Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Commercial Products from Algae

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Algal Biorefineries

Abstract

The growing interest in algae is associated with current commercial products and future potential biofuel developments. The focus of this chapter is on commercial products from microalgae and macroalgae. This market is estimated to be of the order of billions of dollars per year with more than 20 different commercial products. The largest market is food products, including nutraceuticals and functional foods. There are many refined products; in some cases, there are multiple product streams associated with the separation process. Production occurs in fresh water for some microalgae such as Spirulina. Many macroalgae are grown in salt water environments; there are both managed production systems and harvests from natural areas of seas and oceans. Because of the diversity of growth environments and species, many more potential products are possible, and additional research is to be encouraged. There are many additional locations in the world that can be used to produce beneficial products.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

N:

Nutraceut

P:

Pharmaceut

References

  • AbuSara NF, Emeish S, Sallal AKJ (2011) The effect of certain environmental factors on growth and beta-carotene production by dunaliella sp. Isolated from the Dead Sea. Jordan J Biol Sci 4:29–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Andes Natural Skin Care (2012) Sun guard-protection against UVA radiation; http://www.biobeautybalm.com/sunguard

  • Barrow CH, Shahidi F (ed) (2008) Marine nutraceuticals and functional foods. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker W (2004) Microalgae for aquaculture: the nutritional value of microalgae for aquaculture. In: Richmond A (ed) handbook of microalgal culture: biotechnology and applied phycology. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 380–391

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Amotz A (2004) Industrial production of microalgal cell-mass and secondary products—major industrial species dunaliella. Handbook of microalgal culture: biotechnology and applied phycology. Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergé JP, Barnathan G (2005) Fatty acids from lipids of marine organisms: molecular biodiversity, roles as biomarkers, biologically active compounds, and economical aspects. Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol 96:49–125

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bhatia SK, Sharma AG, Namdeo BB, Chaugule M, Kavale, Nanda S (2010) Broad-Spectrum sun-protective action of porphyra-334 derived from Porphyra vietnamensis. Pharmacogn Res 2:45–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bixler HJ, Porse H (2011) A decade of change in the seaweed hydrocolloids industry. J Appl Phycol 23:321–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burja AM, Radianingtyas H (2008) Nutraceuticals and functional foods from marine microbes: an introduction to a diverse group of natural products isolated from marine macroalgae, microalgae, bacteria, fungi, and cyanobacteria. In: Barrow CJ, Shahidi F (ed) Marine nutraceuticals and functional foods. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 367–403

    Google Scholar 

  • Capelli B, Keily S, Cysewski GR (2010) The medical research of astaxanthin. Cyanotech Corporation, Kailua-Kona

    Google Scholar 

  • Carreto JI, Carignan MO (2011) Mycosporine-like amino acids: relevant secondary metabolites. Chemical and Ecological Aspects. Mar Drugs 9:387–446

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chi, Z, Pyle D, Wen Z, Frear C, Chen S (2007) A laboratory study of producing Docosahexaenoic acid from biodiesel-waste glycerol by microalgal fermentation. Process Biochem 42:1537–1545

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choi SK, Park YS, Choi DK, Chang HI (2008) Effects of astaxanthin on the production of no and the expression of COX-2 and iNOS in LPS-Stimulated BV2 microglial cells. J Microbiol Biotechnol 18:1990–1996

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clement G, Giddey C, Menzi R (1967) Amino acid composition and nutritive value of the alga Spirulina Maxima. J Sci Food Agri 18:497–501

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colla LM, Reinehr CD, Reichert C, Costa JAV (2007) Production of biomass and nutraceutical comopunds by spirulina platensis under different temperature and nitrogen regimes. Bioresour Technol 98:1489–1493

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delgado-Vargas F, Paredes-Lopez O (2003) Natural colorants for food and nutraceutical uses. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • De Luca Y, Salim V, Atsumi SM, Yu F (2012) Mining the biodiversity of plants: a revolution in the making. Science 236:1658–1661

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Swaaf ME, Rijk de TC, Meer van der P, Eggink G, Sijtsma L (2003) Analysis of docosahexaenoic acid biosynthesis in Crypthecodinium cohnii by 13C labeling and desaturase inhibitor experiments. J Biotechnol 103:21–29

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz-Rubio ME, Perez-Jimenez J, Saura-Calixto F. (2009) Dietary fiber and antioxidant capacity in Fucus vesiculosis Products. Int J Food Sci Nutr 60:23–34

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dragos NV, Bercea A, Druga Bica B, Nicoara A (2011) Astaxanthin production from a New Strain of Haematococcus pluvialis grown in batch culture. Ann Rom Soc Cell Biol 15:353–361

