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  • The results of studies conducted on the anaerobic digestion of the giant brown kelp - Macrocystis pyrifera - in laboratory-scale digesters are presented. Untreated raw kelp sustains a stable fermentation under conventional mesophilic operating conditions with a methane yield of 4.5 SCF/lb votaile solids (VS) of organic matter added and a reduction in organic matter of 50%. A materials and energy balanace presented for the kelp biomethanation process shows that 100 pounds of wet kelp as harvested and drained of physical water yields 25 SCF of methane with an energy recovery efficiency of 55.5%. The major biodegradable components of kelp are mannitol and algin, and the refractory components are cellulose and protein. The anaerobic fermentation of kelp was demonstrated as nonlimited by nitrogen or phosphorus. A stable fermentation can be developed with undiluted kelp feed or a kelp feed diluted with seawater. Thermophilic digestion of kelp exhibited unstable performance and lower yields than mesophilic digestion. Inocula derived from anaerobic marine environments did not show better performance than an inoculum derived from a mixture of effluents from domestic sewage sludge and municipal solid waste digesters. Higher methane yields may be possible through post-treatment and recycle of refractory effluent solids. Preliminary studies presented show that heat treatment alone and under acid and alkaline conditions increases the biodegradability of the digested ungasified solids. 

    Author(s): David P. Chynoweth
  • This review provides a systematic overview of the spatial and temporal variations in the content of biomolecular constituents of Saccharina latissima on the basis of 34 currently available scientific studies containing primary measurements. We demonstrate the potential revenue of seaweed production and biorefinery systems by compiling a product portfolio of high-value extract products. An investigation into the endogenous rhythms and extrinsic factors that impact the biomolecular composition of S. latissima is presented, and key performance factors for optimizing seaweed production are identified. Besides the provisioning ecosystem service, we highlight the contribution of green-engineered seaweed production systems to the mitigation of the ongoing and historical anthropogenic disturbances of the climate balance and nutrient flows. We conclude that there are risks of mismanagement, and we stress the importance and necessity of creating an adaptive ecosystem-based management framework within a triple-helix partnership for balancing the utilization of ecosystem services and long-term resilience of aquatic environment. 

    Author(s): Xueqian Zhang , Marianne Thomsen
  • The secondary metabolites of seaweed Ulva fasciata and Hypnea musciformis,collected form southeast and southwest coast of India. were tested for biotoxicity potential. Both species bowed potent activity in antibacterial, brine shrimp cytotoxicity, larvicidal, antifouling and ichthyotoxicity assays.

    Author(s): Joseph, Selvin, Lipton, A P
  • BioProcess Algae LLC has been selected to receive a grant of up to $6.4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), as part of an innovative pilot-scale biorefinery project related to production of hydrocarbon fuels meeting military specification. The project will use renewable carbon dioxide, lignocellulosic sugars and waste heat through BioProcess Algae’s Grower Harvester(TM) technology platform, co-located with the Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc., ethanol plant in Shenandoah, Iowa.

    Author(s): Wall Street Journal
  • Wastewater and activated sludge present a major challenge worldwide. Wastewater generated from large and small-scale industries, laundries, human residential areas and other sources is emerging as a main problem in sanitation and maintenance of smart/green cities. During the last decade, different technologies and processes have been developed to recycle and purify the wastewater. Currently, identification and fundamental consid- eration of development of more advanced microbial-based technologies that enable wastewater treatment and simultaneous resource recovery to produce bioenergy, biofuels and other value-added compounds (organic acids, fatty acids, bioplastics, bio-pesticides, bio-surfactants and bio-flocculants etc.) became an emerging topic. In the last several decades, significant development of bioprocesses and techniques for the extraction and recovery of mentioned valuable molecules and compounds from wastewater, waste biomass or sludge has been made. This review presents different microbial-based process routes related to resource recovery and wastewater application for the production of value-added products and bioenergy. Current process limitations and insights for future research to promote more efficient and sustainable routes for this under-utilized and continually growing waste stream are also discussed. 

