Botryococcus braunii lipid production pathways and biorefinery potential

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Russell, Callum and Rodriguez, Cristina and Mooney, Ronnie and Okada, Shigeru (2026) Botryococcus braunii lipid production pathways and biorefinery potential. iScience, 29 (2). 114534. ISSN 2589-0042 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.114534)

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Abstract

Botryococcus braunii is a colonial microalga recognized for its ability to produce and secrete long-chain hydrocarbons, positioning it as a promising feedstock for biofuel and bioproduct applications. This review synthesizes current knowledge on race-specific hydrocarbon profiles, genetic markers for classification, and the biochemical pathways underlying lipid biosynthesis. It evaluates cultivation strategies alongside stress-based approaches to enhance productivity. Lipid recovery technologies are discussed with emphasis on sustainable, non-destructive methods such as milking and switchable solvents, which reduce energy demands and preserve cell viability. The integration of these processes within biorefinery frameworks highlights opportunities for the co-production of fuels and high-value compounds. By linking molecular insights with process engineering, this work underscores the potential of B. braunii to contribute to sustainable energy systems.

ORCID iDs

Russell, Callum, Rodriguez, Cristina, Mooney, Ronnie ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2426-0600 and Okada, Shigeru;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)