Title: Bioethanol production from algae

Authors: Pratima Jeetah; B. Bholah; R. Mohee

Addresses: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Mauritius, Le Reduit, Moka, Mauritius ' Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Mauritius, Le Reduit, Moka, Mauritius ' Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Mauritius, Le Reduit, Moka, Mauritius

Abstract: Biofuel from algae, being a third generation biofuel is considered as one of the options since it satisfies the criteria of sustainability by far as compared to second and first generation biofuel. Ulva recticulata and Sargassum cristaefolium are two common algae found along the coast of Mauritius and common in the Indian Ocean too. Concentrated acid hydrolysis has been found to be more effective than dilute acid hydrolysis in terms of reducing sugar yield in this study. Maximum concentration of reducing sugar obtained for U. recticulata and S. cristaefolium was 1982 and 1976 mg/100 ml of hydrolysate, respectively when a biomass loading of 20% (w/w) was used. Ethanol yield of 1.6% (v/v) of ethanol was obtained from U. recticulata and 1.4% (v/v) from S. cristaefolium. Detoxification of hydrolysate with calcium hydroxide and activated carbon increases the yield by 23% for U. recticulata and by 16.7% for S. cristaefolium.

Keywords: bioethanol production; algae; Ulva recticulata; Sargassum cristaefolium; hydrolysis; biofuels.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.2016.076350

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 2016 Vol.39 No.3/4, pp.204 - 221

Received: 11 May 2015
Accepted: 28 Jan 2016

Published online: 04 May 2016 *

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