Developments in seaweed biorefinery research: A comprehensive review

Abstract

The seaweed biorefinery is the analog of a petroleum refinery to produce a wide variety of chemicals and fuels using the technological invention from seaweed biomass in a sustainable manner. It is expected to be a game-changer in marine bio-economy developments. During the last decade, it has emerged as one of the most focused area in seaweed research and development. This comprehensive review describes the origin of the seaweed biorefinery concept and developments to date. The various integrated biorefinery approaches are presented with the key process developed for valorizing green, red, and brown algal biomass along with the prepared bio-products. The advantages of the biorefining process, such as the value addition of biomass, environmental benefits, and sustainability of fuel from seaweed biomass, are highlighted in the present article. The role of integrated biorefinery in the growth of the marine bio-economy is also described. Further, major challenges for the commercial implementation and possible solutions are discussed. Finally, a multistage cascade bioprocessing model is proposed for fresh seaweed biomass valorization at a commercial scale.