Continuous design and economic analysis of a Sargassum muticum biorefinery process.

This work assesses scale effects in designing a biorefinery from Sargassum muticum seaweed by applying a detailed process modeling methodology. Two process conversion units were simulated: one considering anaerobic digestion steps for producing biogas and generating electricity (base project), and the other with residual seaweed solids sold as fertilizer (alternative project). A comprehensive economic analysis was performed to estimate the minimum selling price of the process's main product (fucoidan extract).