Work

Recent Advances in NADES-Assisted Process Intensification Technologies for Sustainable Recovery of Microalgal Bioactives: Challenges and Future Prospectives

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Microalgae are increasingly recognized as renewable biofactories for producing high-value bioactive molecules. However, their industrial exploitation is limited by their rigid cell walls, metabolite heterogeneity, and the energy-intensive nature of the extraction processes. Recent advances in process-intensification technologies, including microwave-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, enzymatic, pressurized liquid, and supercritical CO2-based methods, have significantly improved extraction efficiency and selectivity, with reported lipid recoveries exceeding 40–50% in some microalgal systems and carotenoid recoveries approaching 90% under optimized conditions. NADES-assisted systems further enhance mass transfer and solubilization through tailored hydrogen-bonding interactions, enabling selective extraction of polar and semi-polar metabolites under mild conditions. However, limitations remain, including high viscosity, variability in extraction performance, and challenges in solvent recovery and scale-up. This review critically evaluates the extraction efficiency, mechanistic basis, and sustainability of NADES-assisted processes, highlighting key limitations and identifying research priorities for their integration into scalable microalgal biorefinery systems.

Source: Marine Drugs

DOI: 10.3390/md24040146

Authors: Muhammad Shafiq, Sardar Ali, Liaqat Zeb

Institutions: Shandong Xiehe University, University of Bergen

Language: English

Topic: Algal biology and biofuel production

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499