Marine sources have been attracting the attention of scientists and manufacturers worldwide hoping to find new alternatives for biological active substances. Promising new research indicates that sea cucumber, which is slug-like in appearance and has been a staple in Japan, China and other parts of East Asia since ancient times, is beginning to gain popularity as a dietary supplement in western countries. The roles of sea cucumber extracts in various physiological functions have spurred researchers to investigate the ability of sea cucumber to be an alternative in neutraceutical and medical applications. This article provides a brief introduction to sea cucumber and reviews its numerous bioactive compounds, such as triterpene glycosides, glycosaminoglycans, gangliosides, collagen, branched-chain fatty acid and lectins, which serve as potential sources of neutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic agents, thus providing a new platform in biochemical research.
Nano-magnetites are widely researched for its potential as an excellent adsorbent in many applications. However, the efficiency of the nano-magnetites are hindered by their tendency to agglomerate. In this work, we dispersed and embedded the nano-magnetites in a porous silica gel matrix to form a nanocomposite to reduce the extent of agglomeration and to enhance the adsorption performance. Our experimental results showed that the removal efficiency of Cu2+ ion has improved by 46% (22.4 ± 2.2%) on the nano-magnetite-silica-gel (NMSG) nanocomposite as compared to pure nano-magnetites (15.3 ± 0.6%). The adsorption capacity is further enhanced by 39% (from 11.2 ± 1.1 to 15.6 ± 1.6 mg/g) by subjecting the NMSG to a magnetic field prior to adsorption. We infer that the magnetic field aligned the magnetic domains within the nano-magnetites, resulting in an increased Lorentz force during adsorption. Similar alignment of magnetic domains is near to impossible in pure nano-magnetites due to severe agglomeration. We further found that the adsorption capacity of the NMSG can be manipulated with an external magnetic field by varying the strength and the configurations of the field. Equipped with proper process design, our finding has great potentials in processes that involve ion-adsorptions, for example, NMSG can: (i) replace/reduce chemical dosing in controlling adsorption kinetics, (ii) replace/reduce complex chemicals required in ion-chromatography columns, and (iii) reduce wastage of nano-adsorbents by immobilizing it in a porous matrix.
Microalgae showcase an extraordinary capacity for synthesizing high-value phytochemicals (HVPCs), offering substantial potential for diverse applications across various industries. Emerging research suggests that subjecting microalgae to abiotic stress during cultivation and the harvesting stages can further enhance the accumulation of valuable metabolites within their cells, including carotenoids, antioxidants, and vitamins. This study delves into the pivotal impacts of manipulating abiotic stress on microalgae yields, with a particular focus on biomass and selected HVPCs that have received limited attention in the existing literature. Moreover, approaches to utilising abiotic stress to increase HVPCs production while minimising adverse effects on biomass productivity were discussed. The present study also encompasses a techno-economic assessment (TEA) aimed at pinpointing significant bottlenecks in the conversion of microalgae biomass into high-value products and evaluating the desirability of various conversion pathways. The TEA methodology serves as a valuable tool for both researchers and practitioners in the quest to identify sustainable strategies for transforming microalgae biomass into high-value products and goods. Overall, this comprehensive review sheds light on the pivotal role of abiotic stress in microalgae cultivation, promising insights that could lead to more efficient and sustainable approaches for HVPCs production.