Marine macroalgae: an untapped resource for producing fuels and chemicals
TL;DR: This review focuses on up-to-date progress in fermentation of sugars from seaweed biomass using either natural or engineered microbial cells, and also provides a comprehensive overview of seaweed properties, cultivation and harvesting methods, and major steps in the bioconversion of seaweeds biomass to biofuels.
About: This article is published in Trends in Biotechnology.The article was published on 2013-02-01. It has received 505 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Biomass & Biofuel.
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TL;DR: Furanic (5-HMF, furfural) and phenolic compounds were found to be stronger inhibitors of the microbial dark fermentation than the full anaerobic digestion process when using mixed cultures as inoculum.
373 citations
Cites background from "Marine macroalgae: an untapped reso..."
...…a higher productivity yields, (2) they do not require arable lands for growth and therefore do not outcompete food resources, and (3) they can grow in a variety ofmarine environments including freshwater, saltwater andmunicipalwastewaters (Chisti, 2007; Sialve et al., 2009; N. Wei et al., 2013)....
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...…– 10.4 – Bondesson et al. (2013)t3:5 Eucalyptus Hot water, 200 °C, 20 min, biomass/liquid: 1/10 w/v; log Ro = 4,24 2.33 8.36 10.69 3.29 0.44 – 2.21 – 2.9 – W.Q. Wei et al. (2013)t3:6 Mapple chips Hot water, 200 °C, 20 min; 23% (w/w TS); log Ro = 4.24 0.6 9.2 9.8 4.1 1.3 13.1 2.4 1.8 Kim et al.…...
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors provided up-to-date knowledge and information on macroalgae-based biofuels, such as biogas, bioethanol, biodiesel and bio-oils respectively obtained from anaerobic digestion, fermentation, transesterification, liquefaction and pyrolysis technique methods.
Abstract: Algae is a very promising source for renewable energy production since it can fix the greenhouse gas (CO2) by photosynthesis and does not compete with the production of food Compared to microalgae, researches on biofuel production from macroalgae in both academia and industry are at infancy for economically efficient and technological solutions This review provides up to-date knowledge and information on macroalgae-based biofuels, such as biogas, bioethanol, biodiesel and bio-oils respectively obtained from anaerobic digestion, fermentation, transesterification, liquefaction and pyrolysis technique methods It is concluded that bioethanol and bio-oils from wet macroalgae are more competitive while biodiesel production seems less attractive compared to high lipid content microalgae biomass Finally, a biorefinery concept based on macroalgae is given
281 citations
TL;DR: The methods by which useful energy may be extracted from macroalgae biomass are reviewed including: direct combustion, pyrolysis, gasification, trans-esterification to biodiesel, hydrothermal liquefaction, fermentation to bioethanol, fermenting to biobutanol and anaerobic digestion.
Abstract: The potential of algal biomass as a source of liquid and gaseous biofuels is a highly topical theme, but as yet there is no successful economically viable commercial system producing biofuel. However, the majority of the research has focused on producing fuels from microalgae rather than from macroalgae. This article briefly reviews the methods by which useful energy may be extracted from macroalgae biomass including: direct combustion, pyrolysis, gasification, trans-esterification to biodiesel, hydrothermal liquefaction, fermentation to bioethanol, fermentation to biobutanol and anaerobic digestion, and explores technical and engineering difficulties that remain to be resolved.
236 citations
Cites background from "Marine macroalgae: an untapped reso..."
...Acid hydrolysis has been found to hydrolyse the polysaccharides of brown, green and red algae [142]....
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TL;DR: A better understanding of the recent uses of algae in cosmetic formulations with potential applications for new researches is aimed at a better understanding.
