Algae as food and food supplements in Europe

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Kelp mariculture in Spain, a promising source for biofuel (ethanol) production and other valuable products

Bioethanol is the most widely used biofuel for transportation. Kelps (i.e. large brown algae) contain 50–60% carbohydrates of the dry weight, which represent a potential sugar source for microbial conversion into bioethanol. Scientific and technological advances on ethanol production from kelps have been extensively developed over the years, more particularly with regard to the hydrolysis and fermentation of complex carbohydrate such as alginate. Currently, kelp biomass has been proved as a suitable feedstock for bioethanol production and it has begun to go into industrial application. In addition, these macroalgae are already intended for direct human consumption and used as raw material for the alginate industry, animal feed and fertilizers. All these uses and applications are expected to be integrated into kelp biorefineries and supplied by marine farming. Besides its economic value, kelp mariculture would provide significant environmental benefits such as carbon and nitrogen sequestration, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and nutrient loads from the fish farming in coastal waters. Consequently, in the Spanish Atlantic coast, kelp mariculture may be in the near future an alternative, renewable, sustainable and environmentally friendly source for bioethanol production and many other valuable products. Herein, we describe the current progress in kelp mariculture at the commercial scale based on experiences in the Atlantic coasts of Spain. The up-to-date progress in converting kelp biomass into bioethanol is also reviewed. Finally, we provide a description of the process where kelp production (mariculture), its processing and uses (biorefinery) are merged

Alien macroalgae in northern Spanish Atlantic coast

Se presenta un listado de macroalgas alóctonas que incluye únicamente especies reconocidas como introducidas en las costas atlánticas europeas y cuya presencia en la demarcación Norátlantica de la costa española ha sido documentada en diferentes publicaciones. También, se enumeran algunas macroalgas alóctonas de la costa atlántica europea cuya presencia en nuestras costas es cuestiona ó dudosa. Un total de 30 macroalgas son citadas como especies alóctonas en estas aguas, de la cuales 22 pertenecen al phylum Rhodophyta (Pyropia suborbiculata, Pyropia leucosticta, Gracilaria vermiculophylla, Asparagopsis armata, Bonnemaisonia hamifera, Grateloupia subpectinata, Grateloupia turuturu, Lomentaria hakodatensis, Chrysymenia wrightii, Anotrichium furcellatum, Antithamnion amphigeneum, Antithamnion densum, Antithamnion hubbsii, Antithamnionella spirographidis, Antithamnionella ternifolia, Callithamniella flexilis, Scageliopsis patens, Heterosiphonia japonica, Dasya sessilis, Neosiphonia harveyi, Polysiphonia morrowii y Agardhiella subulata); 5 a Heterokontophyta (Colpomenia peregrina, Colpomenia sinuosa, Scytosiphon dotyi, Sargassum muticum, Undaria pinnatifida) y 3 a Chlrophyta (Ulva australis, Umbraulva olivascens, y Codium fragile subsp. fragile). Además, se presenta un listado de 5 especies (Pyropia koreana, Caulacanthus okamurae, Solieria chordalis, Dasya baillouviana y Centroceras clavulatum) cuya presencia en la demarcación Norátlantica de las costas españolas es actualmente dudosa y es necesario confirmar en futuros estudios

Antimicrobial potential of Ericaria selaginoides extracts against Listeria monocytogenes in “mató”, a Catalan fresh cheese

The objective of this work was to assess the antimicrobial effect of crude extracts and non-polar and mid-polar subfractions of the brown macroalga Ericaria selaginoides, using a mid-polarity extraction medium. The activity was evaluated through challenge testing against Listeria monocytogenes in Catalan “mató” (fresh cheese) selected as a food matrix. Three concentrations were tested, representing 2 ×, 4 × and 10 × Minimum Bactericidal Concentration values obtained for crude extract in previous in vitro assays. Ericaria selaginoides extracts inhibited L. monocytogenes growth in a dose-dependent manner. Intermediate concentrations of the three extracts were able to notably reduce the growth rate of the pathogen. Highest concentration of crude extract and non-polar subfraction were able to completely inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes during the 10 days of storage at 8 °C. Moreover, a slight listericidal effect was observed in presence of the non-polar subfraction, reducing the L. monocytogenes level by ca. 3 log after 10 days of refrigerated storage. These results prove the potential of E. selaginoides extracts as a source of valuable antimicrobial compounds that can be used as natural food ingredients to develop safer fresh dairy food.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diversity of bladed bangiales (Rhodophyta) in Western Mediterranean: Recognition of the genus Themis and descriptions of T. ballesterosii sp. nov., T. iberica sp. nov. and Pyropia parva sp. nov.

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