Solar-to-Fuel Conversion in Algae and Cyanobacteria

1. Introduction.- 2. Introduction to biofuels: An emerging industry. 3. Exploring novel feedstocks and technologies for advanced biofuels: the promises of algae.- 4. Bio-ethanol from algae polysaccharides.- 5. Biodiesel from microalgae.- 6. Processing of algal biomass for the production of biogas and bio-oil.- 7. Cyanobacteria as a platform for direct photosynthesis-to-fuel conversion.- 8. Economic viability of algal biodiesel.- 9. Photosynthesis: a dynamic process.- 10. Solar-to-biomass conversion efficiency.- 11. Light Saturation of photosynthesis.- 12. Downstream biochemical reactions: carbon assimilation.- 13. Light-utilization inefficiency of wild type algal mass cultures.- 14. Genetic modification of the pigment optical density.- 15. Development of microalgae cultivation and biomass harvesting systems for biofuel production.- 16. Environmental sustainability of biofuel production from algae.- 17. Concluding remarks.