They are responsible for more than 75 percent of the oxygen reserves on Earth, but often do not receive any rewards for this.
Microalgae are unicellular organisms that, through photosynthesis, convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into useful biochemical products, releasing oxygen as a by-product. Microalgae form the basis of aquatic life, allowing water bodies to sustain life. They are very important for the environment.
To an untrained eye, microalgae look like an unattractive green foam of a pond. Nevertheless, the teacher of the Malaysian School of Natural Sciences at Monash University, Dr. Fu Su Su Chen, was the intricacy and ambiguity of these microorganisms that aroused interest in their further study.
Although there are over 100, 000 types of microalgae that have been documented, there are many more that have yet to be discovered, Dr. Fu said. The best-known examples include spirulina, chlorella and dunaliella, which are used in nutraceutical nutritional supplements.
Superfood of the future
Due to the content of substances such as beta-carotene, chlorophyll and polyunsaturated fatty acids that benefit human and animal health, microalgae have been perceived as a superfood of the future and are ideal substitutes for vegan protein.
With the escalation of climate change, there is an urgent need for solutions to reduce atmospheric carbon.
Dr. Fu believes that microalgae can benefit from climate change:
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- They grow in freshwater or marine bodies of water.
- They also have high yields.
- They have a lower carbon footprint compared to other crops.
Microalgae cultivation is a more sustainable crop, as it has a smaller carbon footprint than rice. The first produces 0.3612 kg of carbon dioxide (CO 2) per kilogram of biomass, compared with 0.769 kg of CO 2 per kilogram of rice.
You can grow anywhere
Microalgae can be grown anywhere — even indoors — because arable land is not required to grow them.
Due to the tropical climate and constant sunlight throughout the year, Malaysia has great potential for growing microalgae. With its high photosynthetic ability and requiring only seven days to ripen, microalgae can be grown as an alternative source of biomass in addition to the existing palm oil in the country, as well as serve as raw materials for value-added products, food and feed.
“Different types of microalgae have different potentials. We want to conduct a bioassay and not only identify the types of microalgae that are unique, but also use the strength of each species to solve pressing problems such as climate change by carbon capture, and at the same time use the microalgae biomass in various biotechnological applications, "said Dr. Fu.
Bioprospecting tropical species of microalgae
As part of his current research project, Dr. Fu will be searching for tropical species of microalgae found in South Quay Lake in Sunway, with the goal of further trapping carbon and producing valuable compounds.
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Funded by the Sunway Group Community Sustainable Development Grants Program, the project is multidisciplinary, focusing on biological resources for carbon sequestration. It is 60% concentrated on microalgae (aquatic), and 40% - on trees (terrestrial).
The company, led by colleague Dr. Fu, a professor at the School of Natural Sciences, Dr. Holly Barclay, focuses on identifying green spaces in Subang Jai. Then, suggestions on the location of the sites will be recommended to relevant parties, such as local municipal councils.
Dr. Fu's team seeks to determine the species that can quickly capture carbon, turning it into biochemical products that are useful as a superfood for humans.
At the initial stage, Dr. Fu and her team aimed at one species, conducting experiments on the growth rates of various species. Faster growth will allow the team to produce more biomass in the short term, she said.
Economical photobioreactor for growing microalgae biomass
At the second stage, a teacher at the engineering school Monash of Malaysia and a graduate student build an economical photobioreactor for growing microalgae biomass by large-scale photosynthesis.
A closed photobioreactor system is needed to produce monocultured microalgae of more than 80 percent purity, especially if the ultimate goal is to produce additives in a sustainable, standardized way, ”explained Dr. Fu.
“We plan to build a 50-liter flat bioreactor. It will look like a small sealed“ aquarium ”filled with bright green water, illuminated by energy-saving LED lamps with a gas distribution for aeration of the culture, ” she added.
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The cultivation of microalgae is a more environmentally friendly process, since it has a smaller carbon footprint than rice cultivation.
Bioactive Substance Extraction
In the third stage, biomass will be collected and ionic liquids will be used to extract bioactive substances, such as antioxidants from microalgae cells.
The challenge is to reduce the cost of the bioreactor to provide a higher absorption rate. “We want to introduce the use of microalgae in homes and businesses, but bioreactors are generally not available on the market, ” said Dr. Fu.
At present, between $ 21, 000 and $ 26, 000 has been allocated for the design and manufacture of the bioreactor. "A lot of money goes to install sensors to calculate carbon capture, " said Dr. Fu, adding that the initial results of the study will be published by March 2020 in the hope of to attract additional financing.
