Algae biotechnology

Photosynthesis is the only bioprocess capable of building biomass using sunlight as an energy source and carbon dioxide as a C source. Microalgae are particularly suitable for a material or energetic use of photosynthetically produced biomass, since the unicellular phototrophic organisms can utilize sunlight more efficiently than higher plants. Microalgae produce a variety of basic chemical substances such as vitamins, fatty acids or carotenoids with a high value-added potential for the pharmaceutical, food, feed and cosmetics industries.

The Algae Technology group at Fraunhofer IGB develops processes for the customized production of a wide variety of products from microalgae and cyanobacteria in flat plate airlift reactors from laboratory to pilot scale. Current research projects focus on improving productivity and biomass yields, also using off-gas CO₂  and liquid digestate. 

To increase the value added from algal biomass, we are investigating the extraction of various functional ingredients from algal biomass: carotenoids such as fucoxanthin and astaxanthin, the omega-3 fatty acid EPA as a polar glycolipid, or proteins and triglycerides for the production of food, feed, cosmetics, agrochemicals, biopolymers and as feedstocks for biobased polymers. For this purpose, we also use new processing technologies, such as the extraction of carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids, cell disruption using pressure swing technology, and extraction with sub- or supercritical fluids

Through targeted process control, the functional ingredients can be produced with high content up to pilot scale. In our greenhouse and field facilities at Fraunhofer CBP, we can carry out the processing of algae ingredients for biomasses on a 100 kg scale as well as the testing of production processes on a pilot scale.

• Screening for microalgae and cyanobacteria with a wide variety of properties and constituents
• Development of photoautotrophic processes from laboratory to pilot scale for microalgae and cyanobacteria in flat plate airlift reactors
• Process optimization to improve productivity and biomass yield also using off-gas CO₂ and liquid fermentation residues
• Development and adaptation of control software for algae production in the field
• Development of processes for the isolation, fractionation and purification of algal constituents with the fullest possible utilization of the various fractions
• Contract production of algae biomass with defined composition on a 100 kg scale

Diese Liste ist ein Auszug aus der Publikationsplattform Fraunhofer-Publica

This list has been generated from the publication platform Fraunhofer-Publica