Algae in the Bioeconomy

Algae play an important ecological role as oxygen producers and carbon sequesters and are the food base for all aquatic life. Algae are economically important as a source of crude oil, food and feed, and pharmaceutical and industrial products. High-value and sustainable products from algae are already economically viable and can be a fundamental driver for fuel production. Algae in the Bioeconomy provides a detailed overview of the chemical composition of algae and shows that an integrated biorefinery approach is necessary for large-scale algae production and conversion, where multiple products are produced. This book serves as a unique compendium of knowledge covering the essential features of algae and their applications. - Discusses the structural chemistry and biology of micro- and macroalgal components - Describes classification, occurrence, conversion, and production of micro- and macroalgae - Offers strategies for optimal use of micro- and macroalgae in the bioeconomy, including regional strategies in the EU, US, China, India, Malaysia, Norway, and Chile - Features forewords from international experts offering both a scientific and an economic/strategic viewpoint This book is intended for an interdisciplinary audience in chemical engineering, biotechnology, and environmental science and engineering, promoting research, development, and application of algae as a sustainable resource.

Jean-Luc Wertz holds degrees in chemical civil engineering and economic science from the Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, and a PhD from the same university in applied science, specializing in polymer chemistry. He has had various international positions in R&D, including Spontex, where he was the Worldwide Director of R&D. He holds several patents related to various products. In his last job before his retirement in 2016, he was a project manager in biomass valorization at ValBiom and worked for more than eight years on biobased products and biorefineries. He also wrote six books: Cellulose Science and Technology (2010), Lignocellulosic Biorefineries (2013), Hemicelluloses and Lignin in Biorefineries (2018), Starch in the Bioeconomy (2020), Chitin and Chitosans in the Bioeconomy (2021), and Biomass in the Bioeconomy (2022). Serge Perez holds a doctorate in sciences from the University of Grenoble, France. He has had international exposure throughout several academic and industry positions in research laboratories in the US, Canada, and France (Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolecules Végétales, CNRS, Grenoble, as the chairperson and as director of research at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility). His research interests span the whole area of structural glycoscience, emphasizing polysaccharides, glycoconjugates, and protein-carbohydrate interactions. He has a strong interest in the economy of glycoscience and e-learning, for which he created www.glycopedia.eu. He is actively involved in scientific societies as president and past president of the European Carbohydrate Organisation. He is the author of more than 330 research publications, which are the subject of a large number of citations and references. He has also edited and written several books, including Chitin and Chitosans in the Bioeconomy (2021) and Biomass in the Bioeconomy (2022).

1. Introduction. 2. Classification of Algae. 3. Occurrence of Algae. 4. Production of Algae. 5. Biochemical Composition of Algae. 6. Uses of Algae. 7. Conversion of Algae. 8. Strategy for a Sustainable Use of Algae in the Bioeconomy.