Abstract
Marine macroalgal (seaweed) polysaccharides are highly promising for next-generation applications in several industries. However, despite the reported comprehensive potential of these polysaccharides, commercial products are scarce on the market. Seaweed cultivations are increasing in number and production quantity, owing to an elevated global trend of utilization interest in seaweed. The extraction of polysaccharides from seaweed generally generates low yields, but novel methods are being developed to facilitate and improve the extraction processes. Current areas of applications for seaweed polysaccharides mainly take advantage of the physicochemical properties of certain polysaccharides, such as gelling, thickening and emulsifying. However, many of the numerous bioactivities reported are still only at research level and lack clinical evidence for commercialization. It has been suggested the construction of smaller units may generate better defined molecules that are more suitable for biomedical applications. Enzymatic modification is a promising tool for the generation of more defined, targeted biomolecules. This review covers; structural differences between the most predominant marine algal polysaccharides, extraction processes, modification alternatives, as well as a summary of current and potential next-generation application areas.
Highlights
Marine macroalgae are highly promising as biomass resources for generation biorefineries
Deniaud-Bouët et al [12] suggest that the cell wall of brown algae consists of fucose containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSPs) as a major crosslinking glycan in the cell walls, interlocking the cellulose microfibrils situated in layers parallel to the cell surface that constitute the framework of the cell
Brown macroalgae have a high content of ash, which mainly corresponds to different minerals, and have for example been reported as good sources of sodium (Na) and potassium (K), and can be used in the place of salt in food
Summary
Marine macroalgae (seaweeds) are highly promising as biomass resources for generation biorefineries. The combined potential of underexploited biomass, the prospect of vastly increased global production, novel added-value products, and the anticipated expanded product range from seaweed biomass has led to a number of European projects involving both seaweed cultivation and the development of technological platforms for fractionation, extraction and pre-processing. Continued work in this field will help to overcome current challenges in terms of limited shelf-life of the harvested material, and further developments in establishing biocatalytic refining processes will help to expand the product portfolios that today are mainly confined to purified components from the biomass [8]. Application areas of seaweeds are presented, showing both currently existing as well as novel possibilities
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