The Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass into High-Value Products: Microwave Pyrolysis - The Economic Utilisation of Food Co-Products - page 52

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3 .

Figure 3.5 Mechanism of microwave interaction with cellulose.

3.5.2.2 Macroalgae Microwave Pyrolysis
It has been suggested that marine biomass could be a promising alternative to
terrestrial grown biomass for fuel replacement. 58 This alternative that
comprises up to 50% of the global biomass typically has high growth rates. 59
Seaweed, which has many commercial outlets in food, medicine and fertilisers,
has one of the highest solar energy conversions, with currently less than 1% of
it currently being utilised. 60 The macroalgae seaweed, unlike microalgae, is also
easy to extract, the main problem being the means to utilise such vast quantities
of this material (410million tonnes) effectively. 61 A readily transportable