Preliminary Study on Ethanol Production by Using Macro Green Algae

Abstract

In order to estimate the potential of ethanol production from the macro green algae, we collected 10 species of macro green algae in Thailand, Vietnam and Japan, classified into 3 families; and determined the neutral monosaccharides compositions. The contents of neutral monosaccharides differed in the same family, however those compositions were almost same. Cheatomorpha aereas collected in Vietnam was the most glucose-rich sample of these samples, about 300 mg of glucose per gram of organic matter. The experiments of enzymatic saccharification and the ethanol fermentation were carried out by using Ulva spp. collected in Japan. The glucose yield was about 95% by using Acremonium cellulase after the pretreatment of autoclave (120°.C, 20min.). The efficiency of ethanol fermentation by using S. cerevisiae IR-2 after the enzymatic saccharification was about 90%. Over 4 % (w/v) of NaCl concentration inhibited the ethanol fermentation, while the effect of NaCl concentration for the saccharification was small.