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Baky HHA, El Bat FK, El-Baroty GS (2008) Characterization of nutraceutical compounds in Blue Green Alga Spirulina Maxima. J Med Plant Res 2:291–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitton JH, Irhimeh MR, Teas J (2008) Marine algae and polysaccharides with therapeutic applications. In: Barrow CJ, Shahidi F (ed) Marine nutraceuticals and functional foods. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 345–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald C, Gallagher E, Tasdemir D, Hayes M (2011) heart health peptides from macroalgae and their potential use in functional foods. J Agri Food Chem 59:6829–6836

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fujimura T, Tsukahara K, Moriwaki S, Kiahara T, Sung T, Takema Y (2002) Treatment of human skin with an extract of Fucus vesiculosis changes its thickness and mechanical properties. J Cosmetic Sci 53:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Henrikson R (2009) Earth food spirulina. Ronore Enterprises, Hawaii

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu Q (2004) Industrial production of microalgal cell-mass and secondary products-major industrial species: arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis. Handbook of microalgal culture: biotechnology and applied phycology. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 264–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikeda Y, Tsuji S, Satoh A, Ishikua M, Shirasawa T, Shimizu T (2008) Protective effects of astaxanthin on 6-hydroxydopamine-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma sh-sy5y cells. J Neurochem 107:1730–1740

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iwamoto H (2004) Industrial production of microalgal cell-mass and secondary products – major industrial species, chlorella In: Amos Richmond (ed) Handbook of microalgal culture: biotechnology and applied phycology. Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim E, Choi G, Kim H, Ahn C, Oh H (2012) Increasing γ-linolenic acid content in Spirulina platensis using fatty acid supplement and light-dark illumination. J Appl Phycol 24:743–750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kralovec JA, Barrow CJ (2008) Immunoenhancing Preparations of Marine Origin. In: Barrow CJ, Shahidi F (ed) Marine nutraceuticals and functional foods. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 451–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee HY, Erickson LE (1987) Theoretical and experimental yields for photoautotrophic, mixotrophic, and photoheterotrophic growth. Biotechnol Bioengi 29:476–481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee HY, Erickson LE, Yang SS (1985) Analysis of bioenergetic yield and maintenance parameters associated with mixotrophic and photoheterotrophic growth. Biotechnol Bioengi 27:1640–1651

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Zhu D, Niu J, Shen S, Weng G (2011) An economic assessment of astaxanthin production by large scale cultivation of Haematococcus pluvialis. Biotechnol Adv 29:568–574

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz RT, Cysewski GR (2000) Commercial potential for haematococcus microalgae as a natural source of astaxanthin. Trends Biotechnol 18:160–167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McHugh DJ (2003) A Guide to the seaweed industry, FAO fisheries technical Paper No. 441. Food and agriculture organization, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendiola JA, Rodriguez Meizoso I, Senorans FJ, Reglero G, Cifuentas A, Ibanez E (2008) Antioxidants in plant foods and microalgae extracted using compressed fluids. Electronic J Environ Agri Food Chem 7:3301–3309

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mise T, Ueda M, Yasumoto T (2011) Production of fucoxanthin-rich powder from Cladosiphon okammuranus. Advance J Food Sci Technol 3:73–76

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miyashita K, Hosokawa M (2008) Beneficial health effects of seaweed carotenoid, fucoxanthin. In: Barrow CJ, Shahidi F (ed) Marine nutraceuticals and functional foods. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 297–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Mushir S, Fatma T (2011) Ultraviolet radiation-absorbing mycosporine-like amino acids in cyanobacterium Aulosira fertilissma: Environmental perspective and characterization, current research. J Biol Sci 3:165–171

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muller-Feuga A (2004) Microalgae for aquaculture: the current global situation and future trends. In: Richmond A (ed) Handbook of microalgal culture: biotechnology and applied phycology. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 352–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagaki Y, Hayasaka S, Yamada T, Hayasaka Y, Sanada M, Uonomi T (2002) Effects of astaxanthin on accomodation, critical flicker fusion, and pattern visual evoked potential in visual display terminal workers. J Trad Med 19:170–173

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakajima Y, Inokuchi Y, Shimazawa M, Otsubo K, Ishibushi T, Hara H (2008) Astaxanthin, a dietary carotenoid, protects retinal cells against oxidative stress in-vitro and in mice in-vivo. J Pharm Pharmacol 60:1365–1374

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olaizola M (2008) The production and health benefits of astaxanthin In: Barrow C, Shahidi F, (ed) Marine nutraceuticals and functional foods. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Parisi V, Tedeschi M, Gallinaro G, Varano M, Saviano S, Piermarocchi S (2008) Carotenoids and antioxidants in age-related maculopathy italian study: multifocal electroretinogram modifications after 1 year. Ophthalmol 115:324–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pashkow FJ, Watumull DG, Campbell CL (2008) Astaxanthin: a novel potential treatment for oxidative stress and inflammation in cardiovascular disease. Am J Cardio 101:580–680 (Supplement)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peretti G, Bravi E, Montanari L, Fantozzi P (2003) Extraction of PUFAs rich oils from algae with supercritical carbon dioxide. Proceedings of the 6th international symposium on supercritical fluids, versailles, france, international society for the advancement of supercritical fluids. www.isasf.net

