Harnessing green tide Ulva biomass for carbon dioxide sequestration

• Published in: Reviews in environmental science and biotechnology 2024-12, Vol.23 (4), p.1041-1061
• Main Authors: Park, Jihae, Lee, Hojun, De Saeger, Jonas, Depuydt, Stephen, Asselman, Jana, Janssen, Colin, Heynderickx, Philippe M., Wu, Di, Ronsse, Frederik, Tack, Filip M. G., Hiraoka, Masanori, Pandey, Lalit K., Mašek, Ondrej, Hung, Yung, Han, Taejun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biomass; Biorefineries; Blooming mills; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; Carbon dioxide fixation; Carbon sequestration; Charcoal; Climate change; Earth and Environmental Science; Economic analysis; Emissions; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Global climate; Green tides; Greenhouse gases; Literature reviews; Marine ecosystems; Microbiology; Pyrolysis; Review Paper; Seaweeds; Soil amendment; Soil quality
• ISSN: 1569-1705; 1572-9826
• DOI: 10.1007/s11157-024-09705-3

Green tides, characterised by massive blooms of the seaweed Ulva , pose a significant threat to coastal economies and marine ecosystems. This review explores the potential repurposing of harmful Ulva blooms for carbon sequestration, addressing the critical global issue of CO 2 emission. We conducted a comprehensive literature review and examined the conversion of shoreline Ulva biomass into biochar through pyrolysis, a process that can be implemented directly at biorefineries. This approach not only facilitates carbon sequestration but also mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and enhances soil quality through soil amendments. Our review covers data from 2008 to 2022, focusing on the carbon sequestration potential of Ulva during green tide episodes in China and Korea. Our assessment indicates that Ulva biomass has the potential to sequester approximately 3.85 million tons of CO 2 equivalent (CO 2 e), with about 1.93 million tons of CO 2 e potentially stabilised through biochar conversion. Furthermore, we conducted a hypothetical techno-economic analysis assessing the sustainability and economic viability of Ulva cultivation and biochar production for CO 2 sequestration. These findings suggest that the combined biomass and biochar production could be financially viable and profitable. Despite the challenges posed by green tides, our review highlights their potential role in mitigating global climate change.