Seasonal characterization and quantification of biomolecules from sargassum collected from Mexican Caribbean coast – A preliminary study as a step forward to blue economy

Abstract

Since 2014, Mexican Caribbean coasts have experienced an atypical massive arrival of pelagic Sargassum accumulated on the shores triggers economic losses, public health problems, and ecosystem damaging near the coastline. Mechanical harvesting has been implemented ending in landfills. Since Sargassum algae represent abundant biomass in tropical regions of the world, it has shown potential as a feedstock to supply bioprocesses focused on obtaining high-value compounds and bioproducts. Nevertheless, there is a lack of data on the biochemical composition of Sargassum biomass from Mexican Caribbean coasts to propose valorization pathways. This study conducted a biochemical and elemental characterization of Sargassum biomass and compared, through statistical analysis, the effect of the season (dry and wet), place of collection (from the beach and shallow water), and method of extraction (Microwave-Assisted Extraction and Enzyme Assisted Extraction) on biomass composition. The biomass composition, expressed in dry weight basis, revealed 5–7% moisture content, 24–31 % ash, 2.6–3.8 % lipids, 1.8–7.0 %, total carbohydrates, 3–11 % total proteins, 1.5–2.31 mgGAg−1 total phenolic compounds (TPC), 2.7–2.9 kcal g−1 calorific power, and metals such as As (30–146.3 ppm), Fe (16.5–45 ppm), P (197–472 ppm). The most influential factor on the compositional content of Sargassum biomass was the season of the year, followed by the extraction method and the place of collection of Sargassum. These results will elucidate information on the biotechnological potential of Sargassum biomass from the Mexican Caribbean, contributing to sustainability challenges of the region, minimizing waste, and making the most of resources.