[56]. The high fiber content of seaweed acts as a soil conditioner and assists moisture
retention, while the mineral content is a useful fertilizer and source of trace elements
[57]. Algal bloom collected from Sopot beach along the Baltic Sea was dried and
ground to a powder. Stages of algal degradation were studied, and growth tests were
carried out with the algal powder and were successful as a biofertilizer [58]. Inoculation studies of Undaria pinnatifida (wakame) seaweed collected from Amagasaki
Port of Japan with alginate-degrading bacteria Gracilibacillus sp. not only shortened
the length of composting but also created seaweed compost with good fertilizer
qualities [59]. The kelp Laminaria digitata obtained from the intertidal zone of the
beach at East Haven Scotland was chopped and applied to the soil. The study of
90 days proved that on the addition of the algal biomass to the soil increased the
aggregate stability and the pore volume of the soil [60]. Posidonia oceanica collected from Apulia Region, Italy, when mixed with residues of olive pruning and
green wastes provided high-quality composts showing high organic content, low
heavy metals content, and no phytotoxicity which suggest safe utilization of
eutrophied algae as soil fertilizer in agriculture [61]. Seaweeds Melanothamnus
afaqhusainii, Spatoglossum variabile, and Halimeda tuna from Buleji Beach,
India, when applied as a pesticide showed suppressive effect on root pathogens of
tomato and sunflower by reducing fungal root infection and nematode’s galls on
roots and nematode’s penetration in roots [62].
3 Summary
Eutrophied algal blooms cause secondary pollution problems and incur huge amount
of money in their removal from their aquatic ecosystem and in proper waste disposal.
Algae are valuable resources which have many useful applications apart from it
being the best carbon sequestrant, and it is being wasted off in algal blooms.
Moreover they do not have the disadvantages of other biomass counterparts of
utilizing land or water which makes it an attractive alternative. This review highlights the possibility of algal bloom valorization to produce biochar, biooil, biogas,
biofertilizer, and bioethanol and as an adsorbent which have huge market value.
Biogas and biochar processes are the simplest valorization techniques compared to
others because of its relatively low number of processing steps. Energy industries
especially biofuels need to consider such options which can make their process
viable, sustainable, and economical.
References
1. Valiela I, McClelland J, Hauxwell J, Behr PJ, Hersh D, Foreman K (1997) Macroalgal blooms
in shallow estuaries: controls and ecophysiological and ecosystem consequences. Limnol
Oceanogr 42:1105–1118
134
A. Annam Renita and P. Senthil Kumar
retention, while the mineral content is a useful fertilizer and source of trace elements
[57]. Algal bloom collected from Sopot beach along the Baltic Sea was dried and
ground to a powder. Stages of algal degradation were studied, and growth tests were
carried out with the algal powder and were successful as a biofertilizer [58]. Inoculation studies of Undaria pinnatifida (wakame) seaweed collected from Amagasaki
Port of Japan with alginate-degrading bacteria Gracilibacillus sp. not only shortened
the length of composting but also created seaweed compost with good fertilizer
qualities [59]. The kelp Laminaria digitata obtained from the intertidal zone of the
beach at East Haven Scotland was chopped and applied to the soil. The study of
90 days proved that on the addition of the algal biomass to the soil increased the
aggregate stability and the pore volume of the soil [60]. Posidonia oceanica collected from Apulia Region, Italy, when mixed with residues of olive pruning and
green wastes provided high-quality composts showing high organic content, low
heavy metals content, and no phytotoxicity which suggest safe utilization of
eutrophied algae as soil fertilizer in agriculture [61]. Seaweeds Melanothamnus
afaqhusainii, Spatoglossum variabile, and Halimeda tuna from Buleji Beach,
India, when applied as a pesticide showed suppressive effect on root pathogens of
tomato and sunflower by reducing fungal root infection and nematode’s galls on
roots and nematode’s penetration in roots [62].
3 Summary
Eutrophied algal blooms cause secondary pollution problems and incur huge amount
of money in their removal from their aquatic ecosystem and in proper waste disposal.
Algae are valuable resources which have many useful applications apart from it
being the best carbon sequestrant, and it is being wasted off in algal blooms.
Moreover they do not have the disadvantages of other biomass counterparts of
utilizing land or water which makes it an attractive alternative. This review highlights the possibility of algal bloom valorization to produce biochar, biooil, biogas,
biofertilizer, and bioethanol and as an adsorbent which have huge market value.
Biogas and biochar processes are the simplest valorization techniques compared to
others because of its relatively low number of processing steps. Energy industries
especially biofuels need to consider such options which can make their process
viable, sustainable, and economical.
References
1. Valiela I, McClelland J, Hauxwell J, Behr PJ, Hersh D, Foreman K (1997) Macroalgal blooms
in shallow estuaries: controls and ecophysiological and ecosystem consequences. Limnol
Oceanogr 42:1105–1118
134
A. Annam Renita and P. Senthil Kumar