# Assessment of the Resource Potential of Baltic Sea Macroalgae
## 4 Discussion  
The composition of beach-cast algae samples collected in the Kaliningrad zone of the Baltic Sea coast revealed that drifting algae thalli accounted for an average of 95% of the total mass of the sample cleaned from sand in the vast majority of cases. The share of anthropogenic waste in casts did not exceed 2%. Anthropogenic waste was represented by polymers, textiles with a small proportion of metals and composite materials. The composition of the waste also contained broken glass and cigarette butts. casts were significantly contaminated with natural mineral impurities (up to 39% of wet weight). This considerably reduces the variety of conceivable applications for biomass, as contaminants decrease the quality of the resulting polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, making their use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries both practically and technologically problematic. Most casts were local in nature and were observed along the northern coast of the Sambian Peninsula (from Cape Taran to Zelenogradsk), which is very convenient for resolving logistical issues associated with collecting and delivering biomass for processing. The species composition was quite diverse; during the study, 14 species of drifting algae and sea grasses were found. Two species of green algae (_Cladophora_ and _Ulva_) and two species of red algae (_Furellaria lumbricalis_ and _Polysiphonia ticoides_) were dominant. Following the seasonal dynamics of the species, the composition of algae casting was established. In the cold period (from September to the end of May), the red algae _Furellaria lumbricalis_ and _Polysiphonia ticoides_ (up to 90-100%) prevailed; in the summer period, green algae of the genera _Cladophora_ and _Ulva_ prevail. Such species diversity requires the development of two technological cascade processing scenarios (summer and winter, with a change in regimes and the range of products). An analysis of the fatty acid composition of algae biomass led to the conclusion that the most significant components include unsaturated fatty acids (linolenic acid) and their esters \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Algae Biomass Used**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**DPPH (IC\({}_{50}\)), mg/mL**} \\ \cline{2-3}  & **Whole Algae Biomass Alcohol Extract** & **Acetone Solution of Lipids** \\ \hline _Cladophora_ & 136.61 \(\pm\) 4.09 & 0.0167 \(\pm\) 0.0005 \\ _Polysiphonia_ & 1069.21 \(\pm\) 32.07 & 0.0394 \(\pm\) 0.0011 \\ _Ulva_ sp. & 314.74 \(\pm\) 9.43 & 0.0026 \(\pm\) 0.0001 \\ _Furellaria_ & 90.38 \(\pm\) 2.71 & 0.0739 \(\pm\) 0.0022 \\ \hline Ascorbic acid & & \\ (control) & & 0.0084 \(\pm\) 0.0002 & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 8: Antioxidant activity indicators of algae alcohol extracts. (geronyl izovalerate). Linolenic acid belongs to essential fatty acids and is of great interest in connection with its use in pharmacology and medicine as part of anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating agents, in dietology, and biologically active food supplements [67, 68, 69]. It has now been scientifically proven that products containing linolenic acid can be used for weight management, to control food intake, appetite and/or weight loss [68]. Foods and drugs containing linolenic acid can be used to normalize cardiovascular activity [69]. High molecular weight saturated fatty acids (methyl palmit, methyl stearate, be-henic acid methyl oleate, and tribenehoate glycerate) are not so valuable from the point of view of applications in cosmetology and pharmaceuticals. However, for example, methyl palmit is successfully used as an emulsifier and flavoring agent in the food industry [70]. Methyl stearate is used in the cosmetic industry [71, 72]. Tribenehoate glycerate is used in cosmetics and as an adjuvant in the manufacturing of drugs [73, 74]. Behenic acid, the main component of rapeseed oil, is used for the production of fuels [75].