Biofuel production from marine macroalgae: Pathways, technologies, and sustainable energy solutions
R.V. Hemavathy, Y P Ragini, S. Shruthi, S. Siva Ranjani, S. Subhashini, P. Thamarai
Abstract
The increasing global energy demand, along with growing environmental concerns, has accelerated the search for renewable energy sources. Marine macroalgae, also known as seaweeds, have gained significant attention for their potential to address these challenges due to their rapid growth, high carbohydrate content, and absence of lignin, which simplifies biofuel production. This review hypothesizes that marine macroalgae offer a more sustainable and economically viable alternative to conventional biofuel sources due to their unique biochemical properties and ecological benefits. The objective of this review is to assess the potential of seaweed-based biofuels, focusing on their role in energy conservation, climate change mitigation, and environmental sustainability. The study highlights macroalgae's carbohydrates and lipids, essential for biodiesel and bioethanol production. A comprehensive analysis of macroalgae cultivation techniques and biorefinery processes is presented, exploring whether optimized processing methods can enhance biofuel yields while minimizing environmental impacts. Additionally, the paper now incorporates life cycle assessment (LCA) and meta-analysis approaches to evaluate the environmental and economic feasibility of macroalgae-based biofuels. Methods for processing macroalgae biomass are discussed. Additionally, the paper reviews the ecological benefits of macroalgae cultivation, such as carbon sequestration (CS), which helps reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promotes marine conservation. The transition to sustainable energy solutions is facilitated by the insights it provides into agriculture and processing techniques. • Marine macroalgae serve as a valuable resource for biofuel production. • Different cultivation methods of seaweeds are discussed. • The absence of lignin in seaweed makes biofuel production more cost-effective. • Biofuel from seaweed helps combat climate change and promotes renewable energy. • The study focuses on the techno-economic analysis of biofuel production.