FUNDAMENTALS OF MICROALGAL BIOTECHNOLOGY - D. S. DVORETSKY - 2015

Introduction

Algae are among the most widespread organisms on the planet. Their ubiquitous presence—ranging from hot springs to Antarctic ice, and from ocean depths to high-altitude snowfields—is a testament to their exceptional adaptability and resilience. Throughout Earth's history, they have played and continue to play a pivotal role: they formed the Earth's atmosphere, emerged as the first plant organisms and the foundation of organic matter on the planet, participate in global carbon and nitrogen cycles, and form the base of aquatic food webs. All of this has been made possible by the unique physiological trait of algae—their capacity for autotrophic assimilation, or Photosynthesis. Chlorophyll within their Cells enables algae to synthesize organic matter from Inorganic Compounds and Water using sunlight. The biochemical machinery operating within algal cells is remarkably fine-tuned and highly efficient, allowing cells to multiply rapidly and adapt with extreme ease to constantly fluctuating environmental conditions.

Utilizing algae as a subject for biotechnology is an attractive and highly promising endeavor. Algae have long been successfully employed across diverse human activities—ranging from food and feed additives to construction and technical Materials. Particularly compelling today is The Use of biomass from various microalgal cultures as an energy feedstock for The production of third-generation biofuels.

Implementing microalgal biotechnology requires a thorough understanding of their PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL characteristics, the core principles governing biotechnological processes, the most efficient Methods for biomass Processing, and the appropriate equipment design.

This textbook covers sections dedicated to algal Taxonomy, as well as the physiological and BIOCHEMICAL FOUNDATIONS OF algal activity. It highlights the Specific features of microalgal biotechnology that enable the production of a wide array of products—from animal feed to industrial Lipids. Furthermore, it details existing equipment used for microalgal cultivation and the technological nuances of extracting intracellular metabolic products from microalgae.

The textbook is intended for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in 19.03.01 (19.02.01) "Biotechnology" for professional-cycle coursework, as well as for those engaged in research activities.