title: Bioethanol production from the macroalgae Sargassum spp.
abstract: Macroalgae, an abundant and carbon-neutral renewable resource, with several species rich in carbohydrates are suitable for bioethanol production. This study focused on the pretreatment, enzyme saccharification and fermentation of Sargassum spp., a brown macroalgae for bioethanol production. The optimal acid pretreatment condition achieved in terms of glucose and reducing sugar yields was 3.4-4.6% (w/v) H2SO4 concentration, 115°C and 1.50h. The pretreated biomass was hydrolyzed with cellulase enzyme system supplemented with β-glucosidase. After fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 40°C, pH of 4.5 for 48 h, the ethanol conversion rate of the enzyme hydrolysate reached 89%, which was markedly higher than the theoretical yield of 51% based on glucose as substrate. Since all the glucose was consumed during fermentation, other sugar sources might be present in the hydrolysate. The macroalgae, Sargassum spp., showed significant potential as a renewable feedstock for the production of bioethanol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños College, 4031 Laguna, Philippines. mgborines@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Myra G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Borines
authors.forename: Rizalinda L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: de Leon
authors.forename: Joel L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cuello
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002475:Cellobiose / Q000378:metabolism; D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006868:Hydrolysis; D044647:Sargassum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D002475:Cellobiose; D000431:Ethanol; D001617:beta-Glucosidase; D002480:Cellulase; D005947:Glucose