    Author(s): Renata Gudiukaite , Ashok Kumar Nadda, Alisa Gricajeva , Sabarathinam Shanmugam, D. Duc Nguyen, Su Shiung Lam
  • Seaweeds (also called macroalgae) are considered a potential biomass feedstock for biorefineries for production of energy and chemicals. In this study, a biorefinery strategy for the brown seaweed Saccharina latissima is described. Fresh S. latissima harvested at the Irish coast contained glucose and mannitol as most abundant fermentable sugars. The fresh biomass was chopped and pressed in order to obtain a liquid fraction (press juice), which contained 16 g/L of mannitol as main sugar component, and an insoluble fraction referred to a “press cake”. The mannitol in the press liquid has been extracted and purified to serve as a substrate for chemical conversions. The use of the press juice and hydrolysed press cake as substrates for production of acetone, butanol and ethanol by anaerobic fermentation has been evaluated. While the press juice was easily fermentable after addition of nutrients, the press cake was toxic for the microorganisms. When the press cake hydrolysate was diluted, fermentation was possible. The toxicity of the hydrolysate might be associated to the high salt concentrations determined in it. The use of the residue after enzymatic hydrolysis of the press cake as fertilizer has been evaluated. 

    Author(s): Ana M. López-Contreras , Paulien F. H. Harmsen, Rolf Blaauw, Bwee Houweling-Tan, Hetty van der Wal, Wouter J.J. Huijgen, Jaap W. van Hal
  • The growing world population demands an in- crease in animal protein production. Seaweed may be a valu- able source of protein for animal feed. However, a biorefinery approach aimed at cascading valorisation of both protein and non-protein seaweed constituents is required to realise an eco- nomically feasible value chain. In this study, such a biorefinery approach is presented for the green seaweed Ulva lactuca containing 225 g protein (N × 4.6) kg−1 dry mat- ter (DM). The sugars in the biomass were solubilised by hot water treatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and centri- fugation resulting in a sugar-rich hydrolysate (38.8 g L−1 sugars) containing glucose, rhamnose and xylose, and a protein-enriched (343 g kg−1 in DM) extracted fraction. This extracted fraction was characterised for use in animal feed, as compared to U. lactuca biomass. Based on the content of essential amino acids and the in vitro N (85 %) and organic matter (90 %) digestibility, the extracted fraction seems a promising protein source in diets for monogastric animals with improved characteristics as compared to the intact U. lactuca. The gas production test indicated a moderate rumen fermentation of U. lactuca and the extracted frac- tion, about similar to that of alfalfa. Reduction of the high content of minerals and trace elements may be required to allow a high inclusion level of U. lactuca products in animal diets. The hydrolysate was used suc- cessfully for the production of acetone, butanol, ethanol and 1,2-propanediol by clostridial fermentation, and the rhamnose fermentation pattern was studied. 

    Author(s): Paul Bikker , Marinus M. van Krimpen, Piet van Wikselaar, Bwee Houweling-Tan, Nazareno Scaccia, Jaap W. van Hal, Wouter J. J. Huijgen, John W. Cone, Ana M. López-Contreras
  • The bioremediation capability and efficiency of large-scale Porphyra cultivation in the removal of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus from open sea area were studied. The study took place in 2002–2004, in a 300 ha nori farm along the Lusi coast, Qidong County, Jiangsu Province, China, where the valuable rhodophyte seaweed Porphyra yezoensis has been extensively cultivated. Nutrient concentrations were significantly reduced by the seaweed cultivation.

    During the non-cultivation period of P. yezoensis, the concentrations of NH4-N, NO2-N, NO3-N and PO4-P were 43–61, 1–3, 33–44 and 1–3 mmol L1, respectively. Within the Porphyra cultivation area, the average nutrient concentrations during the Porphyra cultivation season were 20.5, 1.1, 27.9 and 0.96 mmol L1 for NH4-N, NO2-N, NO3-N and PO4-P, respectively, significantly lower than in the non-cultivation season (po0.05). Compared with the control area, Porphyra farming resulted in the reduction of NH4-N, NO2-N, NO3-N and PO4-P by 50–94%, 42–91%, 21–38% and 42–67%, respectively.

    Nitrogen and phosphorus contents in dry Porphyra thalli harvested from the Lusi coast averaged 6.3% and 1.0%, respectively. There were significant monthly variations in tissue nitrogen content (po0.05) but not in tissue phosphorus content (p40.05). The highest tissue nitrogen content, 7.65% in dry wt, was found in December and the lowest value, 4.85%, in dry wt, in April.

