Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Biodiesel Production and Integration in Circular Economy

Abstract

The demand for clean and renewable energy has increased in recent years, and biodiesel has become an environmentally beneficial alternative to traditional fossil fuels. However, using traditional feedstocks such as vegetable and waste oils has several drawbacks, including high costs and the need for labour and land. To overcome these challenges, recent research has focused on using oleaginous microorganisms to produce biodiesel from lignocellulosic substrates. This approach has proven to be highly efficient and cost-effective, with these microorganisms’ producing lipids with a composition resembling that of vegetable oils in stressful conditions. This book chapter offers a comprehensive overview of the various feedstocks used in biodiesel production, including non-edible oils, vegetable oils, oleaginous microalgae, fungus, yeast, and bacteria. It also breaks down the biodiesel production process into several steps, including pre-treatment, saccharification, oleaginous microbe-mediated fermentation, lipid extraction, transesterification, and biodiesel purification. Furthermore, the chapter discusses the integration of biofuels in the circular economy and highlights the relevance of biotechnological applications in ensuring the sustainability of biofuels and biorefineries. By embracing the use of oleaginous microorganisms and lignocellulosic substrates, biodiesel production can become a sustainable and cost-effective solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a cleaner and more sustainable future. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.