Novel macroalgae (seaweed) biorefinery systems for integrated chemical, protein, salt, nutrient and mineral extractions and environmental protection by green synthesis and life cycle sustainability assessments

Sadhukhan, Jhuma; Gadkari, Siddharth; Martínez-Hernández, Elías; Ng, Kok Siew; Shemfe, Mobolaji; Torres-Garcı́a, E.; Lynch, J. M.

doi:10.1039/c9gc00607a

Cited by 126 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…In order to truly decipher whether auto-hydrolytical pre-treatments are efficient for use in seaweed bioethanol processes, life cycle analysis/techno-economical assessments of the overall 'optimised' process would need to be performed. Only a handful of LCA studies have been performed on seaweed biorefinery systems focused on bioenergy and multiple product generation [71][72][73][74], however, by combining LCA with techno-economic, social and environmental assessments, baselines against which new biorefinery systems for added value production from seaweeds can be benchmarked for future investigation and investment [73].…”

Section: Bioethanol Scale Up Feasibility From Seaweedsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioethanol Production from UK Seaweeds: Investigating Variable Pre-treatment and Enzyme Hydrolysis Parameters

2019

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This study describes the method development for bioethanol production from three species of seaweed. Laminaria digitata, Ulva lactuca and for the first time Dilsea carnosa were used as representatives of brown, green and red species of seaweed, respectively. Acid thermo-chemical and entirely aqueous (water) based pre-treatments were evaluated, using a range of sulphuric acid concentrations (0.125-2.5 M) and solids loading contents (5-25 % [w/v]; biomass: reactant) and different reaction times (5-30 min), with the aim of maximising the release of glucose following enzyme hydrolysis. A pre-treatment step for each of the three seaweeds was required and pre-treatment conditions were found to be specific to each seaweed species. Dilsea carnosa and U. lactuca were more suited with an aqueous (water-based) pre-treatment (yielding 125.0 and 360.0 mg of glucose/g of pretreated seaweed, respectively), yet interestingly non pre-treated D. carnosa yielded 106.4 g g −1 glucose. Laminaria digitata required a dilute acid thermo-chemical pre-treatment in order to liberate maximal glucose yields (218.9 mg glucose/g pre-treated seaweed). Fermentations with S. cerevisiae NCYC2592 of the generated hydrolysates gave ethanol yields of 5.4 g L −1 , 7.8 g L −1 and 3.2 g L −1 from D. carnosa, U. lactuca and L. digitata, respectively. This study highlighted that entirely aqueous based pretreatments are effective for seaweed biomass, yet bioethanol production alone may not make such bio-processes economically viable at large scale.

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Section: Bioethanol Scale Up Feasibility From Seaweedsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioethanol Production from UK Seaweeds: Investigating Variable Pre-treatment and Enzyme Hydrolysis Parameters

2019

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“…Pulses or legumes, e.g., lentils, chickpeas, beans and peas, and other vegetable-based sources of protein such as tofu, bean curd, and mycoprotein are much evidence based on healthier and sustainable sources of protein, (as well as other minerals such as calcium). Protein can be isolated in an integrated biorefinery configuration that also produces other added value products from biomass [1]. This aspect is further discussed to set the background of the arena of protein isolation methods and materials.…”

Section: The Arena Of Sustainable Dietmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Crude oil, a finite resource itself, should not be our 'go to' feedstock for chemicals, materials, and energy, which currently serve our daily lifestyles. It is imperative that we seek innovations in bioresources, biorefineries, and bio-based circular economies to reduce waste and primary resource consumption and retain resource within value chains [1][2][3]. For example, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recognizes the need to focus on biological resources for sustainability, food security, and nutrition [4], which are high on the global political agenda [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Waste across food supply chains needs to be reduced and eliminated [16][17][18]. Valorisation of unavoidable waste from food manufacturing processes through eco-innovative integrated biorefinery systems is imperative to align with or exceed the United Nations Sustainable Goals [1,7,10,11]. We advance the present state of knowledge [19][20][21][22] in three intersecting arenas of food in a synergistic manner by analysing environmental footprints of food choices using the holistic whole system life cycle assessment, illustrating protein isolation pathways from plant-based sources and design-conceptualising sustainable biorefinery systems to valorise unavoidable food waste for a circular economy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perspectives on “Game Changer” Global Challenges for Sustainable 21st Century: Plant-Based Diet, Unavoidable Food Waste Biorefining, and Circular Economy