Abstract: Algae (macroalgae and microalgae) are aquatic photosynthetic organisms largely used due to the variety of bioactive compounds in their composition. Macroalgae have caught the attention of the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries. The food industry has recently used microalgae biomass, and several others have used it as biofuel source in wastewater treatments, for example. Many algae-derived secondary metabolites are known for their skin benefits, which include protection from UV radiations and prevention of rough texture, wrinkles, and skin flaccidity. It also avoids skin aging due to the presence of antioxidant compounds. The variety of cosmetic formulations using biocompounds or algae extracts is increasing since they also provide the desired safe materials from environmental resources. Although the cosmetic effects of some of these compounds were described in recent publications, the majority of biomolecules in algae species have not yet been studied and, therefore, are not be used for cosmetic purposed. Besides that, the majority of algae effects in cosmetics are described in patents without considerable explanation about the type of biocompounds or the mechanisms responsible for each cosmetic performance. Thus, this review aimed at a better understanding of the recent uses of algae in cosmetic formulations with potential applications for new researches.
231 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the potential and prospects of the third generation bioethanol feedstock are highlighted in a review, and an insight into the current hydrolysis and fermentation technologies on algal conversion together with the economics and viability of the process are also accounted.
Abstract: The current issues of the depletion of fossil fuels reserve and environmental changes have increased the concern for the hunt of sustainable renewable energy for the future generations. Biofuels emerged as a promising viable alternative to replace the existing fossil fuels. Among these, bioethanol outstands due to its ability to substitute gasoline. However, the major challenge in bioethanol industry is the need to discover a suitable feedstock together with an environmentally friendly approach and an economically feasible process of production. The first generation and second generation bioethanol appeared unsustainable due to its impact on food security as well as inflated production process. These problems and concerns have directed the search for the third generation bioethanol (TGB) feedstock from marine algae. The integration of algae (microalgae and macroalgae) as a sustainable feedstock for bioethanol has gained worldwide attention in terms of food security and environmental impact. The research on algal utilization in bioethanol has increased in recent years and is expected to become the major drives in bioethanol industry. Therefore, the potential and prospects of the third generation bioethanol feedstock are being highlighted in this review. An insight into the current hydrolysis and fermentation technologies on algal conversion together with the economics and viability of the process are also accounted. This review can be crucial in providing ideas for the future studies that can be implemented in the commercialization of bioethanol from the third generation feedstock.
228 citations
References
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TL;DR: An up-to-date review of the literature available on the subject of liquid bio-fuels can be found in this article, which includes information based on the research conducted globally by scientists according to their local socio-cultural and economic situations.
1,948 citations
TL;DR: Algae capable of accumulating high starch/cellulose can serve as an excellent alternative to food crops for bioethanol production, a green fuel for sustainable future.
976 citations
TL;DR: There is justified optimism that the full potential of biofuel production from cellulosic biomass will be obtainable in the next 10 to 15 years.
Abstract: Economic and geopolitical factors (high oil prices, environmental concerns, and supply instability) have been prompting policy-makers to put added emphasis on renewable energy sources. For the scientific community, recent advances, embodied in new insights into basic biology and technology that can be applied to metabolic engineering, are generating considerable excitement. There is justified optimism that the full potential of biofuel production from cellulosic biomass will be obtainable in the next 10 to 15 years.
749 citations
TL;DR: It is proposed that Ssn6-Tup1 is a general repressor of transcription in yeast, recruited to target promoters by a variety of sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins.
659 citations
TL;DR: A 36–kilo–base pair DNA fragment from Vibrio splendidus encoding enzymes for alginate transport and metabolism is presented, and a genomic integration of this ensemble generated a microbial platform that can simultaneously degrade, uptake, and metabolizeAlginate.
Abstract: Prospecting macroalgae (seaweeds) as feedstocks for bioconversion into biofuels and commodity chemical compounds is limited primarily by the availability of tractable microorganisms that can metabolize alginate polysaccharides. Here, we present the discovery of a 36-kilo-base pair DNA fragment from Vibrio splendidus encoding enzymes for alginate transport and metabolism. The genomic integration of this ensemble, together with an engineered system for extracellular alginate depolymerization, generated a microbial platform that can simultaneously degrade, uptake, and metabolize alginate. When further engineered for ethanol synthesis, this platform enables bioethanol production directly from macroalgae via a consolidated process, achieving a titer of 4.7% volume/volume and a yield of 0.281 weight ethanol/weight dry macroalgae (equivalent to ~80% of the maximum theoretical yield from the sugar composition in macroalgae).
624 citations