IMPORTANCE OF ALGAE AND EVALUATION IN INDUSTRY

Abstract

Algae (unicellular microalgae) are living things that are able to perform microscopic photosynthesis and live on the land andin the sea. They are evaluated to have started life and conveyed it to the land; and they are stated to have existed for 5 billionyears by scientists. It is known that about 30,000 types of algae, estimated to exist in a range from 200,000 to 2-3 milliontypes in nature, have been recorded so far; and that merely a few types of them have been able to be commercialized. Algaehave highly rich carbohydrate, protein and especially oil acid content. Algae, rich in terms of nutritious value, are the mostcrucial source of nutrients, vitamins and trace elements for living things in water. They also supply necessary basicpigmentation development for fish and other sea creatures. Algae, one of the most significant food sources of marine life, areused as energy, food, agriculture, cosmetics, medicine and pharmacy, nutrients and mineral source. Also, it is known thatthey are used in numerous fields of industry such as forage, fertilizer, waste treatment, and dentistry, alcohol, pharmaceutical,paper, paint, rubber, textile, industry, and in their usage of solid and liquid oils and hydrocarbons and aquaculture and wastewater treatment. The aim of this study is to emphasize usage of algae, one of the most important sources of marine life, anddraw attention to the importance of algae culture and related industry.