Aquatic Microbial Oxygenic Phototrophs: A Short Treatise on Diverse Applications and the Future Biofuel Scenario

Man has relied upon microalgae ever since millennia. The importance of microalgal biotechnology as an exclusive niche in the industrial state of affairs is undeniably indisputable. Microalgae have been used to produce a wide variety of high value exploitable commercial products/metabolites such as antioxidants, carotenoids, vitamins, biomolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids), etc. Microalgae also hold great promise for the forthcoming biofuel industry. Microalgal biofuel are poised to be sustainable alternatives to conventional petro fuels; however, they need to overcome certain copious obstacles in order to compete in the international fuel market for an extensive commercial deployment. The scientific community is actively involved in research to establish microalgae as a biofuel podium. Progress made in this field is noteworthy, however, scientifically demanding and intellectually rigorous research seems to be the need of the hour. This article emphasizes on the non-energy and energy prospects of microalgal biomass with additional focus on the research gaps. This article aims to disseminate first-hand state-of-the-art information to help researchers, technocrats, venture capitalists, and policy makers in their futuristic endeavors pertaining to microalgal biotechnology.