Algal oils as biodiesel

Microalgae have the intrinsic ability to harness energy from sunlight and photosynthetically valorize CO2 into fuel molecules, which can further be converted to biodiesel. They have a unique profile of fatty acids comprising of a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Microalgae have adapted to grow in various nutritional environments due to their metabolic versatility and resilience. Cultivation systems are of major importance for upscaling and generating large amounts of biomass with fuel properties. Novel photobioreactor designs have recently been explored for integration with urban infrastructure by fusion of principles of urban ecology and environmental sustainability. High throughput techniques for estimation of biodiesel quality have made analysis simpler and more reliable. For economical production of biomass, integrating biodiesel production with industrial flue gases and wastewater treatment is considered a viable strategy in algal cultivation. This chapter sheds light on the current state of art in algal cultivation for biomass and enhancing the lipid profile towards biodiesel production thus reducing carbon footprints.