A Fully Integrated Biorefinery Process for the Valorization of Ulva fasciata into Different Green and Sustainable Value-Added Products

Nour Sh. El-Gendy (), Hussein N. Nassar, Abdallah R. Ismail, Hager R. Ali, Basma Ahmed Ali, Khaled M. Abdelsalam and Manal Mubarak
Additional contact information
Nour Sh. El-Gendy: Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI), Nasr City, Cairo P.O. Box 11727, Egypt
Hussein N. Nassar: Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI), Nasr City, Cairo P.O. Box 11727, Egypt
Abdallah R. Ismail: Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI), Nasr City, Cairo P.O. Box 11727, Egypt
Hager R. Ali: Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI), Nasr City, Cairo P.O. Box 11727, Egypt
Basma Ahmed Ali: General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), Cairo P.O. Box 11522, Egypt
Khaled M. Abdelsalam: Marine Environment Division, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries NIOF, Alexandria P.O. Box 21519, Egypt
Manal Mubarak: Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shamas Unversity, Cairo P.O. Box 11241, Egypt

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-31

Abstract: In the framework of a sustainable marine bioeconomy, the present work describes an advanced, eco-friendly, fully integrated biorefinery process for marine Ulva fasciata macroalgae. That would serve as a solution for ecosystem bioremediation, an effective utilization of marine macroalgal resources, and a new initiative to promote a green and low-carbon economy. Ulva fasciata biomass can be utilized as an organic fertilizer with total N, P 2 O 5 , and K 2 O contents of 3.17% and a C/N ratio of 11.71. It can also be used as a solid biofuel with a sufficient calorific value of 15.19 MJ/kg. It has high carbohydrate content and low lignin content of approximately 44.85% and 1.5%, respectively, which recommend its applicability in bioethanol and biobutanol production. Its protein, fiber, lipid, and ash contents of approximately 13.13%, 9.9%, 3.27%, and 21%, respectively with relatively high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) and omega-9 fatty acids (n-9 MUFAs) and relatively low omega-6 fatty acids (n-6 PUFAs) and a n-6/n-3 ratio of 0.13 also recommend its applicability as food additives and animal feeders. Moreover, the suggested sequential zero-waste biomass residue process yielded 34.89% mineral-rich water extract (MRWE), 2.61% chlorophyll a,b , 0.41% carotenoids, 12.55% starch, 3.27% lipids, 22.24% ulvan, 13.37% proteins, and 10.66% cellulose of Ulva fasciata dry weight. The efficient biocidal activity of extracted ulvan against pathogenic microorganisms and sulfate-reducing bacteria recommends its application for medical purposes, water densification, and mitigation of microbially induced corrosion in the oil and gas industry.

Keywords: Ulva fasciata; valorization; biorefinery; blue economy; value-added products; biopolymers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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