Optimization of the Hydrolysis Process of Microalgae Porphyridium cruentum Biomass with Variations of Hydrochloric Acid Concentration, Temperature, and Time using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Abstract

Microalgae Porphyridium cruentum has potential as a raw material for bioethanol production because it has a high carbohydrate content. These carbohydrates can be broken down into reducing sugars through the hydrolysis process. The reducing sugar obtained will be used as a substrate in the production of bioethanol. This study aimed to produce a substrate with the best-reducing sugar indicator and to determine the optimum conditions for hydrolysis of P. cruentum microalgae biomass following the Box-Behnken statistical experimental design, using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The parameters of the optimized hydrolysis process were HCl concentration (2 - 0.2 N), temperature (60 -120 ˚C), and hydrolysis time (30-180 min). The optimum conditions that have been achieved using RSM are an HCl concentration of 1.91 N, a temperature of 60 °C, and a hydrolysis time of 180 min were predicted a maximum total reducing sugar production of 810 mg/L. The experimental result of total reducing sugar obtained at optimum conditions was 895 mg/L, which was well close to the predicted value, verifying the appropriateness of the model.Abstract is informed about the statements of the problem, methods, scientific finding results and conclusion concisely