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• Social changes on a global scale have challenged the nascent algal industry. • Drop-in fuel would be a new major target of algal lipid-based products. • Enhancing CO 2 fixing efficiency would be a major goal in outdoor cultivation. • An integrated refinery process is required for feasible whole cell utilization. Microalgae have been studied and tested for over 70 years. However, biodiesel, the prime target of the algal industry, has suffered from low competitiveness and current steps toward banning the internal combustion engine all over the world. Meanwhile, interest in reducing CO 2 emissions has grown as the world has witnessed disasters caused by global warming. In this situation, in order to maximize the benefits of the microalgal industry and surmount current limitations, new breakthroughs are being sought. First, drop-in fuel, mandatory for the aviation and maritime industries, has been discussed as a new product. Second, methods to secure stable and feasible outdoor cultivation focusing on CO 2 sequestration were investigated. Lastly, the need for an integrated refinery process to simultaneously produce multiple products has been discussed. While the merits of microalgae industry remain valid, further investigations into these new frontiers would put algal industry at the core of future bio-based economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study informs harmful chemicals generation from polyurethane waste into the environment and suggests sustainable disposal platform with waste valorization. [Display omitted] • Automotive seat form (ASF) was upgraded into value-added products through pyrolysis. • Ni catalyst converted harmful aromatic chemicals into syngas. • CO 2 synergistically contributed to harmful chemical conversion into syngas. • CO 2 also contributed to extended catalyst stability in catalytic pyrolysis of ASF. In automotive industry, plastic consumption has substantially increased due to its affordability, durability, and lightness. However, the massive generation of plastic wastes from the automotive industry becomes a growing environmental concern. Current disposal methods of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) are incineration and landfilling, but these methods generate toxic chemicals and leachate into the environment. To propose more sustainable disposal platform for ELVs, this study used a pyrolysis process using CO 2 as a reaction medium. As a case study, automotive seat form (ASF) in ELVs was disposed and valorized through the CO 2 -assisted pyrolysis. ASF, composed of polyurethane, generated harmful aromatic compounds during pyrolysis process such as benzene, aniline and their derivatives. To convert harmful chemicals into value-added syngas (H 2 and CO), catalytic pyrolysis of ASF was performed using a nickel catalyst. Effects of both CO 2 and nickel catalyst showed 89.9 wt% reduction of toxic chemical production by converting them into syngas, as comparing to pyrolysis without Ni catalyst. Gas-phase-reaction between CO 2 and pyrogenic products from ASF resulted in more than 200 times of CO production. Also, CO 2 suppressed catalyst deactivation. Therefore, this study suggested that CO 2 and plastic waste from ELVs can be converted to value-added products through CO 2 -assisted catalytic pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]