Geolocation for Low-Carbon Dunaliella salina-Based Biorefineries with Valorization of Industrial Exhaust Gases

The utilization of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from industrial emissions as an input in microalgal biorefineries represents an integrated strategy that contributes to mitigating and transforming residual resources into value-added products. The valorization of CO₂ from gaseous effluents through biotechnological routes also contributes to the development of a bio-based circular economy. This article aims to present the carbon footprint of a microalgal biorefinery system with CO₂ recovery from exhaust gases for the 193 countries of the world. The results reveal that the tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) emissions of the proposed biorefinery system can be as low as 3 tCO₂e per year and as high as 590 tCO₂e per year. Countries with emissions greater than 445.98 tCO₂e per year were considered, following a statistical approach, as having low environmental performance in terms of the implementation of the proposed technology. This study’s insights help establish benchmarks for the implementation of microalgal biorefineries that are more capable of recovering industrial emissions—environmentally.