Bioethanol from Sargassum sp Using Acid Hydrolysis and Fermentation Method Using Microbial Association

Abstract

Sargassum sp is one of the abundant seaweed in Indonesian seas and it has the potential to be used as a renewable alternative energy source. Dry Sargassum sp contains 58.23% carbohydrate that can be used as bioethanol through a fermentation process. This research aims to determine the effect of fermentation time on the amount of ethanol content produced from Sargassum sp fermentation.The type of this study was laboratory experiment. The experiment was conducted by using microbial association namely Zymomonas mobilis, Tape Yeast and Bread Yeast with variation of fermentation duration of 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, and 7 days. Glucose test is done by using the DNS method. The measurement of ethanol content is done by using Gas Chromatography. In the data analysis the researcher uses correlation regression statistic method. The result of the research shows that the best treatment was 6 days fermentation duration with the amount of ethanol 24.67% with the reducing sugar content 54,570 ppm. The longer the fermentation time the higher the ethanol content produced except on the 7th day showing decline. The results of data analysis showed that the difference in fermentation time to ethanol content produced had a correlation coefficient that was positive and there was no significant relationship.