title: Dewatering treatments to increase dry matter content of the brown seaweed, kelp (Laminaria digitata ((Hudson) JV Lamouroux)).
abstract: Macroalgal water content is an on-going problem for the use of readily accessible seaweeds in sustainable biorefining, including fuel production. Silage is a reduced-water, compactable, easily stored, transportable material. Ensiling could establish a non-seasonal supply of preserved algal biomass, but requires high initial dry matter content to mitigate environmental pollution risks from effluent. This study investigated potential dewatering methods for kelp harvested throughout the year. Treatments included air-drying, osmotic media and acids. Significant interactions between treatment and harvest-time were observed for traits of interest. Fresh weight loss during treatment was composed of changes in water and dry matter content. Air-drying gave reliable increase in final dry matter content; in summer and autumn 30% dry matter content was reached after 24h. Dilute hydrochloric acid reduced stickiness and rendered material suitable for dewatering by screw-pressing; it may be possible to use the consequent pH reduction to promote efficient preservation.
authors.affiliation: Biorefining Group, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EE, UK. Electronic address: jbg@aber.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Joe A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: Biorefining Group, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EE, UK. Electronic address: lbt@aber.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Lesley B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Biorefining Group, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EE, UK. Electronic address: jaa@aber.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jessica M M
authors.initials: JMM
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Chemical Processes, Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK. Electronic address: p.w.dyer@durham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Philip W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems, Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire TF10 8NB, UK. Electronic address: mtheodorou@harper-adams.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Theodorou
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D003890:Desiccation / Q000379:methods*; D007795:Laminaria / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons; D012820:Silage / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Biorefining-feedstock preservation; Ensiling; Macroalgae; Seasonal variation; Silage effluent production/reduction