Reframing Microalgal Flue Gas Valorization Beyond Carbon Metrics Within A Sustainable Development Paradigm

Abstract

The increasing concentration of atmospheric CO₂ due to fossil fuel–based industrial activities has intensified the need for effective and sustainable carbon mitigation strategies. Microalgae have attracted significant attention as promising biological systems due to their high biomass yields, photosynthetic efficiency, rapid growth rates and ability to utilize CO₂. In addition to carbon capture, microalgae offer the potential for wastewater treatment and the production of value-added products such as biofuels and biochemicals. Industrial flue gas, commonly regarded as a major emission source, contains not only CO₂ but also nitrogen and sulfur oxides that may serve as nutrients for microalgal growth under controlled conditions. This review critically examines microalgal flue gas valorization from the perspective of carbon neutrality, carbon negativity and sustainable development. The mechanisms of CO₂ fixation, the physiological responses of microalgae to flue gas components and the key technical and environmental limitations of large-scale applications are discussed. The study emphasizes that microalgal technologies should be assessed within a holistic sustainability framework that integrates carbon mitigation, resource efficiency and environmental impacts. Such an approach is essential for advancing microalgae based systems as viable tools for climate action and sustainable development.

Keywords

• Algae
• CO2
• Flue gas
• Global warming
• SDG
• Sustainability

Supporting Institution

TÜBİTAK

Project Number

122Z742

Ethical Statement

This study did not involve any human participants or animals, and therefore ethical approval was not required.

Thanks

This study was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) under Project No 122Z742.

Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Paradigması İçinde Karbon Ölçütlerinin Ötesinde Mikroalg Baca Gazı Değerlendirmesinin Yeniden Çerçevelendirilmesi

Abstract

Fosil yakıta dayalı endüstriyel faaliyetler sonucunda atmosferik CO₂ derişiminin artması, etkili ve sürdürülebilir karbon azaltım stratejilerine olan ihtiyacı daha da artırmıştır. Mikroalgler, yüksek biyokütle verimleri, fotosentetik etkinlikleri, hızlı büyüme oranları ve CO₂’yi kullanabilme yetenekleri nedeniyle umut vadeden biyolojik sistemler olarak önemli ölçüde ilgi görmektedir. Karbon yakalamaya ek olarak mikroalgler; atıksu arıtımı ile biyoyakıtlar ve biyokimyasallar gibi katma değeri yüksek ürünlerin üretimi açısından da potansiyel sunmaktadır. Genellikle önemli bir emisyon kaynağı olarak değerlendirilen endüstriyel baca gazları, yalnızca CO₂ değil, aynı zamanda kontrollü koşullar altında mikroalg gelişimi için besin maddesi olarak kullanılabilecek azot ve kükürt oksitlerini de içermektedir. Bu derleme, mikroalglerin baca gazı valorize edilmesini karbon nötrlüğü, karbon negatifliği ve sürdürülebilir kalkınma perspektiflerinden eleştirel bir bakış açısıyla incelemektedir. CO₂ fiksasyon mekanizmaları, mikroalglerin baca gazı bileşenlerine karşı fizyolojik tepkileri ile büyük ölçekli uygulamaların temel teknik ve çevresel sınırlılıkları tartışılmaktadır. Çalışma, mikroalg teknolojilerinin karbon azaltımı, kaynak verimliliği ve çevresel etkileri bütünleştiren bütüncül bir sürdürülebilirlik çerçevesi içinde değerlendirilmesi gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır. Bu yaklaşım, mikroalg temelli sistemlerin iklim eylemi ve sürdürülebilir kalkınma için uygulanabilir araçlar olarak ilerletilmesi açısından kritik öneme sahiptir.

Keywords

• Algler
• CO2
• Baca gazı
• küresel ısınma
• Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Hedefleri
• sürdürülebilirlik

Supporting Institution

TÜBİTAK

Project Number

122Z742

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma insan katılımcılar veya hayvanlar üzerinde herhangi bir deney içermediğinden etik kurul onayı gerektirmemektedir.

Thanks

Bu çalışma, Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu (TÜBİTAK) tarafından 122Z742 numaralı proje kapsamında desteklenmiştir.

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