High-pressurizing green algae in third generation bioethanol production

Abstract

The effects of fossil fuel combustion are famously concerning. 70% of the global production of carbon monoxide is accounted from transportation sector; the sector in which fossil fuel is popularly being continuously used. As one alternative fuel, bioethanol is a renewable fuel which have attracted many researchers in the pursuit of lowering dependency on fossil fuel and its negative effects to the environment. In third generation bioethanol production, green algae are deemed to carry high potential as the feedstock due to its ampleness, especially in a tropical country such as Indonesia. In this study the ability to produce simple sugars of green algae was observed through high-pressurization treatment. Different treatment pressures were achieved through varying temperature set in the autoclave: 110 and 130oC. The recorded pressure was up to about 180 kPa gage, and this treatment was also compared with non-pressurizing production method. Samples were analysed for reducing sugars content through DNS method. Since simple sugars are essential in the fermentation stage, the produced sugars from green algae are the indication of potential as the feedstock in bioethanol production. The impact of this study supports the progress of fossil fuel-to-biofuel scheme in Indonesia, and the outcome from this preliminary study can be used as the reference for further studies.