Engineering Aspects Related to the Use of Microalgae for Biofuel Production and CO 2 Capture from Flue Gases

The recent achievements in the field of CO2 capture and biofuel production through microalgae are presented in this chapter. Specifically, after a brief analysis of the main biological, chemical, and physical phenomena involved in the photosynthetic conversion of CO2 to biofuels, the current technologies for CO2 capture, microalgae growth, biomass harvesting, and lipid extraction are critically assessed with a particular focus on the potential exploitation of recent research results at the industrial scale. Finally, future scientific and technological directions for the direct CO2 capture from flue gases through microalgae are also proposed.