Algae-derived Biochemicals of Industrial Importance

This book explores the applications of algal-derived biochemicals, which are now gaining attention for nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, bioplastics, biopolymers, bioglass, biofuels, and several other commercially valued compounds. This book will address the production of algal-based chemicals of industrial importance in terms of the recent advances, challenges, breakthroughs, and trends of applications for public health and environmental sustainability. The aim is to provide a comprehensive knowledge of several biochemicals, in particular, in terms of their category as--carotenoids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, fatty acids, biopolymers, and other secondary metabolites. It presents the techno-economic challenges, recent trends, and developments toward sustainable algal biochemical production with an emphasis on process development and product formulation. In addition, an in-depth analysis of market trends of algal biochemicals and algal bioeconomy has also been included. Facilitating the quantitative and qualitative analysis approaches for industrially important algae-to-biochemical production is the central idea of the book.

Dr. Lakhan Kumar works at Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, India. Prior to MANIT Bhopal, he worked at the Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India. He completed his B. Tech in Biotechnology from the National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar (An Institute of National Importance, Government of India). He obtained his M. Tech in Industrial Biotechnology and PhD in Algal Biotechnology from Delhi Technological University, Delhi (A Public University, Government of NCT Delhi, India), where he investigated the application of microalgae for biodiesel production, accumulation, and enhancement of biochemicals of industrial significance, synthesis of biochar and nanoparticles for environmental remediation. He has more than eight years of academic and research experience. He has been awarded the Research Excellence Award from Delhi Technological University, Delhi. He has participated actively in Training, Conferences, Workshops, and Seminars on recent trends in Biobased resource recovery, bioremediation, nanobiotechnology, and biofuels. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, including seven books. He is a reviewer of several reputed journals and a member of the "Society for Plant Research" and "ESDA New Delhi, India," a society working on Environmental and Social Development. He enjoys mentoring and inspiring young and aspiring biotechnologists through seminars, training, and outreach programs.

Dr. Navneeta Bharadvaja is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India-110042. She has been actively engaged in research and teaching activities for the last 16 years. She has taught courses like biopharmaceuticals, plant biotechnology, genetic engineering, genetics, genomics, bioethics, biosafety, IPR, etc., at UG and PG levels. She has guided 5 Ph.D. students and more than 100 B.Tech./M.Tech./M.Sc. Students for their respective dissertations. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles in the fields of medicinal and aromatic plants, algal biotechnology, bioremediation, and biofuels. She has two edited books on biogenic nanomaterials and algal biotechnology. She has attended several conferences and workshops and has delivered invited lectures in her research area.

Dr. D. Kumar is working as a Professor in the Department of Applied Chemistry at Delhi Technological University, Delhi. He has worked as the head of the Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Applied Chemistry at Delhi Technological University, Delhi. He has received several fellowships and awards, including the UGC Research Award. He has been awarded national/international projects, including the international project, viz., India Japan Collaborative Research Project, twice under the DST-JSPS Bilateral Programme. He has guided 14 Ph.D., 85 M.E/M.Tech. Projects and published over 128 papers in the journal of international repute in the areas of Polymer Science and Technology. Kumar is a life member of the Indian Science Congress Association, India, and a former member of societies like the American Chemical Society, USA, and the Royal Society of Chemistry, London, etc.

Raksha Anand works on the development of algal nutraceuticals, waste and biomass valorization, and analytical methods for detecting bioactive compounds from environmental samples. She completed her B.Sc. (Hons.) in Biotechnology from the School of Basic Sciences and Research (SBSR), Sharda University. She received the Merit Scholarship at Sharda University throughout her studies and was acknowledged for her Steller performance at the University. She completed her Master's in Biotechnology from Delhi Technological University, Delhi. She worked on the bioprospecting of microalgae, their valorization for nutraceuticals, and the development of algal-based materials for environmental remediation. She has presented her work at international conferences and is applauded for her research endeavors. As a recognition of her research achievements, she was awarded the Commendable Research Excellence Award by Delhi Technological University in 2022.