title: Cascade approach of red macroalgae Gracilaria gracilis sustainable valorization by extraction of phycobiliproteins and pyrolysis of residue.
abstract: Phycobiliproteins extraction (primary refining) from Gracilaria gracilis seaweed, harvested in Lesina Lagoon (Italy) and further valorization of the residual algal via pyrolysis (secondary refining), were investigated with a cascade biorefinery approach. R-phycoerythrin (7 mg/g d.w.), allophycocyanin (3.5 mg/g d.w.) and phycocyanin (2 mg/g d.w.) were the main phycobiliproteins extracted. Pyrolysis of G.gracilis residue followed, aiming to investigate the production of bio-oil and biochar within a pyrolysis temperature range of 400-600 °C. Results showed that the bio-oil yield is high (∼65 wt%) at pyrolysis temperature ∼500 °C, but its high content in nitrogenous compounds prevents its use as a biofuel, unless some further de-nitrogenation takes place. Biochar yield ranged between 33 wt% (400 °C) and 26.5 wt% (600 °C). Interestingly, inorganic nutrients including P, K, Ca, Fe and Mg were detected in biochar, suggesting its potential use as recovering system of natural mineral resources from the oceanic reservoir.
authors.affiliation: STAR∗AgroEnergy Research Group, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy; National Research Council, Institute of Marine Science, Lesina, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Francavilla
authors.affiliation: Biomass Group, Dept of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manara
authors.affiliation: Biomass Group, Dept of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamaterou
authors.affiliation: STAR∗AgroEnergy Research Group, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monteleone
authors.affiliation: STAR∗AgroEnergy Research Group, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy; Biomass Group, Dept of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: azampani@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zabaniotou
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002606:Charcoal / Q000378:metabolism; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D044724:Gracilaria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009821:Oils / Q000378:metabolism; D052979:Phycobiliproteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D009821:Oils; D052979:Phycobiliproteins; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal
keywords: Gracilaria gracilis; Macroalgae; Phycobiliproteins; Pyrolysis; Red seaweed