• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.357-364
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• 2018

Studies on the production of biogas from third generation biomass, such as micro- and macroalgae, have been conducted through experiments of various scales. In this paper, we investigated the feasibility of commercialization of integrated combined heat and power (CHP) production using biogas derived from macroalgae, i.e., seaweed biomass. For this purpose, an integrated CHP plant of industrial scale, consisting of solid oxide fuel cells, gas turbine and organic Rankine cycle, was designed and simulated using a commercial process simulator. The cost of each equipment in the plant was estimated through the calculated heat and mass balances from simulation and then the techno-economic analysis was performed. The designed integrated CHP process produces 68.4 MW of power using $36ton\;h^{-1}$ of biogas from $62.5ton\;h^{-1}$ (dry basis) of brown algae. Based on these results, various scenarios were evaluated economically and the levelized electricity cost (LEC) was calculated. When the lifetime of SOFC is 5 years and its stack price is $$225kW^{-1}$, the LEC was 12.26 ¢ $kWh^{-1}$, which is comparable to the conventional fixed power generation.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.56-67
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• 2023

Marine macroalgae are important in coastal ecosystems and interact with marine microorganisms. In this study, we isolated fungi from seven types of marine macroalgae including Cladophora sp., Gloiopeltis furcate, Gracilariopsis chorda, Hydroclathrus clathratus, Prionitis crispata, Sargassum micracanthum, and Ulva lactuca collected in Korea. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses identified the isolates as four Aspergillus spp. (A. fumigatus, A. sydowii, A. tamarii, and A. terreus), three Penicillium spp. (P. crustosum, P. jejuense, and P. rubens), and Cladosporium tenuissimum. Among them, A. fumigatus TOP-U2, A. tamarii SH-Sw5, and A. terreus GJ-Gf2 strains showed the activities of all enzymes examined (amylase, chitinase, lipase, and protease). Based on the enzymatic index (EI) values in solid media, A. terreus GJ-Gf2 and C. tenuissimum UL-Pr1 exhibited the highest amylase and lipase activities, respectively. Chitinolytic activity was only observed in A. terreus GJ-Gf2, A. tamarii SH-Sw5, and A. fumigatus TOP-U2. Penicillium crustosum UL-Cl2 and C. tenuissimum UL-Pr1 showed the highest protease activities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of lipolytic and proteolytic activities in a marine-derived C. tenuissimum strain. Overall, the fungal strains isolated from the marine macroalgae in this study actively produced industrially important enzymes.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.109-125
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• 2018

Turkish towel (Chondracanthus exasperatus), Pacific dulse (Palmaria mollis, also known as Red ribbon seaweed), and sea lettuce (Ulva spp.) were cultivated in a land-based intensive culture system at the Manchester Research Station, USA from August 2013 to September 2014. Macroalgae were grown in tumble-aerated tanks, harvested bimonthly for seasonal growth calculations, and analyzed for protein, lipid, ash, and amino acid content. Growth rate of all three species exhibited a similar pattern, with the highest specific growth rates occurring during the summer months (Turkish towel: 7.8%, Pacific dulse: 8.2%, and sea lettuce: 6.2%). Growth of all three species was lowest around winter solstice; with negative growth only observed in sea lettuce. On a dry weight basis significant differences in protein content existed between the three species with highest values for sea lettuce ($29.5{\pm}1.4%$). Lipid content varied between species (0.95-2.78%) with significantly higher lipid observed in sea lettuce (0.58-4.82%). No significant differences were detected on a seasonal basis among each species. Essential amino acids accounted for $43{\pm}0.9$ to $47{\pm}1.2%$ of total amino acids with Turkish towel having the highest value. Turkish towel had a significantly higher taurine level ($0.82{\pm}0.27$) than the other macroalgae. The levels of persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals were low. The estimated annual product of the three species ranged from 50- to $70-mt\;dry\;weight\;ha^{-1}\;y^{-1}$, significantly higher than conventional crops. Land-based culture of these species can produce year-round harvest, consistent product quality, and low contaminant levels.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.2_2
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• pp.293-307
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• 2020

Every year, the floating macroalgae, green and golden tide, are massively detected at the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. After influx of them to the aquaculture facility or beach, it occurs enormous economic losses to remove them. Currently, remote sensing is used effectively to detect the floating macroalgae flowed into the coast. But it has difficulties to detect the floating macroalgae exactly because of the wavelength overlapped with other targets in the ocean. Also, it is difficult to distinguish between green and golden tide because they have similar spectral characteristics. Therefore, we tried to distinguish between green and golden tide applying the Deep learning method to the satellite images. To determine the network, the optimal training conditions were searched to train the AlexNet. Also, Gaofen-1 WFV images were used as a dataset to train and validate the network. Under these conditions, the network was determined after training, and used to confirm the test data. As a result, the accuracy of test data is 88.89%, and it can be possible to distinguish between green and golden tide with precision of 66.67% and 100%, respectively. It is interpreted that the AlexNet can be pick up on the subtle differences between green and golden tide. Through this study, it is expected that the green and golden tide can be effectively classified from various objects in the ocean and distinguished each other.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.594-598
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• 2012

In the present study, biogas was produced from the anaerobic digestion of marine macroalgae (Laminaria japonica) biomass. The optimal anaerobic condition for producing the sludge was the freeze treatment at $-70^{\circ}C$ for 20 min. Total amounts of hydrogen and methane gas produced were 667.28 mL/L and 3420.24 mL/L, respectively, which were 2.7 and 3.4 times greater than that in the control group. Freeze treatment of sludge produced the maximum biogas under an initial optimum pH of 7.0 and the maximum biomass at an initial optimum pH of 8.0. We confirmed that biogas production was greatly reduced under acidic conditions compared to that under alkaline conditions. Sludge was freeze treated, and the biomass and sludge production was optimal the total amounts of hydrogen and methane gas produced were 643.73 mL/L and 4291.6 mL/L, respectively, which were 2.6 and 4.3 times greater than in the control group. Also the results showed that under optimal conditions in a 5-L bioreactor, a maximum of 1605.03 mL/L of hydrogen and 4593.71 mL/L of methane gas could be produced by the substrate contained in the marine macroalgae biomass.

• ALGAE
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2003

In order to examine the effects of deep seawater (mesopelagic water in the broad sense) on the growth of macroalgae, the growth and nutrient uptake (nitrate and phosphate) of Ulva sp. (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta) were investigated by cultivation in deep seawater (taken from 687 m depth at Yaizu, central Japan, in August 2001), surface seawater (taken from 24 m depth), and a combination of the two. Culture experiments were carried out in a continuous water supply system and an intermittent water supply system, in which aerated 500-mL flasks with 4 discs of Ulva sp. (cut sections of ca. 2 $cm_2$) were cultured at 20$^{\circ}C$ water temperature, 100 $\mu$mol photons $m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ light intensity, and a 14:10 light:dark cycle. Nutrient uptake by Ulva sp. was high in all seawater media in both culture systems. The frond area, dry weight, chlorophyll a content, dry weight per unit area, and chlorophyll a content per unit area of Ulva sp. at the end of the experimental period were the highest in deep seawater and the lowest in surface seawater in both culture systems. These values, except for dry weight per unit area and chlorophyll a content per unit area, for each seawater media in the intermittent water supply system were higher than those in the continuous water supply system. We conclude that not only deep seawater as the culture medium but also the seawater supply system is important for effective cultivation of macroalgae.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.269-281
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• 2012

Marado is a small rocky island located off the south coast of Jeju Island and acts as the first gateway of the Kuroshio Current to Korean coastal ecosystems. This island is one of the most unpolluted and well preserved sea areas around the Jeju coast. We extensively observed macroalgal assemblages of species and functional forms in the intertidal and subtidal zones through four seasons on Marado, Jeju Island, Korea to demonstrate the seasonality of vertical distribution patterns and biomass. A total of 144 species (14 Chlorophyta, 40 Phaeophyta, and 90 Rhodophyta) were identified in quadrats and were analyzed seasonally and vertically to define the variation patterns. The annual mean biomass of macroalgae was $2,932.3g\;wet\;wt\;m^{-2}$ and the highest value was recorded in spring and the lowest was in winter. The annual dominant species by biomass was Ecklonia cava followed by Sargassum fusiforme, S. macrocarpum, Amphiroa galapagensis, Chondria crassicaulis, and S. thunbergii. Obvious biomass zonation patterns of macroalgal species were detected in relation to tidal height and depth. Macroalgal biomass, diversity index (H'), and community dynamics were the highest in the shallow subtidal zone. Species number was higher in the subtidal than in the intertidal zone and similar throughout the entire subtidal zone. Our results provide revealing insights into the distribution patterns of macroalgal assemblages in an unpolluted sea area around Jeju Island.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.819-826
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• 2004

