Macroalgae Refining for Animal Feed via Enzymatic Pretreatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Macroalgae is not suitable as a primary component in animal feed due to low nutritional value, high mineral content, and the presence of recalcitrant polysaccharides, which are not digestible by monogastric animals, and can accumulate heavy metals, limiting its use in animal feeds.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the pretreatment of macroalgae to break its cell structure, followed by separation and purification using acidic and alkaline solutions to produce a biomass product suitable as animal feed, while recovering valuable side streams like polysaccharides and sugars, reducing mineral content, and recycling nutrients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If macroalgae is used as a primary component in animal feed, then the mineral content and nutritional supplements are improved, but the digestibility and nutritional availability are reduced due to recalcitrant polysaccharides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by treating macroalgae with enzymes (cellulases, hemicellulases, pectinases, lignin peroxidases, manganese peroxidases, laccases) before feeding to animals. This pre-treatment breaks down the recalcitrant polysaccharide structure of cell walls, making the minerals and nutrients more accessible and digestible for monogastric animals while preserving the mineral content benefits
2Quantity of substance
If the entire biomass is applied in a dry meal, then the mineral supplementation is achieved, but the energy consumption and cost increase due to drying requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter from dry meal to wet form by treating macroalgae with aqueous enzyme solutions. This parameter change eliminates the need for energy-intensive drying processes while maintaining mineral supplementation benefits, as the wet-treated macroalgae can be directly incorporated into animal feed
3Quantity of substance
If macroalgae with high iodine content is used, then the nutritional value is enhanced, but the safety and suitability for animal feed are reduced due to heavy metal accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by selectively removing harmful substances through the enzyme treatment process. The enzymatic hydrolysis and subsequent processing steps extract and separate heavy metals and excessive iodine from the macroalgae matrix, retaining the beneficial minerals and nutrients while eliminating toxic components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method produces a low-cost, nutritionally enhanced animal feed with improved digestibility, reducing methane and CO2 emissions, and allows for the recycling of nutrients from sea to land, decreasing synthetic nutrient loads in waterways.
Implementation Method 1
purification of the solid phase obtained in step b) by addition of aqueous acidic solution into the solid phase to lower mineral content of the solid phase
Implementation Method 2
extraction of the purified solid phase obtained in step c) in alkaline conditions by addition of basic solution to provide solid macroalgae biomass product animal feed and liquid product B comprising polysaccharides and sugars
Implementation Method 3
extraction of the purified solid phase obtained in step c) in alkaline conditions by addition of basic solution to provide solid macroalgae biomass product animal feed and liquid product B comprising polysaccharides and sugars
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to the method for refining macroalgae, which method is used for obtaining animal feed derived from macroalgae. The method of the present disclosure enables producing low cost animal feed due to the upgrading methodology of valuable side stream products. Valuable components are recovered from the macroalgae separately and a lower cost biomass product is obtained which is suitable to be used as animal feed.