Revaluation of Posidonia oceanica Waste as a Renewable Resource to Develop New Sustainable Products

Abstract

Posidonia oceanica is a marine phanerogam with similar composition and structure to terrestrial monocotyledonous plants which makes the revaluation of its coastal residues of special interest. Chemical characterization of the phanerogam residues revealed its potential as an alternative source of cellulose that can be extracted using clean technologies. For this purpose, one-stage (cooking with soda-anthraquinone) and two-stages (adding hydrogen peroxide) separation processes were used.  Cellulose obtained from the one-stage process showed characteristics for its use as reinforcing fibre. The addition of a second stage with hydrogen peroxide increased the purity and improved the properties of cellulose making it suitable for the synthesis of new sustainable products. Revalorization of Posidonia oceanica waste can reduce the environmental, health and economic problems caused by their coastline accumulation, also, its use such a cellulose source contribute to diminish the terrestrial plant supply reducing deforestation and climate change.