Aquatic Biomass for the Production of Fuels and Chemicals

Abstract

This chapter highlights the potential of aquatic biomass as a source of chemicals and fuels. Aquatic biomass can be considered an interesting alternative to fossil fuels because with respect to terrestrial or residual biomass it has a higher solar energy utilisation efficiency (6–8% versus 1.5–2.2%).Aquatic biomass, i.e. micro-algae, macro-algae and plants, has a chemical composition that depends on the species and on the light, temperature, nutrients and salinity, and also biotic interactions, so it is better to use a selected cultivated strain in order to have an optimal energetic yield. In particular, the co-production of chemicals and fuels can be of great importance in order to make more positive the economic balance of growing algae for commercial purposes. Compounds of particular commercial interest include pigments, lipids and fatty acids, proteins, polysaccharides and phenolics, all of which display considerable diversity between and within taxa.