Seawater – a sustainable solution for the freshwater drain in bioethanol industries

Abstract

Consuming fresh water for the production of bioethanol cannot be considered as a sustainable approach due to the worldwide threats on the availability of fresh water in the future. Seawater has been studied as a reaction medium by several research groups in fermentative, enzymatic and chemo-catalytic applications. Several reports concluded that the utilization of seawater would be highly promising and hence the prospects at the interface between biology and chemistry are predictable for holistic innovations and further research. The policies made by several countries have also recommended the implementation of alternative technologies to reduce the consumption of fresh water in industries. This serious situation warrants the development of efficient, ecofriendly, sustainable practices for achieving the sustainability in the global fine and specialty chemicals’ industry.