  • Pisal DS, Lele SS (2005) Carotenoid production from microalga, Dunaliella salina. Indian J Biotechnol 4:476–483

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ranjbar R, Inoue R, Shiraishi H, Katsuda T, Katoh S (2008) High efficiency production of astaxanthin by autotrophic cultivation of Haematococcus pluvialis in a bubble column photobioreactor. Biochem Eng J 39:575–580

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez-Jasso RM, Mussatto SI, Pastrana L, Aguilar CN, Teixeira JA (2013) Extraction of sulfated polysaccharides by autohydrolysis of brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosis. J Appl Phycol 25:31–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruperez FJ, Garcia-Martinez D, Baena B, Maeso N, Vallejo M, Angulo S, Cifuentes A, Barbas C (2009) Dunaliella salina extract effect on diabetic rats: metabolic fingerprinting and target metabolite analysis. J Pharm Biomed Anal 49:786–792

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruperez P, Ahrazem O, Leal JA (2002) Potential antioxidant capacity of sulfated polysaccharides from the edible marine brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosis. J Agri Food Chem 50:840–845

    Google Scholar 

  • Shahidi F (2008) Omega-3 Oils: sources, applications, and health effects. in:barrow c, shahidi f (ed) marine nutraceuticals and functional foods. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 23–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Shang YF, Kim SM, Lee WJ, Um BY (2011) Pressurized liquid method for fucoxanthin extraction from Eisenia bicyclis (Kjellman) setchell. J Biosci Bioengi 111:231–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Spolaore P, Joannis-Cassan C, Duran E, Isambert A (2006) Review: commercial applications of microalgae. J Biosci Bioengi 101:87–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tao C, Sugawara T, Maeda S, Wang X, Hirata T (2008) Antioxidative activities of a mycosporine-like amino acid, Porphyra-334. Fisheries Sci 74:1166–1172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Telford WG, Moss MW, Morseman JP, Allnutt FCT (2001) Cryptomonad algal phycobiliproteins as fluorochromes for extracellular and intracellular antigen detection by flow cytometry. Cytometry 44:16–24

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tutour BL, Benslimane F, Gouleau MP, Gouygou JP, Saadan B, Quemeneur F (1998) Antioxidant and pro-oxidant activities of the brown algae, Laminaria digitata, Himanthalia elongate, Fucus vesiculosis, Fucus serratus, and Ascophyllum nodosum. J Appl Phycology 10:121–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valensa (2009) Valensa makes more astaxanthin as eye health demand increases. Nutra ingredients. http://www.nutraingredients.com/Industry/Valensa

  • Venugopal V (2009) Marine Products for Healthcare. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu TH, Liao JH, Hou WC, Huang FY, Maher TJ, Hu CC (2006) Astaxanthin protects against oxidative stess and calcium-induced porcine lense protein degradation. J Agri Food Chem 54:2418–2423

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young G, Conquer J (2008) Omega-3s and their impact on brain health. In: C.J. Barrow and F. Shahidi (ed) Marine nutraceuticals and functional foods. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 63–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan YV (2008) Marine algal constituents, In: Barrow CJ, Shahidi F (eds) Marine nutraceuticals and functional foods. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 259–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Yurko-Mauro K, McCarthy D, Rom D, Nelson EB, Ryan AS, Blackwell A, Salem N Jr, Stedman M (2010) Beneficial effects of Docosahexaenoic acid on cognition in age-related cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s & Dementia 6:465–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zmora O, Richmond A (2004) Microalgae for aquaculture: microalgae production for aquaculture. In: Richmond A (ed) Handbook of microalgal culture: biotechnology and applied phycology. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 365–379

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Partial financial support was provided by the National Science Foundation through NSF EEC # 1156549. We thank Cyanotech Corporation; Michael D. Guiry, Irish Seaweed Research Group; and Robert Henrikson, Earthrise Farms, for permission to use copyrighted figures. The copyright owner of Figs. 3 and 4 is Michael D. Guiry, Algaebase.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 68588, Lincoln, NE, USA

    Kelly Hudek

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Kansas State University, 66506, Manhattan, KS, USA

    Lawrence C. Davis

  3. Department of Land Management and the Environment, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan

    Jwan Ibbini

  4. Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, 66506, Manhattan, KS, USA

    Larry Erickson

Authors
  1. Kelly Hudek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lawrence C. Davis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jwan Ibbini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Larry Erickson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Larry Erickson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA

    Rakesh Bajpai

  2. Chemical and Biological Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

    Aleš Prokop

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA

    Mark Zappi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hudek, K., Davis, L., Ibbini, J., Erickson, L. (2014). Commercial Products from Algae. In: Bajpai, R., Prokop, A., Zappi, M. (eds) Algal Biorefineries. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7494-0_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation