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- Maximizing Spirulina's value in a biorefinery approachPublication . Santos, Carolina Ascenso dos; Caetano, Nídia de SáWith the pressing global environmental challenges there is an increasing need for sustainable and circular bioresource management. This thesis explores the multifaceted potential of Spirulina in various sectors, leading to the idealisation of a biorefinery. The study begins by assessing Spirulina’s properties, culture conditions and applications that boost its potential for a sustainable biorefinery development, emphasizing its versatility in producing high-value compounds and its contributions to several industrial sectors. Experimentally, Spirulina was cultivated and high-value compounds, such as lipids, phycocyanin and antioxidants, were obtained with the use of eco-friendly extraction methods. Additionally, Spirulina was incorporated as a functional ingredient in butter. Sensorial analyses were conducted revealing positive consumer acceptance and the potential for Spirulina to enhance the nutritional profile of everyday foods. Then, Spirulina was tested as an organic soil corrective. Through comparative tests, it was shown that Spirulina improved germination, by 150%, and plant growth, underscoring its potential in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Finally, aggregating the results and inputs from the literature, the concept of a Spirulina-based biorefinery was explored, identifying viable process routes and multiple processes integration, such as the reuse of waste streams. The results indicate that with strategic process optimization, Spirulina-based biorefineries could contribute significantly to reducing environmental negative impact while offering economically viable solutions, supporting a circular bioeconomy.