Emerging methods to extract bioactive compounds from brown algae: a comprehensive review of performance, readiness, and sustainability

For centuries, brown algae have been used as medicine—now, cutting-edge extraction methods are unlocking their full potential while saving the planet.

Brown algae are a treasure trove of bioactive compounds, but traditional extraction methods are heavy on solvents and energy, leaving a hefty environmental footprint. This review, covering studies from 2014 to 2025, shines a spotlight on emerging techniques like pulsed electric fields, pressurized liquids, microwaves, and ultrasound. It also explores greener options such as subcritical water, supercritical CO2, enzymes, and natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES).

What sets this review apart? The authors introduce a tailored rubric to assess each method's technology readiness level (TRL) and societal readiness level (SRL). That means evaluating not just how well these methods extract, but how close they are to real-world industrial use and public acceptance.

The methods are critically compared for performance, technical pros and cons, and their economic and environmental impacts. The goal: to guide future research toward optimizing these techniques and overcoming current hurdles, so the industrial potential of brown algae-derived compounds can be fully realized.

Key Points

• Review of 8 emerging extraction methods for brown algae (2014-2025).
• Introduces a rubric for technology and societal readiness levels.
• Evaluates performance, economic, and environmental implications.