Abstract
Macroalgae commonly found in the ocean around Hawaii were collected from near shore locations and their potential as biomass feedstock for fermentative ethanol was investigated. A green alga, Ulva reticulata, was selected for further analysis. This species forms large complex structures that grow quickly and has high dry biomass percentage (20%), soluble carbohydrates (18%), and high total carbohydrates along with low quantities of lignin (13%). During acid saccharification, it was determined that 49% of the total mass was observed as sugars in the hydrolysate; however, fermentation was problematic. Enzymatic saccharification using cellulase from Trichoderma reesei was attempted which recovered a measured maximum of 20% glucose based on the initial dry mass. Fermentation successfully converted all the glucose to ethanol. The measured ethanol yield corresponded to approximately 90 L per tonne of dried macroalgae.
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