DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2013.v01i05.008

Pages: 192-197

In this new era of ecofriendly renewable energy algae have received a lot of attention as a new biomass source. The striking features of algae which set them apart from other biomass sources are that these have a high biomass yield per unit of light and area, can have a high oil or starch content, do not require agricultural area, and fresh water is not essential. Along with this nutrients can be supplied by wastewater and CO2 by combustion gas. Gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel which are derived by algae seem to hear like the imaginings of any science fiction, but a growing number of researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and policy makers are doing their best to make them reality. As our reliance on oil in terms of economic, national security, and environmental costs is becoming clearer every day, algae can provide huge quantity of biofuel with negligible environmental impacts. In the light of aforesaid issues, algae are becoming the centre of attention as an optional renewable source of biomass for production of bioethanol, which is grouped under ‘‘Third generation biofuels”. Extensive research is being carried out over the last three decades there has been extensive research on algal biofuels production and the use of algae for CO2 bioremediation. Present review focuses on various types of algal biofuels and their environmental sustainability.