low energy consumption, emission reduction, and a wide application range. This review summarizes the advantages and product types of the existing two-stage culture technology of microalgae, analyzes the limiting factors, and discusses the prospects for the future of this technology. Moreover, this paper points out that the unclear stage transition time and high cost of intermediate harvesting are two bottlenecks that limit the application of this technology. This review provides a theoretical foundation and technical means for the decision-making and implementation of a large-scale production plan for the two-stage culture of microalgae in the future.