We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Sustainable Exploitation of Posidonia oceanica Sea Balls (Egagropili): A Review
Summary
This review explored sustainable uses for Posidonia oceanica sea balls (egagropili) that wash ashore on Mediterranean beaches, examining their potential as natural materials for insulation, biofiltration, and coastal erosion protection.
Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is the main seagrass plant in the Mediterranean basin that forms huge underwater meadows. Its leaves, when decomposed, are transported to the coasts, where they create huge banquettes that protect the beaches from sea erosion. Its roots and rhizome fragments, instead, aggregate into fibrous sea balls, called egagropili, that are shaped and accumulated by the waves along the shoreline. Their presence on the beach is generally disliked by tourists, and, thus, local communities commonly treat them as waste to remove and discard. Posidonia oceanica egagropili might represent a vegetable lignocellulose biomass to be valorized as a renewable substrate to produce added value molecules in biotechnological processes, as bio-absorbents in environmental decontamination, to prepare new bioplastics and biocomposites, or as insulating and reinforcement materials for construction and building. In this review, the structural characteristics, and the biological role of Posidonia oceanica egagropili are described, as well as their applications in different fields as reported in scientific papers published in recent years.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
The trapping of microplastics in the Posidonia oceanica aegagropiles in Tunisian coastal areas—Southern Mediterranean
Researchers evaluated microplastic contamination trapped in aegagropiles, the fibrous marine balls formed by Posidonia oceanica seagrass, along Tunisian coastal areas in the southern Mediterranean. The study found that these natural structures effectively trap microplastic particles from beach environments, providing both a useful indicator of local microplastic pollution levels and a natural mechanism for capturing plastic debris.
Exploring the Potential of Posidonia oceanica Fibers in Eco-Friendly Composite Materials: A Review
This review explores the potential of Posidonia oceanica, a marine seagrass abundant in the Mediterranean, as a natural fiber reinforcement in composite materials. The plant fibers show promise as fillers in both cementitious and polymer composites, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic reinforcements that contribute to microplastic pollution. Using this abundant marine biomass in construction and manufacturing could reduce dependence on synthetic plastics while valorizing a natural resource.
Posidonia Spheroids Intercepting Plastic Litter: Implication for Beach Clean-Ups
Researchers analyzed seagrass fiber balls (Posidonia spheroids) on four Mediterranean beaches and found they can trap significant quantities of plastic litter — up to 132 plastic items per kilogram of spheroid material. The study recommends that beach clean-up programs specifically target spheroid removal to prevent trapped plastics from being re-released into the sea as the plant material decomposes.
Posidonia Spheroids Intercepting Plastic Litter: Implications for Beach Clean-Ups
Posidonia seagrass spheroids — natural balls of fibrous seagrass debris that wash up on Mediterranean beaches — trap significant quantities of plastic litter, averaging 2.5 items per spheroid including fibers and fragments as small as 0.1 mm. The study recommends that beach clean-up programs specifically target and remove all spheroids to prevent them from disintegrating and releasing their trapped plastic back into the sea.
The Role of Posidonia oceanica Spheroids in Assessing Microplastic Contamination in Coastal Ecosystems
Researchers collected 1,300 Posidonia oceanica spheroids along the Italian coast and found that about 35% contained plastic debris, with nearly half of the items classified as microplastics. The most common polymers were nylon and PET, and contamination levels correlated with proximity to wastewater treatment plants. The study suggests that these seagrass spheroids could serve as useful bioindicators for monitoring microplastic pollution in coastal ecosystems.