Mixotrophic biorefinery: A promising algal platform for sustainable biofuels and high value coproducts

Abstract Mixotrophic microalgae cultivation is becoming the most promising and sustainable process for sustainable biosynthesis of biochemicals and biofuels. It offers significantly higher productivity to cope up the key challenges to develop industrial algal processes. Mixotrophic cultivation strategy (MCS) leads to better productivity due to the unique metabolic capacity of microalgae by combining both photosynthesis and oxidative metabolic pathways for biomass generation. The capacity of the mixotrophic phenomenon is being investigated for sustainable bioprocess development ensuring higher energy recovery, economy, environmental and social benefits. However, developments are in pipeline and still to attain a commercial phase. In this article, recent technological developments in MC bioprocess for biofuels production are discussed; synergistic carbon and energy regulation, critical discussion up on commercially important organic carbon sources and their effects on MC bioprocessing have been demonstrated; Moreover, the prospective and challenges of higher-scale MC-linked bioprocessing and future direction on technology development have been addressed.