Pond liners for large-scale cultivation of algae for biofuels and bioproducts are a significant source of capital cost and greenhouse gas emissions, both of which can be reduced by using unlined ponds. Concerns about using unlined ponds to cultivate algae focus on the potential for water and nutrient leakage and biological contamination. We review studies of sustainability and physical and biological sealing of unlined ponds and discuss the potential for use of unlined ponds for algae cultivation for commodity products, such as biofuels. Evidence from animal waste disposal, aquaculture, and algae cultivation shows that soils below ponds can develop self-sealing layers at the soil-water interface, termed bioclogging, which provides a solid basis for technology transfer to algae cultivation. The concept of unlined ponds for algal biofuels and bioproducts is tenable and deserves future research to further define acceptable environments for the use of unlined ponds. Further research is needed to determine the viability and longevity of self-sealing, unlined freshwater and saline algae ponds in various soils; the potential effects of the technology on algal productivity and biological contamination; and performance and economic outcomes from combining self-sealing ponds with limited deployment of liners.

大规模养殖藻类以生产生物燃料和生物制品的池塘衬板是资本成本和温室气体排放的重要来源，而使用无内衬的池塘可以减少这两者。关于使用无衬砌池塘养殖藻类的担忧集中在水和养分泄漏和生物污染的可能性上。我们回顾了无衬里池塘的可持续性以及物理和生物密封的研究，并讨论了将无衬里池塘用于生物燃料等商品产品藻类养殖的潜力。动物粪便处置，水产养殖和藻类养殖的证据表明，池塘下方的土壤可以在土壤-水界面处形成自密封层，称为生物阻塞，这为向藻类养殖技术转移提供了坚实的基础。用于藻类生物燃料和生物产品的无衬里池塘的概念是成立的，值得进一步研究，以进一步确定使用无衬里池塘的可接受环境。需要进一步的研究来确定各种土壤中自密封，未加衬的淡水和盐水藻类池塘的生存能力和寿命；该技术对藻类生产力和生物污染的潜在影响；结合自密封池塘和有限的衬管部署的性能和经济结果。该技术对藻类生产力和生物污染的潜在影响；结合自密封池塘和有限的衬管部署的性能和经济结果。该技术对藻类生产力和生物污染的潜在影响；结合自密封池塘和有限的衬管部署的性能和经济结果。