Biochemical composition of red, green and brown seaweeds on the Swedish west coast
Open accessAbstract
Seaweed biomass has the potential to become an important raw material for bio-based production. The aim of this study was to screen the overall composition of several seaweed species on the Swedish west coast, including some scarcely studied species, to provide fundamentals for evaluation of biorefining potential and to benchmark with already potentially industrially relevant species and commercially important land-based biomasses. Twenty-two common seaweed species (green, red, brown) were collected and the carbohydrate, ash, protein, water and metal contents were measured. Carbohydrate content varied between 237 and 557 g kg −1 dry weight (dw), making it the largest constituent, on a dry weight basis, of most species in the study. Ash, which is considered unwanted in biorefining, ranged between 118 and 419 g kg −1 dw and was the largest constituent in several seaweeds, which were therefore considered unsuitable for biorefining. Protein content was most abundant in the red seaweeds but was generally low in all species (59–201 g kg −1 dw). High contents of several unwanted metals for processing or human consumption were found (e.g. aluminium, arsenic, copper, chromium and nickel), which need to be considered when utilizing seaweeds for certain applications. Potential targets for further biorefinery development mostly include species already known for their potential ( Saccharina latissima , Laminaria digitata and Chondrus crispus ) while some, such as Halidrys siliquosa and Dilsea carnosa , have not been previously noted. However, more detailed studies are required to explore biorefinery processes for these seaweeds, as well as how to potentially cultivate them.
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Seaweeds and microalgal species growing in polluted waters can accumulate significant concentrations of toxic metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and aluminum.
“Seaweeds and microalgal species growing in polluted waters, especially those near industrial zones, mining areas, poorly managed sewage systems, or regions exposed to natural geological activity, can accumulate significant concentrations of toxic metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and aluminum [219,220].”
From Navigating the potential of algal peptides: health effects, market applications, and scientific challenges (2026) · cites this paper as [219]
The Introduction says seaweeds can take up heavy metals, and the CHN, minerals and metals section reports concerning arsenic levels and elevated lead in several Swedish seaweeds. The paper does not establish the claim for microalgae or seaweeds in polluted waters near the listed pollution sources; it also reports mercury below 0.01 mg kg−1 in every species analysed. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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Heavy metals and potential risks in edible seaweed on the market in Italy
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“…species growing in polluted waters, especially those near industrial zones, mining areas, poorly managed sewage systems, or regions exposed to natural geological activity, can accumulate significant concentrations of toxic metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and aluminum [219,220].”
- Authors
- Olsson, J., Toth, G. B., & Albers, E.
- Affiliations
- Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Albers, Eva
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Phycology
- Published
- 2020-05-16
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 3305-3317
- ISSN
- 0921-8971 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-5176
- OpenAlex
- W3024658147
- Cited by
- 188
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 13.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Phycology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Chalmers Research (Chalmers University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Chalmers Tekniska Högskola (Area of Advance Energy)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal plant biology
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Keywords
- red algae, green algae, brown algae, carbohydrate content, ash content, protein content, heavy metals, bioproduction, Saccharina latissima, Laminaria digitata, Chondrus crispus, Halidrys siliquosa, Swedish west coast
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