RAISE Global Services and select technology partners have developed a sustainable sargassum seaweed solution for cleanup and reclamation. Suitable for any country or community that is dealing with the horrible influx of Sargassum encroaching upon their pristine beaches. Our three-part process involves the clean up, both offshore and onshore, washing and drying of sargassum seaweed, and further producing bio-friendly biproducts. All are a part of a Circular Economy with the use of renewable energy sources and zero residual waste.

In addition, RAISE has the capacity to bring the financial support and funding needed to execute the solutions.

Sargassum Seaweed Solution - Cleanup and Recovery Solutions

The Problem

Sargassum seaweed, a brown macroalgae, is wreaking environmental havoc in the entire region located along the Caribbean coastline of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, as well as the Caribbean, coastal South America and Florida. The sargassum seaweed invasion is being fed by modern agricultural practices.

As the Amazon is deforested to make way for farming, fertilizer used on that land is running off into the Amazon River and the ocean, encouraging blooms. Fertilizer runoff from other parts of the world is also fueling the problem. The sargassum seaweed isn’t just grouping in the water but washing up in unsavory masses on beaches. There, it rots and stinks, drawing insects.

This is causing a major tourism problem. Local governments and resorts are struggling with sargassum cleanup and resort to all manner of measures. The sargassum problem is out of control.

Sargassum Hystrix (White vein Sargassum Seaweed)

Once the sargassum seaweed enters the coasts, it affects the marine ecosystem, killing fish, turtles, and removing the sun light and oxygen from corals and the marine ecosystem.

When sargassum rots on the coast, by being stagnant, it affects human health causing respiratory problems.

Sargassum cleanup is a problem that must be dealt with immediately to ensure that tourists will continue to love the pristine beaches of Mexico, the Caribbean, and USA and that the seas throughout the area remain pristine and a wonderful habitat for marine life.

Sargassum Seaweed Density

 

Image Credit: NASA/Earth Observatory. Data provided by Mengqiu Wang and Chuanmin Hu, USF College of Marine Science. Original source, here.

Sargassum Seaweed Density
The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt in July 2018.Scientists used NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on Terra and Aqua satellites to discover the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt (GASB), which started in 2011. It has occurred every year since, except 2013, and often stretches from the west coast of Africa to the Gulf of Mexico.

Risks

  • The Sargassum Seaweed problem is seasonal
  • The problem covers 475 kilometers of shoreline
  • Hurricanes and Storms along with tidal conditions alter volumes and locations of entry.
  • The stockpiled sargassum seaweed is contaminated and mixed with sand and who knows what. This will require a different process from the seaweed we collect offshore.
  • 10 years from now the problem could be triple in size or non-existent. Who knows what Mother Nature is going to do.
  • Off-take agreements price fluctuations

The Goal

The goal of the RAISE is to solve the sargassum seaweed problem which is negatively affecting the entire coastlines of multiple countries in the Caribbean region. Our solution will create positive impacts on the social, economic, and environmental standards through sargassum seaweed removal and production of energy and various byproducts from the seaweed.

The RAISE Sargassum Seaweed Solution

The RAISE RECLAIM Sargassum Seaweed Solution is a three stage process:

  • Stage 1:  Off-shore sargassum cleanup and delivery using patented and efficient technologies developed specifically for removal of sargassum from the waters prior to reaching the coast to include large barges and small watercraft.
  • Stage 2:  Multiple treatment plants on barges along the coastline for the washing and drying of the sargassum seaweed.
  • Stage 3:  Pyrolysis, biodigester and/or HTC technology plants (tbd) in secure locations for the creation of profitable byproducts.

Circular Sargassum System

The RECLAIM Sargassum Solutions System is restorative and regenerative by design, based on five core principles:

  1. Design for zero waste and pollution
  2. Keep products and materials in use
  3. Regenerate natural systems
  4. Modular
  5. Can pair with other feedstocks to maximize performance and minimize downtime
Zero Waste Vision

The RAISE Sargassum Seaweed Solution

Phase 1: Sargassum Seaweed Cleanup and Collection

The major goal for the sargassum seaweed removal is to secure it offshore prior to making landfall. RAISE will custom designed energy efficient EV or Hydrogen powered barges to collect and pretreat the the material. The first stage of sargassum cleanup takes place aboard these barges to eliminate sand and dry or shred the seaweed. Sargassum seaweed removal and cleaning take place aboard these custom built barges.

In terms of sargassum cleanup, any material that is not collected by the barges will be collected by smaller watercraft especially designed for shallow beach areas and once secured will be delivered to the barges or onshore for pretreatment.

Phase 2: Sargassum Seaweed Pretreatment (On barges and onshore)

  • The collected material is being pre-treated in order to be ready for further utilization and treatment.
  • The types of pre-treatment are directly related to the next stage as options require different forms of the initial material.
  • After sargassum cleanup, material is passing through a washing machine or a drum in order to be separated from sand.
  • The material then is either dried or shredded.
Phase 2 - Sargassum Seaweed Pretreatment

Phase 3: Treatment (Anaerobic Digestion)

  • (Option 1) The material is being fed to an anaerobic digestion reactor in order to create electricity, organic fertilizer and thermal energy or biogas [biomethane, CO2 and Hydrogen], organic fertilizer and thermal energy Carbon offsets created.
Phase 3 - Sargassum Seaweed Treatment (Anaerobic Digestion)

Phase 3: Treatment (Pyrolysis, Gasification, Oxidization)

  • (Option 2) The dried material is fed into a bioreactor and by pyrolisis+gasification+oxidization biochar and thermal energy is created. Carbon offsets created.
Phase 3 - Sargassum Seaweed Treatment (Pyrolysis, Gasification, Oxidization)

Phase 3: Treatment (Hydrothermal Carbonization)

  • Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC)
  • Option 3 Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of biomass involves contacting raw feedstock with hot, pressurized water. Through a variety of hydrolysis, dehydration, and decarboxylation processes, gaseous and water-soluble products are produced, in addition to water itself and a solid char.
Phase 3 - Treatment (Hydrothermal Carbonization)

Potential Products Created from Sargassum Cleanup (to be determined)

  • Electricity,
  • Tradeable biogas
  • Thermal Energy
  • Biochar
  • Hydrochar
  • Organic Fertilizer
  • Tradeable Carbon Offsets
  • Pure Water

Conclusion

We are pleased to present our business mission, vision, and package for your consideration. Our goal is to deliver exceptional results for our project stakeholders, financial partners, team members, and the communities we serve.

The RAISE RECLAIM Sargassum Seaweed Solution offers proven processes that will deliver the environmentally friendly results the Governments and its citizens need to secure the economic and environmental stability of the region.

Our mission focuses on creating purposeful jobs, providing needed resources for the communities we serve, and nurturing the environment all while delivering exceptional results.

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Additional Information:

For more information on this, or any of our solutions, get in touch with us.

Applicable Markets for this Solution:

Humanitarian
Municipal
Hospitality
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