Sequential Production of Sodium Alginate and Biomethane from Holopelagic Sargassum spp. to Promote a Circular Economy in the Mexican Caribbean

This research proposes an approach based on a circular economy principle for the integral valorization of Sargassum from the Mexican Caribbean. The biomass was characterized through proximal and elemental analyses, and then an oxidative pretreatment was carried out to enhance a sequential processing scheme to extract sodium alginate and use the solid waste as a substrate for biogas production via anaerobic digestion. The oxidative pretreatment successfully reduces the recalcitrant content and the concentration of heavy metals. The sodium alginate extracted from treated biomass achieves a yield higher than 20%; the characterization of the polymer via nuclear magnetic resonance showed that the mannuronic-to-guluronic ratio was between 0.34 and 0.62, indicating the potential for its use for environmental and biomedical applications. The highest yield in methane production was 328 mL CH4/g of volatile solids, with a purity of 90%, and was achieved using the waste from alginate extraction with an inoculum-to-substrate ratio of 1:1. The experimental data presented an excellent fit to a Gompertz model (R2 > 0.99). The proposed valorization pathway improves the sustainability of Sargassum management, prioritizing the recovery of high-value compounds before energy production. This circular approach provides a framework for converting environmental challenges into opportunities in the Caribbean.