Recent progress in the life cycle assessment and technoeconomic analysis of microalgae culture and the preparation of sustainable aviation fuel

The development of society and science and technology is inextricably linked to the utilization of diverse energy sources. Conventional fossil energy reserves are dwindling, and their development and utilization will inevitably result in significant environmental degradation. Microalgae, a form of clean and renewable biomass energy, present several advantages, including rapid growth, no occupation of arable land, promotion of the carbon cycle, and a high oil production rate. These characteristics make microalgae bio-oil a promising raw material and alternative to fossil fuels in the future. Research on microalgae bio-oil production has been relatively comprehensive, but the promotion of microalgae bio-oil is still limited by the high cost of the process, and the reaction mechanism is still unclear, resulting in its inability to be applied in industrial production. This paper reviews the recent progress in research related to the production of renewable aviation fuels from microalgae. The cultivation of microalgae and the purification of wastewater, the optimization of microalgae hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) reaction conditions, and the HTL reaction mechanism are discussed. The feasibility of microalgae as a feedstock for the production of renewable aviation fuels is the subject of this study, which includes a full life-cycle evaluation and a technoeconomic analysis of microalgae aviation fuels. Finally, this review summarizes and analyzes the feasibility of microalgae as a raw material for the preparation of renewable aviation fuels and finally considers the prospects for microalgae bio-oils and the challenges they encounter. This study provides support to further promote the development of microalgae bio-oil.