Multimodal Synchrotron Approaches for the Sustainable Valorisation of Sargassum Biomass

This conference poster, “Multimodal Synchrotron Approaches for the Sustainable Valorisation of Sargassum Biomass”, by Mercè Llugany Ollé and Gustavo Pérez (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, UAB), was presented by Mercè Llugany Ollé at the VII ALBA Users’ Meeting, ALBA Synchrotron, on 3 September 2026. Developed within the European MSCA Staff Exchanges project SARGEX, the poster outlines a proposed integrated approach to characterising pelagic Sargassum biomass and supporting its safe and sustainable valorisation. The approach combines synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy, including potential micro-XAS applications, with complementary X-ray fluorescence mapping, diffraction and imaging methods. Integration with chromatography, metabolomics and bioactivity studies is proposed to investigate elemental speciation and distribution, mineral–organic interactions, and structural changes during biomass processing. Particular attention is given to the chemical forms and behaviour of essential nutrients and potentially toxic elements, which are important for assessing biomass safety and identifying viable valorisation pathways. The poster also considers how ALBA II’s planned analytical capabilities, high-throughput workflows and AI-assisted data analysis could support this work. The contribution presents a research framework and expected applications, rather than completed experimental results. Conference contribution: https://indico.cells.es/event/1725/contributions/3533/