Author Archives: Radhouan Ben-Hamadou

About Radhouan Ben-Hamadou

Dr. Radhouan Ben-Hamadou (Eng., PhD) is an oceanographer and ecohydrologist researcher at the Centre of Marine & Environmental Research (CIMAR-CCMAR) / University of Algarve (Portugal). He acts as Deputy Director of the UNESCO International Centre for Coastal Ecohydrology (UNESCO-ICCE). Lately he has been engaged in promoting the Ecohydrology paradigm, based on functional relationships between hydrology and biota, for an integrated approach joining IWRM and ICZM. He is a founder of the International Society of Ecohydrology (IS-ECOHYD). His activities stressed on issues related to the enhancement of the carrying capacity (robustness) of ecosystems against human impacts and developing sustainable water resource management tools based on ecosystem properties. Dr. Radhouan has been heavily engaged recently in Water management and Bio-Energy related technologies and knowledge transfer to the MENA region.

Algae Biorefinery – Promise and Potential

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High oil prices, competing demands between foods and other biofuel sources, and the world food crisis, have ignited interest in algaculture (farming of algae) for making vegetable oil, biodiesel, bioethanol, biogasoline, biomethanol, biobutanol and other biofuels. Algae can be efficienctly grown on land that is not suitable for agriculture and hold huge potential to provide a non-food, high-yield source of biodiesel, ethanol and hydrogen fuels.  Several recent studies have pointed out that biofuel from microalgae has the potential to become a renewable, cost-effective alternative for fossil fuel with reduced impact on the environment and the world supply of staple foods, such as wheat, maize and sugar. What are Algae? Algae … Continue reading →

Prospects of Algae Biofuels in GCC

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Algae biofuels have the potential to become a renewable, cost-effective alternative for fossil fuels with reduced impact on the environment. Algae hold tremendous potential to provide a non-food, high-yield, non-arable land use source of renewable fuels like biodiesel, bioethanol, hydrogen etc. Microalgae are considered as a potential oleo-feedstock, as they produce lipids through photosynthesis, i.e. using only CO2, water, sunlight, phosphates, nitrates and other (oligo) elements that can be found in residual waters. Algae also produce proteins, isoprenoids and polysaccharides. Some strains of algae ferment sugars to produce alcohols, under the right growing conditions. Their biomass can be processed to … Continue reading →