Chapter 22 - Perspective of algae materials 2.0

Abstract

Algae are nonflowering aquatic organisms that can be used to produce several admired metabolites to supply industries such as pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, etc. Those metabolites have nutritional welfare for animal and human health. Algae are classified into two types: microalgae (unicellular) and macroalgae (multicellular). Algae are economically very useful in agriculture, pharmaceutical, industries, and human consumption, as feed for animals, source of minerals, and used as manure. Algae-based materials can exist in algal polymers, blends, and composites of algal biomass or biomolecules with other polymeric materials. Algal biomolecules play an essential role in synthesizing biomaterials such as biodiesel, bioethanol, biobutanol, green diesel, methane, biogas, bioplastics jet fuel, and hydrogen gases with unique properties. Microalgae produce algae bioplastics. Some of the compounds from algae biomass, such as starch, cellulose, polyvinyl chloride, and protein-based polymers, are used to develop biodegradable plastics to protect the environment. Algae materials are used as a biofertilizer and soil stabilizer in the agricultural field. It is also used in energy sources, protection of environmental pollution, wastewater treatment, and pharmaceutical industries. Most important algal polymers include sulfated polysaccharides and polysaccharides such as carrageenan, agar, alginates, and polyhydroxyalkanoates. The algal polymers are used in food industries because of their viscosifying and gelling abilities. They are also used in the medicinal field owing to their biological and pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anticoagulation, antiviral, antitumor, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities.