Valorization of microalgal biomass for fertilizers and nanoparticles

Abstract

The growing awareness of the importance of environmental preservation, resource scarcity, food, and energy security has resulted in a more sustainable and greener production system for various types of biomass. Biomass has been viewed as a significant renewable, abundant, and nonfossil fuel resource to supplement dwindling fossil fuel supplies. Microalgae have recently emerged as attractive biomass for producing multiple valuable products, including biofuels, food, feed, biochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. This chapter discusses the influence of algal biofertilizers on soil properties, enzyme activity, nutrient availability, and the mechanisms involved in plant growth improvement. In addition, information on the use of microalgae as biological resources to synthesize nanoparticles (NPs), the process for NP formation using microalgae, and its application are covered. Challenges and perspectives for future research on algal biofertilizers and NPs synthesized using microalgae have been proposed.