From green to blue economy: Marine biorefineries for a sustainable ocean-based economy

Author(s)

Verissimo, Nathalia Vieira ^[1] ; Mussagy, Cassamo Ussemane ^[1] ; Oshiro, Ariane Alves ^[2] ; Nobrega Mendonca, Carlos Miguel ^[1] ; Santos-Ebinuma, Valeria de Carvalho ^[2] ; Pessoa Junior, Adalberto ^[1] ; de Souza Oliveira, Ricardo Pinheiro ^[1] ; Brandao Pereira, Jorge Fernando ^{[2, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo Univ USP, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Av Prof Linen Prestes 580, B16, Cidade Univ, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Engn Bioproc & Biotechnol, Rodovia Araraquara Jau Km 01, BR-14800903 Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Coimbra, Dept Chem Engn, CIEPQPF, Rua Silvio Lima, Polo 2 Pinhal de Marrocos, P-3030790 Coimbra - Portugal

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: GREEN CHEMISTRY; v. 23, n. 23 NOV 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Despite being a vital asset for global sustenance and economy, ocean aquatic ecosystems are in danger due to the effects of incorrect management of their resources, pollution, and climate change. Considering the seafood industry discards half of its fish-product mass in the ocean, a proper valorization of its residues would decrease not only the ocean contamination but also improve the management of marine resources and increase the sector competitiveness. With these goals in mind, ocean-based industries are adopting new sustainable production models, similar to biorefineries, which are effective for waste valorization, namely, converting low-value biomass into commercially relevant by-products. Based on a deeper knowledge of aquatic feedstocks, the development and implementation of a marine biorefinery can be fundamental to consolidate a ``greener{''} socioeconomic development, similar to that observed in green chemistry. However, biorefineries are sophisticated multi-step systems with numerous feedstocks and commodities. Therefore, their implementation requires expertise in all stages of manufacturing, in addition to a clear vision of all raw materials, residues, and products. In this sense, with this perspective, we provide an initial overview of the current state-of-the-art on marine biorefineries and the sources and applications of their by-products. Afterward, we suggest how to integrate green chemistry and blue economy principles into ocean-based industries, aiming to support a more sustainable, profitable, and conscious ocean economy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/06908-8 - Development of sustainable nanomaterials for the purification of antileukemic drugs
• Grantee: Valéria de Carvalho Santos Ebinuma
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/13271-6 - Production of bacteriocin-producing probiotic bacteria
• Grantee: Carlos Miguel Nóbrega Mendonça
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 20/14144-8 - Purification and encapsulation of bacteriocins from probiotic bacteria for applications in animal protein production systems
• Grantee: Nathalia Vieira Veríssimo
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/15493-9 - Development of ionic liquids-based electroconductive hydrogels
• Grantee: Valéria de Carvalho Santos Ebinuma
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/25511-1 - Bioprospecting of bacteriocin-producing bacteria: from culture optimization to the application in animal production systems
• Grantee: Ricardo Pinheiro de Souza Oliveira
• Support type: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/08655-0 - Development of a sustainable and biocompatible technology for Astaxanthin recovery and purification: a powerful antioxidant with economic value
• Grantee: Cassamo Ussemane Mussagy
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate