3. Harvesting and Preprocessing Algal Biomass

Although algal biomass has a lot of potential for producing biofuel, efficient harvesting and preprocessing techniques are necessary to maximize its yield and make it financially feasible. Diverse methods, such as flocculation, filtration, and centrifugation, are used to harvest algal biomass; each has benefits and drawbacks related to cost and effectiveness. Dewatering is an essential post-harvest procedure. By drastically lowering moisture levels, dewatering techniques including centrifugation, filtering, and drying make it easier to proceed with subsequent pretreatment procedures. Enhancing lipid extraction—the first stage in the manufacture of biofuel—requires pretreatment of algal biomass, including microalgal cell destruction. Because the walls of microalgal cells are so hard, they are broken down using enzymatic, chemical, and mechanical procedures (such as homogenization and bead milling) and solvents to increase the accessibility of lipids for extraction. These procedures are necessary for the effective conversion of algal biomass into biofuels, which supports the long-term viability of the bioenergy industry.