Seaweed Could Replace Palm Oil in US Manufacturing

Mingyu Qiao is leading a project to transform seaweed into a sustainable replacement for palm oil, thanks to a $1.875 million grant from the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office.

Palm oil production has led to deforestation and biodiversity loss, as well as unjust labor practices in Southeast Asia. The US currently relies on imports to meet 100% of its demand for this critical platform chemical.

Qiao is using a biological process known as anaerobic digestion to transform sugar kelp, a popular edible seaweed native to Connecticut's waters, into medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs).

The natural salinity of seaweed inhibits methane-producing microorganisms, redirecting the process toward volatile fatty acid production. These acids can then be separated and upgraded into MCFAs.