Comparative study of chemical composition of the halophyte species native to the Persian (Arabian) gulf

Abstract

Extensive comparative characterization was performed to explore halophytes native to the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. Ten species collected from the Western region of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) were analyzed for their lignocellulosic components as well as for ash and extractives content. It was found that the species significantly differ in the content of carbohydrates, lignin, total ash-free extractives and total ash. The total ash content was found to negatively influence the content of carbohydrates. Based on the characteristics, it is concluded that Cornulaca aucheri is the most attractive as a source of carbohydrates, and Tetraena (Zygophyllum) qatarensis has the potential to produce the highest yield of the extractives fraction.

Cultivation and characterisation of Salicornia europaea, Tripolium pannonicum and Crithmum maritimum biomass for green biorefinery applications

“…Regardless of the significantly higher carbohydrate content in C. maritimum from 86 mM NaCl salinity cultivation, the actual amount of carbohydrates in obtained fresh biomass was still higher in plants cultivated in 0 mM NaCl due to higher biomass yield. Klason lignin content of S. europaea was found to be low, and it is aligned with acid-insoluble lignin contents previously reported for Salicornia species 18 , 19 , 64 . Low lignin content may indicate biomass to be non-recalcitrant, allowing less severe processing conditions, especially after the removal of extractive material.…”

Extraction and Quantification of Chlorophylls, Carotenoids, Phenolic Compounds, and Vitamins from Halophyte Biomasses

“…However, these compounds can also be found in high concentrations in botanical extracts obtained from some agricultural and food processing waste, as mentioned in the review by Rauf et al [7]. Halophytes are likely to produce high levels of these protective compounds due to their adaptation to extreme environmental conditions [9,10]. Besides healthy food, these plants could provide a novel feedstock for bio-functional feed, nutraceuticals, and the pharmaceutical industry [2,[11][12][13].…”

Exploring the Potential of Halophyte Biomass for Green Biorefinery Applications

“…In subsequential extractions (Figure 18), the highest content was extractives was found in C. maritimum, likely due to the use of whole, non-fractionated plant biomass in these extractions. Considering the total water and ethanol extractive material, the results are comparable to those of ash-free extracts reported by Cybulska et al [146] for ten different halophyte species. This may indicate that when water-soluble salts, which the halophyte ash mainly constitutes, end up with the juice fraction after the screw press, while the majority of the potentially valuable extractives remain in the fibre fraction.…”

“…Considering this PhD project, the simplified schematic of the halophyte-based green biorefinery is visualised in Figure 8. Halophyte-based biorefineries could offer solutions for developing arid and semi-arid rural regions, where grass biomass or other lignocellulosic feedstock typically used for biorefineries, such as cereals straws and other agro-residues, cannot be produced sustainably [146]. Alassali et al [99] also highlight the value of green juice as a water source for biomass processing in regions with freshwater sparsity.…”

“…Trucios et al [177] studied the changes in S. europaea composition over the growth period and showed the lignocellulose fraction to increase with age (lignification). Cybulska et al [146] studied the composition of ten halophyte species and found the highest total carbohydrate concentrations in Cornulaca aucheri (34.3 g/100g DM) and S. sinuspersica (33.4 g/100g DM). In some studies, the carbohydrate fraction is determined as neutral detergent fibre (NDF), which includes most of the structural plant material, or total dietary fibre (TDF), which includes polysaccharides, lignin and other associated plant compounds but not potential sugars available as starch.…”