The folowing steps, as presented above are:
1) Seaweed arrives at the plant by boat. Unloads in an inlet funnel. With conveyors transported and inspected(sorted) on quality. The mincer will do the coarse grinding.
2)Starch conversion. Enzymes and water are added to extract and converted nutrients.
3)Fermentation. Yeast added to start the convertion.into the different alcohols.
4) Separation of liquid fase and solids. Drying the solids,grinding, sold as fodder.
5)Vacuum distillation to remove the alcohols, esters,and other volatile products.
6)Extraction of the fine chemicals/pharmaceuticals.Different polyols, like laminaran,mannitol, fucan, fucoidan, phycobiliproteins, alginate,carrageenan
The first 4 steps to done locally, as close as possible to the shore.Step 5 and 6 at more central location. You need specialised and sophisticated equipment.

Seaweed is rich in a great number of chemical and bio-active substances. After the fermentation you have a liguid with a coctail of substances. Using a vacuum distil the volatile ones can be separated like methanol.ethanol,propanol different esters etc.

There are several ways in which organic and bio-active substances can be separated. Many of the make use of slovents. pPolar and none polar ones. Concentrating the solution and using crystallisation. If you go for bio-active material you have to watch,temperature,acidityand alkalinity during the process.