In order to elucidate the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentration and its origin in arctic area, four arctic brown algae (Laminaria saccharina, L. digita, Alaria esculenta, Desmarestia aculeata), one marine invertebrate (Echinoidea) and sediments were collected from Kongsfjorden in Spitsbergen from the late July to early August, 2003. In case of macroalgae, the young blade part above growth point and the old stipes and blades beneath growth point were separated and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an attempt to check the mechanism of uptake in macroalgae to accumulate PAH. There was no difference in PAH concentrations between sampling sites (Stations B and C), species, and blades beneath and above growth point. PAH concentrations in all samples collected in this study were relatively higher than those reported in other areas of arctic. Especially, station C, which is known as an unpolluted area, showed 10 times higher PAH concentration (8,765 ng/g) in sediment than station A (694 ng/g) around harbor. In addition high PAH concentration, station C had very higher proportion of methylated PAH to parent PAH in sediment than station A. Source analysis using PAH isomer pair ratios as indicators showed that Kongsfjorden area seemed to be relatively contaminated with PAH derived from direct petroleum input.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1083-1092
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• 2010

The spatial variability in the food chain structure of an estuary environment (Nanakita estuary, Japan) was investigated using fatty acid. Potential organic matter sources (terrestiral plants, macroalgae, benthic microalgae, dinflagellates and bacteria), sedimentary organic matters and benthic invertebrates (Nuttallia olivacea and Nereidae) were sampled in four locations with different tidal flat type. The main objective of the present study was to determine the origin of sediment and the food sources of N. olivacea and Nereidae along with small-scale spatial variability. The origin of sedimentary organic matters were mainly the fatty acid of bacteria and benthic microalgae. Especially, The organic matter of terrestrial plant origin was found the highest in station C. The diets of N. olivacea and Nereidae were found to be dominated by diatoms and terrestrial plants. Whereas, macroalgae and dinoflagellates showed little influence to benthic invertebrates. Moreover, according to principal component analysis, it is showed that benthic invertebrates in the same region are using the same food without relation with species. On the other hand, the N. olivacea and Nereidae of station D clearly contrasts with station B in terms of main food sources. From these results, it is suggested that food competition of benthic invertebrates revealed high a connection between small-scale spatial variability and food source in estuary.

• ALGAE
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.333-342
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• 2011

Macroalgae are important primary producers in marine ecosystem. They don't only play an important role as bioindicators but also provide economic resources for humans. Seasonal and vertical variations in seaweed species composition and biomass were examined to determine the ecological status of seaweed beds around Udo, near Jeju Island. We obtained samples at two sites in the high-intertidal to subtidal zones using the quadrat method between June 2010 and May 2011. A total of 262 species were collected, including 31 green, 61 brown, and 170 red algae. The composition of algal species revealed a decrease in species growing in cold water in comparison with the list 20 years ago. The macroalgal mean biomass (g wet wt $m^{-2}$) was 3,476 g and 2,393 g from the two sites, respectively. Ecklonia cava had the greatest biomass at both sites. The seasonal dominant species by biomass at site 1 from the low-intertidal to 1-3 m depth of the subtidal zone was mostly comprised of thick-leathery form, such as Sargassum hemiphyllum, S. coreanum, and Ecklonia cava, whereas site 2 was comprised of the turf form, such as Chondrophycus intermedius, Chondracanthus intermedius, Dictyopteris prolifera, and Gelidium elegans. The current ecological status of the seaweed community in Udo is stable based on diversity and dominance indices.