Algae & Protoplast

Marine biomass is not only used on for macroalgae open-sea cultivation, but also for pests in lagoons (e.g. studies carried out in the Baltic Sea and Orbetello Lagoon, Italy). Moreover, many authors suggest that the best approach for bio-methane production from macro-algae is mixing of algal biomass with other biomass inputs, for example gas production arising from digestion of the residues of the hydrocolloid extraction.

This way the co-production of methane with other products lower the production costs and make bio-methane production profitable. Recent developments in seaweed cultivation have seen the growth of algae in land-based artificial ponds where seawater is pumped. Here seaweed can grow detached and at very high densities and so it is necessary to study the growth of these seaweeds and the development of these special strains, preferably with high growth rates adapted to the artificial conditions.

Production figures for brown algae have been reported in the range of 3.3 – 11.3 Kg dry weight/m2yr for non-cultured strains, and up to 13.1 Kg dry weight/m2 over 7 months for cultured brown algae. This is compared with 6.1 – 9.5 Kg fresh weight/m2yr for sugar cane, a very productive land plant. Moreover, the absence of lignin and a low content of cellulose make brown and green algae easily convertible in biological processes compared to land plants.

The list of species capable of regenerating into complete plants from protoplast is steadily increasing. Several studies have attempted to diversify the application of protoplasts for as many applications as possible.

Regarding the project BioWALK4Biofuels, prolonged culture of protoplasts in defined conditions forms a green mat at the bottom of the culture plate.  After growing for in land-based culture (preferably a nursery with enriched seawater medium)  the culture can be transplanted in the open sea or an outdoor culture ponds. To address limitations found in the production of 2nd generation biofuels from biowaste or macroalgae, a hybrid can complement both and solve the negative aspects. For this reason, the focus of the project is the management of biowaste, with the approach to represent macroalgae as an agent to treat both biowaste and industry’s emissions, while simultaneously producing biofuels. In the last few years a series of developments have been attained in the cultivation of algae, protoplasts incubation, production of biogas and research on the use of biowaste and CO2 to increase productivity of algae.

The present project creates a synergy between the advancements accomplished, bringing together a series of complementary capacities that deliver an innovative 2nd generation biofuel.