Generation of hydrocarbons using microorganisms: Recent advances

Abstract The rising demand for fossil fuels in our society and the associated release of greenhouse gases have raised serious environmental concerns. To that end, research interest in the search for alternate, renewable, and clean energy resources has increased immensely. Even though several researchers target the synthesis of biofuels, which predominantly comprise bioethanol, biobutanol, and biodiesel, the production of hydrocarbon compounds that are usually refined from petroleum is still awaited. Different plants, insects, and microbes are known to accumulate hydrocarbons. However, the major industrial-scale hydrocarbon production systems have to rely on simple microbial organisms for their ease in cultivation and ability to utilize different biomass as carbon and energy sources. These microorganisms, such as archea, eubacteria, cyanobacteria, fungi, and algae, have immense capabilities to synthesize a wide variety of hydrocarbons. The present study aims to understand the recent trends and advancements in the production of different hydrocarbons from microbes.