Microalgal Ecology and Biotechnology

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbial Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 335

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Division of Applied Life Sciences (BK21), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
2. Department of Food Science & Technology and Institute of Agriculture & Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
Interests: microalgal cultivation; biodiesel production; bioplastic production; bioremediation; carbon sequestration

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microalgae have emerged as promising microorganisms with immense ecological and biotechnological potential. They play crucial roles in aquatic ecosystems, contributing to global carbon cycling, oxygen production, and nutrient dynamics. Simultaneously, microalgae have attracted increasing attention for their ability to produce valuable bioactive compounds, biofuels, and functional foods and for their applications in wastewater treatment and carbon capture. Understanding the ecology of microalgae is essential for optimizing their cultivation and utilization in diverse industrial and environmental applications.

The aim of this Special Issue of Microorganisms is to highlight recent advances in microalgal ecology and biotechnology. We welcome manuscripts addressing microalgal diversity, physiological and metabolic responses to environmental conditions, genetic engineering, cultivation strategies, and applications in sustainable biotechnology.

Prof. Dr. Jong-Hee Kwon
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • microalgae cultivation
  • biofuel production
  • carbon sequestration
  • environmental sustainability
  • bioresource utilization

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 2262 KB  
Article
Selective Quenching of Peracetic Acid by Sodium Dithionite Enables Rapid, Non-Thermal Sterilization for Euglena gracilis Cultivation
by Hyun-Jin Lim, Min-Su Kang, Min-Sung Kim and Jong-Hee Kwon
Microorganisms 2026, 14(2), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14020315 - 29 Jan 2026
Viewed by 49
Abstract
Peracetic acid (PAA) has strong biocidal activity against bacteria, fungi, and spores, even with short contact times. PAA-mediated sterilization is therefore an attractive method for sterilization of growth media that have heat-labile components or when polymer-based equipment is used. However, residual PAA and [...] Read more.
Peracetic acid (PAA) has strong biocidal activity against bacteria, fungi, and spores, even with short contact times. PAA-mediated sterilization is therefore an attractive method for sterilization of growth media that have heat-labile components or when polymer-based equipment is used. However, residual PAA and co-existing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can inhibit the growth of cultivated species, necessitating a fast and reliable quenching strategy that does not require rinsing. In contrast to Fe–EDTA-based catalytic decomposition that is strongly influenced by pH, buffers, and organic nitrogen, we demonstrate a fundamentally different, stoichiometric quenching strategy using sodium dithionite that enables instantaneous and selective removal of PAA. Na2S2O4 preferentially reduced PAA over H2O2 in a 0.03% PAA solution and achieved complete PAA reduction within 5 s, independent of pH and in the presence of nitrogen compounds. By adjusting the Na2S2O4 dose, PAA could be selectively removed while allowing a small fraction of H2O2 to remain. When applied to the cultivation of Euglena gracilis, which tolerates low levels of H2O2, the PAA–Na2S2O4-treated medium resulted in greater cell growth and higher paramylon production than autoclaved medium. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microalgal Ecology and Biotechnology)
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