Exploring the Prospects of Fermenting/Co-Fermenting Marine Biomass for Enhanced Bioethanol Production

Abstract

With the rising demands for renewable fuels, there is growing interest in utilizing abundant and sustainable non-edible biomass as a feedstock for bioethanol production. Macroalgal biomass contains a high content of carbohydrates in the form of special polysaccharides like alginate, agar, and carrageenan that can be converted to fermentable sugars. In addition, using seagrass as a feedstock for bioethanol production can provide a sustainable and renewable energy source while addressing environmental concerns. It is a resource-rich plant that offers several advantages for bioethanol production, including its high cellulose content, rapid growth rates, and abundance in coastal regions. To reduce sugar content and support efficient microbial fermentation, co-fermentation of macroalgae with seagrass (marine biomass) can provide complementary sugars and nutrients to improve process yields and economics. This review comprehensively covers the current status and future potential of fermenting macroalgal biomass and seagrass, as well as possible combinations for maximizing bioethanol production from non-edible energy crops. An overview is provided on the biochemical composition of macroalgae and seagrass, pretreatment methods, hydrolysis, and fermentation processes. Key technical challenges and strategies to achieve balanced co-substrate fermentation are discussed. The feasibility of consolidated bioprocessing to directly convert mixed feedstocks to ethanol is also evaluated. Based on current research, macroalgae-seagrass co-fermentation shows good potential to improve the bioethanol yields, lower the cost, and enable more optimal utilization of diverse marine biomass resources compared to individual substrates.