4.6 Environmental Implications
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processing and reusing such solid wastes. These include reuse of adsorption of heavy
metals in waste treatment (Romero-Gonzalez et al. 2001) and the use of the laminarin
and mannitol content for bioethanol production (Horn et al. 2000). The utilization of
the solid wastes generated following the extraction of alginate further adds value to
the feedstock which the alginate producer could either use in a coproduction process
or sell to biorefineries.
4.6.8 Diversion of Resource for Alginate Production
Seaweeds for centuries have been harvested for food, especially in Asia where they
have constituted an essential part of the cuisine for centuries such as seaweed wraps,
salads and soups. Wild seaweed has high market value as direct consumption as food.
The process of converting the harvested seaweed into food requires much less capital
investment, and the cost of production is covered by the payment in service rendered,
compared to the extraction of alginate from seaweed which requires additional facilities, materials, energy and skilled labor. The justification of these additional inputs
could lie in the role alginate which plays as a food additive in improving food quality
and shelf life which contributes toward the sustainable development goal of making
more food available for more people, in cases where alginate does play such a role.
Brown seaweeds are also used as fertilizers, and therefore, the alginate industry competes with these other products for the brown algae resource. For example,
in Europe brown seaweed species such as Laminaria and Ascophyllum are used
for fertilizers, and these are the same species widely used for alginate production.
Other than alginate seaweeds also have potential in biorefinery as bioethanol for fuel
production and other uses. Although requiring much more running cost and capital
investment than for example ethanol, alginate production cost is compensated for by
the relatively higher selling price estimated at around 14–30 USD/kg (Konda et al.
2015) compared to ethanol which sells at around 2.5 USD/gal.
4.7 Applications
Global demand for alginate is estimated at 26,500 MT per year (Konda et al. 2015).
Application of alginates ranges from the use as a thickener in baked food, stabilizer
of beer foam, bandages, textiles and biomaterials for tissue repair. Today the demand
from more products to be made from naturally sourced polymer encourages the
production of polymers such as alginate.
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processing and reusing such solid wastes. These include reuse of adsorption of heavy
metals in waste treatment (Romero-Gonzalez et al. 2001) and the use of the laminarin
and mannitol content for bioethanol production (Horn et al. 2000). The utilization of
the solid wastes generated following the extraction of alginate further adds value to
the feedstock which the alginate producer could either use in a coproduction process
or sell to biorefineries.
4.6.8 Diversion of Resource for Alginate Production
Seaweeds for centuries have been harvested for food, especially in Asia where they
have constituted an essential part of the cuisine for centuries such as seaweed wraps,
salads and soups. Wild seaweed has high market value as direct consumption as food.
The process of converting the harvested seaweed into food requires much less capital
investment, and the cost of production is covered by the payment in service rendered,
compared to the extraction of alginate from seaweed which requires additional facilities, materials, energy and skilled labor. The justification of these additional inputs
could lie in the role alginate which plays as a food additive in improving food quality
and shelf life which contributes toward the sustainable development goal of making
more food available for more people, in cases where alginate does play such a role.
Brown seaweeds are also used as fertilizers, and therefore, the alginate industry competes with these other products for the brown algae resource. For example,
in Europe brown seaweed species such as Laminaria and Ascophyllum are used
for fertilizers, and these are the same species widely used for alginate production.
Other than alginate seaweeds also have potential in biorefinery as bioethanol for fuel
production and other uses. Although requiring much more running cost and capital
investment than for example ethanol, alginate production cost is compensated for by
the relatively higher selling price estimated at around 14–30 USD/kg (Konda et al.
2015) compared to ethanol which sells at around 2.5 USD/gal.
4.7 Applications
Global demand for alginate is estimated at 26,500 MT per year (Konda et al. 2015).
Application of alginates ranges from the use as a thickener in baked food, stabilizer
of beer foam, bandages, textiles and biomaterials for tissue repair. Today the demand
from more products to be made from naturally sourced polymer encourages the
production of polymers such as alginate.