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Frequently asked questions about microalgae
Short, clear answers to the most common questions about microalgae: what they are, how they are grown, what they are used for and what sets them apart. With links to go deeper.
They are photosynthetic microorganisms, mostly single-celled, that turn light, water and CO₂ into biomass rich in proteins, pigments and bioactive compounds. The term groups eukaryotic algae and cyanobacteria.
It depends on the group: most are microscopic eukaryotic algae (such as Chlorella or Scenedesmus), but some, like Spirulina, are cyanobacteria (prokaryotes). All are grouped with microalgae for their cultivation and uses.
Microalgae are microscopic and mostly single-celled; macroalgae (such as seaweeds) are multicellular organisms visible to the naked eye.
Technically Spirulina (Arthrospira) is a cyanobacterium, but it is grouped with microalgae for its cultivation and food and industrial uses.
In open raceway ponds or closed photobioreactors, controlling light, CO₂, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), temperature and pH to maximise biomass production.
The open pond is cheap and easy to scale but with less control and more contamination; the closed photobioreactor offers greater control, purity and productivity, at a higher cost.
They are applied in human and animal food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, pharma, agriculture (biostimulants), natural pigments, bioplastics, biofuels, water treatment and CO₂ capture.
Spirulina stands out with a protein content of ≈60–70% of dry weight per FAO; Chlorella is around ≈45–60%.
It is the blue pigment (a phycobiliprotein) characteristic of Spirulina, used as a natural food colorant and for its antioxidant capacity.
It is a red carotenoid with high antioxidant power; its richest natural source is the freshwater microalga Haematococcus pluvialis, which accumulates it at up to around 5% of its dry weight.
Yes: they are used as biostimulants and biofertilizers that improve plant development, stress tolerance and soil health; cyanobacteria also fix nitrogen.
Yes: they fix it through photosynthesis into their biomass. Net efficiency depends on the CO₂ source, process energy and the biomass destination.
Nannochloropsis and the diatom Phaeodactylum stand out for their EPA (an omega-3) content, widely used in aquaculture and nutraceuticals.
Freshwater ones do not add salts or chlorides to the medium (relevant for agriculture and soil); marine ones live in salt water and stand out in uses such as aquaculture and certain omega-3s.
Yes, as a source of lipids and hydrocarbons for biodiesel and bioenergy; their productivity per area is high, but production cost remains the main challenge.
ALGACEL produces freshwater unicellular microalgae and supplies their biomass, ingredients, extracts and pigments to companies (B2B model), with a dual base in Córdoba (Argentina) and Europe.
No: ALGACEL is a B2B supplier; it provides microalgae raw material and ingredients to companies, not retail sales to end consumers.
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