Chan, S. S., Lee, S. Y., Ling, T. C., Chae, K.-J., Srinuanpan, S., & Khoo, K. S. (2025). Unlocking the potential of food waste as a nutrient goldmine for microalgae cultivation: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 492, 144753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.144753
Abstract:
The increasing demand for microalgae biomass, driven by its applications in biofuel,
food, and pharmaceuticals, necessitates the development of cost-effective cultivation
methods. Utilizing food waste as an alternative nutrient source for microalgae
cultivation offers a promising solution to reduce operational expenses. In this review,
we analyze the nutrient profiles of processed vegetable and fruit waste, palm kernel
residue, and spent coffee grounds and address their compatibility with the nutritional
needs for microalgae growth. For instance, it was estimated that approximately 4.937
kg and 6.302 kg of banana peel extract powder are needed to provide the equivalent
nitrogen concentration for microalgae cultivation as used in Zarrouk’s and BG-11
medium, respectively. However, the final nutrient availability for microalgae cultivation
depends on the pretreatment methods. The pretreatment processes required to
convert food waste into cultivation media, such as composting and anaerobic
digestion, are discussed. Besides, the direct use of food waste as a supporting matrix
where microalgae cells can attach and grow is addressed. The review further
examines the economic feasibility of using these food wastes as nutrient sources by
presenting a detailed cost analysis covering both capital and operational expenditures.
The key challenges, including nutrient variability and contamination risks, are
evaluated, highlighting the need for standardized processing techniques. The review
also underscores the importance of further research to optimize these processes and
establish the feasibility of large-scale implementation, promoting a sustainable and
economically viable future for microalgae cultivation.
License type:
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
Funding Info:
We would like to acknowledge the support provided by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) International Internship Pilot Program 2024 for Ms. Chan Sook Sin, who served as the intern for the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University (Taiwan). We would like to gratefully acknowledge the work supported and financially funded by the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan (Project number: 112-2222-E-155-005) and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Yuan Ze University, Taiwan, under New Faculty Research Start-Up Fund Scheme (Project no: 303014-1 and 303014-2). The author also like to acknowledge the support provided by Research and Development (RD) Office, Yuan Ze University under Assistant Teacher Research Scheme (Project no: 113-HRD-07). We would also like to acknowledge that each of the icon creator(s) used in the figures in this work has been designed using images from Flaticon.com (www.flaticon.com).