Biotechnological applications of microalgae : biodiesel and value added products Preface Over the decades much of the literature has focused on the biology and ecological aspects of algae found in freshwater marine and brackish environments. These organisms are also known to inhabit various other environments on Earth. More recently there has been a substantial shift toward the concept of sustainable development and the green economy with emphasis on exploiting biological systems for the benefit of mankind. This underpins the fundamentals of the field of biotechnology which has revolutionized various fields including agriculture food pharmaceutical and medical sciences environmental sciences and industrial feedstock thus positively impacting most spheres of human endeavor. Algae but more specifically microalgae have been associated with problematic events such as algal blooms caused by eutrophication of aquatic environments and in some cases the toxins produced have serious health impacts on the aquatic environment plants animals and humans. However these events are largely due to human activities resulting in the proliferation of nutrients in aquatic environments. The significance of algae cannot be underestimated as they contribute to approximately 40% of the oxygen in the atmosphere are the original source of fossil fuels and are the primary producers in the oceans. Therefore there is potential for exploitation of this invaluable biomass source that could lead to definite environmental and economic benefits for man The book gives an in depth analysis of microalgal biology ecology biotechnology and biofuel production capacity as well as a thorough discussion on the value added products that can be generated from diverse microalgae. It summarizes the state of the art in microalgal biotechnology research from microalgal strain selection microbiology cultivation harvesting and processing. Contributors from the US Africa Asia South America and Europe cover microalgal physiology biochemistry ecology molecular biology and more