A co-culture system of oleaginous yeast and microalgae in wastewater for biofuel production: A review

According to carbon neutrality, clean energy, and eco-environmental protection requirements, the global energy structure is shifting from traditional fossil fuels to renewable energy. The co-culture of microalgae and yeast in wastewater could reduce the cost of biofuel production with carbon neutrality. Community competition/mutualism between microalgae and yeast may affect the growth and metabolism of microorganisms. This review first analyzed the progress of microalgae/yeast based biofuels using bibliometric analysis. Then, different species of microalgae and yeast are reviewed, and the microalgae and yeast used for bioenergy production are summarized in terms of metabolic pathways and effective process conditions, culture systems, and growth in wastewater. Finally, technologies for microalgae/yeast culturing and downstream processing (i.e., the main production cost) are introduced. This comprehensive review establishes a foundational framework for constructing co-culture systems aimed at producing high yields of biofuels from oleaginous yeast and microalgae in wastewater. • Examine a co-culture system of microalgae and yeast to meet neutral CO 2 requirements. • The metabolic pathways of microalgae and yeast are presented separately and jointly. • The culture systems of yeast and microalgae are presented on laboratory, pilot, and industrial scales. • The co-culture system from the upstream to downstream is reviewed. • A basis for building a microbial co-culture system to produce oil from wastewater.