Adding value to a rockweed byproduct through fermentation: from lab to pilot scale.

阿卡迪亚海洋植物有限公司(ASL)是一家主要的海藻收获、培育和加工公司，业务遍及整个马里蒂斯地区，最近还在国际上开展业务。作为他们植物部门的一项主要活动，ASL收获金线莲(Ascope Hylum Nodosum)，并准备出售一种液体提取物，作为植物的生长刺激剂。在这个提取过程中，会产生大量的固体废物(称为DNP)。这种DNP来自有限的生物资源，人们怀疑它仍然含有重要的生物分子。该项目是BTSC-CCNB和ASL之间的合作努力，旨在通过调查并最终将这种副产品的增值产品商业化，最大限度地利用这种罕见的资源。虽然有关海藻发酵的信息很多，但有关海藻副产物的商业规模发酵、基质降解的表征、发酵过程中糖的利用和氮的利用的信息很少。在第一个项目的过程中，分离出了一些新的微生物群落和菌株，这些微生物群落和菌株显示出更有效地分解DNP多糖的前景。这些微生物菌株，包括从不同来源分离的微生物群落、真菌和细菌，将被测试其降解多糖和释放生物活性成分的能力。这项倡议非常有价值，因为它可以最大限度地利用一种特殊的资源，刺激作物生产和园艺领域出现新的利基市场和出口市场，并在防止废物流进入垃圾填埋场方面产生积极的环境影响。它还可以在马里泰姆的沿海农村地区创造就业机会。

Acadian Seaplants Ltd. (ASL) is a major seaweed harvesting, cultivation and processing company with operations throughout the Maritimes and, more recently, internationally. As a major activity in their plant division, ASL harvests rockweed (Ascophylum nodosum) and prepares a liquid extract for sale as a growth stimulant for plants. During this extraction process, a significant amount of solid waste (termed DNP) is produced. This DNP comes from a finite biological resource and it is suspected that it still contains important biomolecules. This project, a collaborative effort between the BTSC-CCNB and ASL, aims to maximize the use of this rare ressource, by investigating and ultimatly commercializing a value added product from this by-product. Although a lot of information is available for the fermentation of seaweed, very little information is provided for commercial scale fermentation of rockweed byproducts, characterization of the degradation of the matrix, sugar utilization, and nitrogen utilization during the fermentation process. A number of new microbial communities and strains were isolated during the course of a first project which have shown promise to break down DNP polysaccharides more efficiently. These microbial strains, including microbial communities, fungi and bacteria isolated from various sources, will be tested for their ability to hydrolyze polysaccharides and to release bioactive components. This initiative is of great value as it could, among other things, maximize the use of an exceptional resource, stimulate the emergence of new market niches and export markets in crop production and horticulture, as well as have a positive environmental impact in keeping waste streams from reaching landfills. It could also create employment in a coastal rural area of the Maritimes.