et al. 2020

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Planet Earth is under severe stress from several inter-linked factors mainly associated with rising global population, linear resource consumption, security of resources, unsurmountable waste generation, and social inequality, which unabated will lead to an unsustainable 21st Century. The traditional way products are designed promotes a linear economy that discards recoverable resources and creates negative environmental and social impacts. Here, we suggest multi-disciplinary approaches encompassing chemistry, process engineering and sustainability science, and sustainable solutions in “game changer” challenges in three intersecting arenas of food: Sustainable diet, valorisation of unavoidable food supply chain wastes, and circularity of food value chain systems aligning with the United Nations’ seventeen Sustainable Development Goals. In the arena of sustainable diet, comprehensive life cycle assessment using the global life cycle inventory datasets and recommended daily servings is conducted to rank food choices, covering all food groups from fresh fruits/vegetables, lentils/pulses and grains to livestock, with regard to health and the environment, to emphasise the essence of plant-based diet, especially plant-based sources of protein, for holistic systemic sustainability and stability of the earth system. In the arena of unavoidable food supply chain wastes, economically feasible and synergistically (energy and material) integrated innovative biorefinery systems are suggested to transform unavoidable food waste into functional and platform chemical productions alongside energy vectors: Fuel or combined heat and power generation. In the arena of circularity of food value chain systems, novel materials and methods for plant-based protein functionalisation for food/nutraceutical applications are investigated using regenerative bio-surfactants from unavoidable food waste. This circular economy or industrial symbiosis example thus combines the other two arenas, i.e., plant-based protein sourcing and unavoidable food waste valorisation. The multi-disciplinary analysis here will eventually impact on policies for dietary change, but also contribute knowledge needed by industry and policy makers and raise awareness amongst the population at large for making a better approach to the circular economy of food.

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“…Sadhukhan et al [77] investigated the avoidance of social impacts when transitioning from an industry based on animal protein, plant sugar, and marine salt into extracting proteins, sugar, and salt from microalgae. Their methodology follows the UNEP/SETAC guidelines, considering as social indicators: "labour rights and decent work; health and safety; human rights; governance; and community infrastructure and underneath twenty-two sub-themes" ( [77], p. 2649). These indicators go beyond the impacts on human health, addressing issues of gender and race, social conflicts, infrastructure in the local community and so on [27].…”

Section: Green Metrics and Social Indicatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio-Problematization of Green Chemistry: Enriching Systems Thinking and Social Sustainability by Education

Marcelino

Sjöström

Marques³

2019

Sustainability

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The current research on systems thinking criticizes the additive nature of green chemistry (GC) not being supportive of systems thinking to achieve holism in its practices. This paper argues that systems thinking should comprise of the social issues, and, therefore, it studies renowned papers by GC pioneers and reviews on the field regarding how they address the social dimension of sustainability. It points out how GC has ignored social sustainability in its discourses, practices, and evaluations, leading to a reductionist interpretation of sustainability. Then, this paper presents some challenges to be overcome in order to achieve balanced sustainability. A systemic chemical thinking is advocated, considering chemistry in culture and chemistry as culture, expanding the chemistry rationality from ontological and technological dimensions into the epistemological and ethical ones. It is then discussed how chemistry education can help to promote sustainability in a broad and systemic way.

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Novel macroalgae (seaweed) biorefinery systems for integrated chemical, protein, salt, nutrient and mineral extractions and environmental protection by green synthesis and life cycle sustainability assessments

Abstract: Highly efficient macroalgae based chemical factories and environmental protection have been comprehensively studied for the first time to displace fossil resources to mitigate climate change impact.

Cited by 126 publications

References 82 publications

Bioethanol Production from UK Seaweeds: Investigating Variable Pre-treatment and Enzyme Hydrolysis Parameters

Bioethanol Production from UK Seaweeds: Investigating Variable Pre-treatment and Enzyme Hydrolysis Parameters

Perspectives on “Game Changer” Global Challenges for Sustainable 21st Century: Plant-Based Diet, Unavoidable Food Waste Biorefining, and Circular Economy

Socio-Problematization of Green Chemistry: Enriching Systems Thinking and Social Sustainability by Education

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