Valorization of Sargassum Fluitans III from the mexican caribbean: solar drying and pyrolysis

Since 2014, the Mexican Caribbean has received more than 2360 m3 of Sargassum per km of coast. This sargassum is gathered with any treatment, and in the high temperatures it decomposes rapidly, generating pollution on the seashore and health problems in the local community. This work proposes a train of solar treatment for the valorization of Sargassum fluitans III, which consists of drying and pyrolysis for the production of biochar. Findings show that the drying time is around 90 min, independent of the type of solar dryer (i.e., greenhouse solar dryer (GHD) or open-sun drying. Results from the pyrolysis process show that the main characteristics of the biochar are affected by the temperatures of the process. At 800 ºC, an amorphous char is obtained, with some inorganic compounds, such as potassium, sodium, phosphorus, sulfur, and chlorine, characteristics that are attractive for its use in energy storage, or as a biofertilizer.