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Harnessing Microalgae and Seaweed for the Food Sector

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 4295

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Dr. Teresa Mouga

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MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-641 Peniche, Portugal
Interests: seaweed cultivation; seaweed food applications; food science; bioactive compounds of seaweeds
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Seaweeds and microalgae contain valuable compounds that can be extracted and processed into various bio-based materials that can be used in several industries, namely in the food sector. Thus, algae cultivation has been a growing trend in recent decades and, more recently, in multi-trophic cultivations in IMTA, in which microalgae and algae play crucial roles as nutrient recyclers, biofilters, and habitat providers. However, the characteristics of this biomass compared to wild seaweed, as well as the study of food quality and safety, have not been fully evaluated. This is why its potential use has not yet been fully explored.

Thus, some of the areas to be covered are:

Algal biomass: Composition and bioactivities for the food sector;
Extraction methods for valuable compounds from algae biomass;
Development of innovative processing technologies for converting algal biomass into bio-based materials for the food sector;
Properties and performance of bio-based materials produced from algae biomass;
Microalgae and seaweed cultivation in IMTA Systems: Algal biomass assessment;
Innovative applications of microalgae and seaweed biomass in IMTA;
Identification of challenges and barriers to widespread adoption of algal biomass utilization.

Dr. Teresa Mouga
Guest Editor

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Keywords

seaweed
microalgae
algal biomass

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Research

18 pages, 2015 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Growth Conditions and Biochemical Properties of Chondracanthus acicularis (Rhodophyta) in Laboratory Settings

by Teresa Mouga, Andreia Sousa, Marta V. Freitas and Clélia Afonso

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 810; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15020810 - 15 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1225

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the laboratory cultivation of Chondracanthus acicularis, focusing on key environmental parameters such as nutrient levels and light exposure. The results provide insights into the optimal growth conditions and biochemical composition of C. acicularis, which are crucial for its sustainable exploitation in industrial applications. Significant differences in the relative growth rate (RGR) and productivity (Y) were found between the different treatments. Seaweed grown on Provasoli (PES) Medium with white LED light and red LED light showed the best growth rates. Negative growth was observed in treatments with Nutribloom plus^®, and blue LED light. The proximate composition analysis revealed a high moisture content across all treatments, with significant differences in ash and organic matter content between the treatments. The use of LED light played a crucial role in optimizing growth by influencing photosynthetic efficiency and pigment production. The proximate composition varied significantly between treatments, especially ash and organic matter. Light and nutrient conditions also influenced pigmentation and colour characteristics, with significant changes in phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, and chlorophyll concentration. PES treatments consistently showed the highest colour variation. These findings highlight the influence of environmental conditions on seaweed growth, productivity, pigmentation, and proximate composition, and provide valuable insights for optimized cultivation strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harnessing Microalgae and Seaweed for the Food Sector)

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20 pages, 1717 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of High-Pressure Homogenization on the Functional and Emulsifying Properties of Proteins Recovered from Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa

by Alexandros Katsimichas, Maria Katsouli, Nikolaos Spantidos, Maria C. Giannakourou and Petros Taoukis

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010131 - 27 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1289

Abstract

Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa is a microalga that stands out due to its high protein content. The objective of this work was to study the effect of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) on the recovery of proteins from A. pyrenoidosa and their application as functional emulsifiers. Untreated and HPH-treated (400–800 bar, 1 and 4 passes) aqueous cellular suspensions were incubated at 40 °C for 6 h. The aqueous extracts were collected, the proteins were precipitated at pH 3, and the Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa protein concentrates (APPC) were lyophilized. Increasing HPH pressure and number of passes (400–800 bar, 1 and 4 passes) improved protein recovery yield up to 57%. Higher HPH pressures also reduced α-helix and β-sheet structures, exposing the hydrophobic protein core. This protein modification led to APPCs with increased oil-holding capacity (2.83 g oil/g APPC). The surface tension of APPC solutions reached a minimum value of 28.6 mN/m at an APPC concentration of 2% w/w. The APPCs from untreated and HPH-treated biomass were used to stabilize nanoemulsions (2–6% sunflower oil), comparing one-step homogenization (high-speed homogenization) with the two-step homogenization method (combining high-speed and high-pressure homogenization). The two-step method led to significantly smaller oil droplets with narrow size distribution, leading to stable nanoemulsions with improved resistance to centrifugation and heating–cooling cycles. Due to APPC’s great emulsifying properties, A. pyrenoidosa proteins have a promising potential for various applications such as delivery systems stabilization. Additionally, the low energy requirements, continuous processing capability, and scalability of HPH make it a suitable process for industrial applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harnessing Microalgae and Seaweed for the Food Sector)

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23 pages, 5934 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Continuous and Short-Term Direct Current Stimulation on the Growth and Nutrient Composition of Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima with Prospects for Large-Scale Production

by Yunyi Chi, Yujie Zhong, Wenan Hu and Qiang Wang

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 11127; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311127 - 29 Nov 2024

Viewed by 919

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of continuous and short-term direct current (DC) stimulation on the growth and nutrient composition of Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima, a marine diatom with significant potential in aquaculture feed. We explored the optimal conditions of DC stimulation by applying both short-term and continuous treatments at varying voltages (0 V, 1 V, 3 V, 5 V, 10 V for short-term; 0 V, 0.05 V, 0.5 V, 1 V for continuous). The results demonstrated that short-term DC stimulation significantly enhanced cell density and lipid accumulation, with maximum cell density increasing by 13.14% under 1 V stimulation compared to the control. However, continuous stimulation was less effective and showed growth inhibition in several cases. Nutrient analysis revealed that short-term stimulation, particularly at 3 V, led to a 67.66% increase in lipid content, while moderate continuous stimulation (0.5 V) showed a 39.47% increase in biomass dry weight. These findings suggest that short-term DC stimulation is a promising approach to optimize microalgal growth and nutrient accumulation for large-scale aquaculture production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harnessing Microalgae and Seaweed for the Food Sector)

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