Biomimicry Technology and Design through Microalgae for Bio-Based Sustainability

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Biomimicry is a new science that examines natural models, takes inspiration from them, and imitates designs or processes to solve problems and create innovations. Thus, it creates a field of work that aims to produce products that are functional, sustainable, do not harm the environment, and are economical and durable, taking nature and its cycle as an example. Biology and design work go hand in hand with biomimicry applications to develop products using living organisms such as algae, bacteria, and fungi. Algae are photosynthetic organisms in almost all ecosystems, including various aquatic environments and land. Algae are classified as macroalgae or microalgae according to their size and morphological characteristics. Microalgae are microscopic, primarily unicellular, or simple multicellular, and prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Many microalgae can adapt to extreme conditions such as a wide range of temperatures, salinities, pH values, and light intensities. Microalgae convert carbon dioxide into valuable biologically active compounds through solar energy. Thus, they constitute one-third of the total biomass worldwide and contribute 50% of atmospheric oxygen. Secondary metabolites may consist of 50-70% protein and more than 10- 30% lipids and vitamins, in varying amounts depending on the species. Microalgae form a central basis for achieving sustainability. They accomplish this by reproducing rapidly, producing important products, and accumulating lipids and carbohydrates as storage materials to produce biofuels.

The functional properties of microalgae have directed the attention of researchers, engineers, and architects from different disciplines to investigate the use of microalgae for sustainability. Designers have begun to use microalgae, influenced by their life processes, functions and physiological structures in nature, to serve as a sustainable solution. These include creating oxygen-rich areas, producing, and developing transparent roof and exterior coating systems that can be used to help regenerate urban environments, biodegradable pigments for textile prints, lighting, biofilms and fillers. The focus of this study is to underline how microalgal systems can be used in industrial and technological applications by modelling microalgal systems through biomimicry applications and bioengineering. Thus, we aim to reveal how a versatile contribution can be made to sustainability using microalgae in biomimicry designs.

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