Submission 3: 3rd June 2026
This is version 1 of this article, this is the latest verison of this preprint.
This article is a preprint and is currently undergoing peer review by UCL Open: Environment.
Abstract
Microalgae are becoming game-changing multifunctional bioplatforms that can integrate industrial decarbonization with resource recovery. This review offers a system-level integration of microalgal biorefineries, moving beyond traditional product-focused analyses to highlight the intersection of biological engineering, hardware innovation and digital technologies. We assess recent advances in strain engineering especially Adaptive Laboratory Evolution (ALE),CRISPR/C as-mediated genome editing, and synthetic biology to improve metabolic productivity and stress resilience. Concurrently, we examine improvements to photo bioreactor hardware design and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Twins for process modeling and control. We also examine the multiple ecosystem services offered by these systems through nutrient recycling from wastewater, bioremediation of heavy metals, and soil restoration with residual biomass and biochar. However, industrial scale-up is hampered by high energy-intensive downstream processing and lack of clear regulation. This review offers a blueprint in integrating technological advancements with standardized sustainability and policy support to position microalgal biorefineries as a central element of a low carbon, nature positive, circular bioeconomy.
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