Chemical Characterisation of Sargassum Inundation from the Turks and Caicos: Seasonal and Post Stranding Changes

The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) have been affected by sargassum inundations, with impacts on the economy environment. Sargassum removal can be costly, but use valorisation may generate income offset environmental damage. A significant barrier to of is insufficient knowledge its chemical makeup, as well seasonal variation decay after stranding. characterisation mixed constituent species morphotypes (S. natans I, S.natans VIII S. fluitans) collected from TCI between September 2020 May 2021 changes in composition decaying (over 147 days) were studied. High ash (24.61–51.10% dry weight (DW)) arsenic (49–217 mg kg?1) could severely hamper this seaweed for food or feed purposes. Although there was some reduction levels sargassum, remained high (>49 kg?1). Biomethane production anaerobic digestion (AD) a potential option. Nevertheless, exploitation biogas, either fresh it decays beach, challenging due low methane yields (<42% theoretical potential). Pre-treatment co-digestion other waste options improve yield. metal sorption ability which problematic, makes biosorption pollutants an option further research.