Pharmaceutical use

of microalgae By FAHAD HASSAN

Course: Moleular Biotechnology

Serial number: 5085950
SUPERVISOR:DR. DAMIAN PIELOTH

INTRODUCTION
Microalgae are marine photosynthetic microorganisms, living in saline or
freshwater environments, which have the ability to transform carbon dioxide
into biochemicals that can be further processed into biofuels, food, feed and
high value bioactive compounds. Microalgae can grow in three different
ways: autotrophy, heterotrophy, and mixotrophy.

INGREDIENTS
Microalgae (autotrophic microalgae, cyanobacteria and protists) comprises
40–60% proteins, 10–20% lipids, 20–30%carbohydrates and bioactive
molecules such as vitamins (vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E),
carotenoids and essential fatty acids.
PROCESSING
Processing of microalgae into biofuel: biodiesel production through
transesterification of lipids, bioethanol production through fermentation of the
algal biomass, biogas production through anaerobic digestion, and bio-crude
production through thermochemical conversion are among the alternatives
processes. Simultaneous production of biodiesel and biogas from microalgae
has enables the utilization of lipid-extracted algae for further processing and
biogas production so that it could help to enable a maximum utilization of the
algae biomass.
PHARMACEUTICAL USES
Microalgae are capable of producing bioactive compounds having
pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications, used as antibiotics, subunit REFERENCE
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microalgae.