Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of EPA and DHA Production from Microalgae and Farmed Fish

Sarat Chandra Togarcheti,Ramesh Babu Padamati

doi:10.3390/cleantechnol3040042

Sarat Chandra Togarcheti, Ramesh Babu Padamati

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol3040042

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Abstract

The present study aims at comparing the life cycle environmental impacts of polyunsaturated fatty acids production (PUFA) from microalgae and farmed fish. PUFA production from microalgae cultivated via heterotrophy and photoautotrophy was assessed and compared. The primary energy demand (PED) and environmental impacts (EI) of PUFA production from microalgae via heterotrophy were significantly lower compared to PUFA produced via photoautotrophy. Furthermore, PED and EI of PUFA production from fish farmed in marine net pens were assessed. The results indicated that the PED and EI of PUFA production from farmed fish are higher than that produced from microalgae cultivated via heterotrophy. Therefore, the results suggest that PUFA produced from microalgae via heterotrophy could substitute fish oil from an environmental perspective. Furthermore, life cycle analysis results indicate that PUFA derived from microalgae could potentially replace fish oil in the fish feed, thus reducing the pressure on oceans.

Highlights

The results indicated that the primary energy demand (PED) and environmental impacts (EI) of PUFA production from farmed fish are higher than that produced from microalgae cultivated via heterotrophy
The primary energy demand of omega-3 fatty acid production from microalgae via photoautotrophic and heterotrophic cultivation modes are presented in Figure 2a,b, respectively
In the case of photoautotrophy, the cultivation accounts for about 76.30% of the overall PED, while, in the case of heterotrophy, it contributes to 71.17% of the overall PED of the process

Summary

Introduction

2021, 3, Polyunsaturated fatty acids such as Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C20:6) are essential fatty acids and are not produced sufficiently in the human body. For the general well-being of humans, they must be supplemented. Due to the increased attention to health and well-being, the demand for EPA and DHA has increased. The market for EPA+DHA supplements is about. USD 57.07 billion, and the predicted increase rate is 6% per annum [1].

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