    The annual biomass production of P. yezoensis was about 800 kg dry wt ha1 at the Lusi Coast in 2003–2004. An average of 14708.5 kg of tissue nitrogen and 2373.5 kg of tissue phosphorus in P. yezoensis biomass were harvested annually from 300 ha of cultivation from Lusi coastal water. These results indicated that Porphyra efficiently removed excess nutrient from nearshore eutrophic coastal areas. Therefore, large-scale cultivation of P. yezoensis could alleviate eutrophication in coastal waters economically.

    Author(s): Peimin He, Shannan Xu, Hanye Zhang, Shanshan Wen, Yongjing Dai, Senjie Lin, Charles Yarish
  • In Malaysia, the uses of water for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes is increasing considerably, resulting in a rapid increase in the wastewater volume and pollutants. The mariculture industries are also facing the same problems. This research focuses on the impact of shrimp farming activities on the environment. The continuing discharge of contaminants from the pond obviously shows that no concern to conform with environmental regulations and good farming practices. Therefore, an efficient treatment system must be developed to improve the water quality at low operational cost and environmentally viable. In the present study, the performance of Gracilaria changii and Gracilaria edulis as biofilters for nutrients removal from shrimp pond in a laboratory scale and outdoor environment were assessed. The outdoor experiments were conducted in an Outdoor Recirculating Culture System (ORCS). The water flow rate was 200 L/hr. In the laboratory batch culture experiments, both species demonstrated considerably high nutrient removal efficiencies for ammonium, nitrate and phosphate concentrations. The removal efficiencies were 72.5%, 58.8% and 45.9% for G. edulis, and 71%, 56.8% and 43.5% for G. changii, respectively. The mean specific growth rate (SGR) for G. edulis was 3.5 ± 1.0 % day-1, while G. changii was 3.3 ± 0.9 % day-1. As for experiments conducted in ORCS, the nutrient removal efficiencies for ammonium, nitrate and phosphate were 86.2%, 59.3% and 52.0% for G. edulis, and 78.1%, 55.5% and 65.9% for G. changii, respectively. The mean SGR for G. edulis was 3.91 ± 1.0 % day-1 and G. changii was 3.69 ± 0.6 % day-1. The removal efficiency and SGR of G. edulis and G. changii in ORCS were higher compared to the laboratory batch culture experiments. The efficiency of biosand filters (BSF) to reduce total suspended solid, turbidity and chlorophyll-a of shrimp pond water was also assessed. The results showed that total suspended solid, turbidity and chlorophyll-a concentrations decreased significantly. The BSFdepicted 70.6%, 70.0% and 60.0% efficiencies in the reduction of TSS, turbidity and chlorophyll-a, respectively. The integration of shrimp culture with G. edulis in ORCS was conducted as well, and the study proved to be successful. Results showed that shrimp and seaweed grew well in the system. The mean SGR for shrimp and G. edulis were 1.31 ± 0.76 % d-1 and 4.4 % d-1, respectively. High survival rate of shrimp (91%) was observed in the treatment unit. The design considerations, the combination of cultured species and application of G. edulis as biofilter in this study provides useful information for aquaculture field. The findings include improvement of shrimp water quality to an acceptable level that ultimately enhances shrimp and seaweeds productivity and produces an ecologically sustainable treatment and cultivation system. 

    Author(s): SABERI BIN MAWI
  • Kappaphycus alvarezii is one of the natural resourcescontaininghigh carbohydrate, and it haspotential as an alternative raw material for sugar industry.This studyaimsto analyze the optimumconditions of the fungi Trichoderma harzianum in degradatingpolysaccharides from K. alvareziiintosugar. The seaweed was collectedin Takalar Sea,South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Thefungiwaspreviouslyactivated at 30°C for three days in 2%ofseaweed substrate. The efficiency of theT.harzianuminproducingbiosugar was evaluated under various concentrationsof inoculum(5%, 10%, 15%and 20%)and hydrolysis time (0h, 24h, 48h, and 72h). The result implied thatK. alvareziicontain 55,58% ofcarbohydratewhichwasdominated by starch 35.83% and cellulose 12.21%.Furthermore, the highestcontent of sugar indicated by12,27g/L of reducing sugar was obtained at the combination of20% of thefungi and 24h incubation.In conclusion, the fungi T. harzianum has ability to convert carbohydrate ofK.alvareziito sugar through hydrolysis process.

    Author(s): Asmi Citra Malina A.R. Tassakka, Sulfahri, Kasmiati, St. Zaenab

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