Algal-based Biopolymers

Worldwide, more than 140 million tons of petroleum-based plastics are consumed yearly, with rising global demand exacerbating the environmental problems. Recycling of plastics solely does not provide a comprehensive solution. Recently, many countries have been investing in eco-friendly solutions, focusing on renewable energies and biodegradable polymers. In this chapter, the potential of algae to fulfill societal needs and mitigate the global demands with value-added chemicals is investigated. Several algal species can valorize waste biomass and remediate wastewater to remove nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metals, all while providing bio-based and biodegradable polymeric material in the form of biomass. The major benefit of algae-derived biopolymers over other platforms lies in their autotrophic nature, ultimately geared toward negative carbon footprint biorefinery process and contributing to a sustainable circular economy. Still, the “uneconomical” production, largely attributed to cultivation systems and product titers, remains the major roadblock for market entry of algae-derived biopolymers. Overall, this chapter aims to present and critically analyze the current status and production technologies for algal-derived biopolymers, including polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and its equivalents. This work also summarizes the recent process development approaches and optimization opportunities of different algae-derived biopolymers.