Produtos comerciais à base de microalgas aplicados às fronteiras planetárias

Abstract

In this study, the impacts of production and consumption of the commercial microalgae-based products were assessed by means of life cycle assessment-based indicators and compared with the planetary boundaries. The production of whole dried biomass, β-carotene, astaxanthin, and phycocyanin, as well as docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids were also analyzed. In addition, life cycle assessment was identified as an adequate tool to link human activities to planetary boundaries. These products were estimated by nine planetary spheres recognized to describe the environmental ceiling of planetary boundaries. In this sense, environmental critical points in the process were identified and discussed. The results at the per capita level show that, in the context of the planetary frontier, there are negative impacts on the production of astaxanthin from the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis in the categories of acidification (1.70x10² mol H+ eq) and global warming potential (1.05x10³ kg CO2 eq), meeting up within the yellow zone. And in the production of EPA from the microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata, in the categories of ecotoxicity (4.12x104 CTUe), global warming potential (5.87x10³ kg CO2 eq), acidification potential (9.68x10² mole H+ eq), and the potential for creating photochemical oxidant (1.40x10² kg O3 eq), meeting up in the red range. Therefore, the parameters that most influence loads are directly related to energy and nutrient requirements. Therefore, this work aims to avoid major environmental changes that could cause irreversible damage to the global ecosystem.