title: The analysis of macroalgae biomass found around Hawaii for bioethanol production.
abstract: Macroalgae commonly found in the ocean around Hawaii were collected from near shore locations and their potential as biomass feedstock for fermentative ethanol was investigated. A green alga, Ulva reticulata, was selected for further analysis. This species forms large complex structures that grow quickly and has high dry biomass percentage (20%), soluble carbohydrates (18%); and high total carbohydrates along with low quantities of lignin (13%). During acid saccharification, it was determined that 49% of the total mass was observed as sugars in the hydrolysate; however, fermentation was problematic. Enzymatic saccharification using cellulase from Trichoderma reesei was attempted which recovered a measured maximum of 20% glucose based on the initial dry mass. Fermentation successfully converted all the glucose to ethanol. The measured ethanol yield corresponded to approximately 90 L per tonne of dried macroalgae.
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, Honolulu, USA. byoza@hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Brandon A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Yoza
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, USA.
authors.forename: Evan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Masutani
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D002480:Cellulase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D006254:Hawaii; D006868:Hydrolysis; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D044445:Ulva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D000431:Ethanol; D002480:Cellulase