The upstream and downstream processes of extracting oil from microalgae to produce biodiesel: A review

Amirreza Tahbaz; Seyed Vali Hosseini; Mohammad Ali Nematollahi; Reza Tahergorabi

doi:10.22034/ijab.v13i2.2585

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Amirreza Tahbaz Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Seyed Vali Hosseini
hosseinisv@ut.ac.ir
Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad Ali Nematollahi Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Reza Tahergorabi Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA.

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2025): April

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April 26, 2025

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In recent years, the depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the rise in air pollution have drawn the attention of scientists towards seeking solutions and identifying suitable alternatives to fossil fuels. Biofuels derived from terrestrial plant lipids were once proposed, but due to competition with agricultural demands, this solution lost its viability. However, microalgae have emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels, as they neither contribute to air pollution nor compete with food production. Their rapid growth rate and substantial oil production make them a favorable option. Despite these advantages, the economics of microalgae-based biofuels remain challenged by the high costs associated with drying and current extraction methods. This work provides an overview of both upstream processes, including cultivation, harvesting, and drying, and downstream processes such as cell wall disruption, oil extraction, and transesterification, as well as the oil production potential of microalgae. The article suggests that future research should concentrate on microalgae cultivation in wastewater, novel extraction methods, and the simultaneous extraction of multiple compounds from microalgae.

Tahbaz, A., Hosseini, S. V., Nematollahi, M. A., & Tahergorabi, R. (2025). The upstream and downstream processes of extracting oil from microalgae to produce biodiesel: A review. International Journal of Aquatic Biology, 13(2), 208–219. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v13i2.2585

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