2.Development of Key Technologies for the High-Value Utilization of Microalgal Carbon-Cycle Biomaterials
Microalgae are renewable carbon-cycle biomaterials rich in numerous high-value products. While the development of microalgal biomass and its derived high-value compounds presents many advantages, the greatest barrier to commercialization remains the high production cost. Therefore, establishing low-cost mass cultivation technologies and high-value utilization strategies for microalgal biomass is essential. The overall goal of this project is to employ microalgae as a carbon-cycle resource to produce high-value compounds such as DHA and lutein. Through strain screening and optimized cultivation, scalable production technologies will be established, followed by the construction of large-scale cultivation systems to generate sufficient quantities of DHA and lutein for commercialization. In parallel, technologies for isolation, purification, and bioactivity analysis will be developed to derive functional algal proteins from biomass. Additionally, this project aims to establish preparation methods for DHA-enriched carriers and to develop innovative aqueous-phase carrier systems for encapsulating lutein and/or functional algal proteins. These approaches will enable the high-value utilization of microalgal biomass and expand its applications in biotechnology and industry.