Feasibility study of Ulva sp. (Chlorophyta) intensive cultivation in a coastal area of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Increasing biomass production yields is a critical challenge for macroalgae biorefineries. The continuous tumbling and mixing of free‐floating algae through water or airflow has been shown to increase the productivity of algae in land‐based cultivation systems. This approach has not been tested thoroughly in offshore cultivation. We report, here, a field feasibility study on the increase in green macroalga Ulva sp. growth rates in offshore cages, achieved by the combined effect of tumbling and mixing of the algae using influxes of water and air. The experimental system was tested in a shallow coastal area in central Israel, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. A maximum daily growth rate of 19.2%, areal productivity of 33.72 g dry weight (DW) day−1 m−2, and volumetric yields of 37.78 g DW day−1 m−3, together with 38.47 ± 0.01% ash and 5.28% protein content on a dry matter basis were achieved in the cages with intensified cultivation in the first week of May 2017. Our study shows that cultivation with tumbling and mixing of biomass with air, and water exchange with the environment is a feasible method to increase Ulva sp. biomass productivity offshore. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

High-Voltage Pulsed Electric Field Preprocessing Enhances Extraction of Starch, Proteins, and Ash from Marine Macroalgae Ulva ohnoi

“…The ash content in Ulva sp. can vary between 11 and 57% of DM . The ash content in the present biomass was slightly less than the values reported for laboratory grown Ulva sp., which showed 36.02% .…”

“…can vary between 11 and 57% of DM. 42 The ash content in the present biomass was slightly less than the values reported for laboratory grown Ulva sp., which showed 36.02%. 43 The protein in Ulva is required to maintain the nitrogen balance inside the cells.…”

Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Ulva lactuca

“…Macroalgae (seaweeds), are macroscopic algae with high growth rate that can be cultivated with minimal use of freshwater at infrastructures installed on non-arable land. However, their cultivation cost is considerably lower compared to microalgae [1]. Macroalgae have great potential for several industrial applications [2] and therefore the interest in algal biotechnology has been increasing in the past few decades, particularly, on the exploitation of various macroalgae species for the production of a vast variety of products in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry.…”

A Retrospective Review of Global Commercial Seaweed Production—Current Challenges, Biosecurity and Mitigation Measures and Prospects

“…The maximum daily growth rate of Ulva sp. was reported at 19.2% using offshore cages with constant tumbling and mixing of biomass with air and water exchange [ 136 ].…”