Comparison of agarophytes (Gelidium, Gracilaria, and Gracilariopsis) as potential resources for bioethanol production

This study explores the possibility of producing ethanol using the acid hydrolysate of three abundant agar-containing red seaweeds (agarophytes): Gelidium amansii, Gracilaria tenuistipitata, and Gracilariopsis chorda. The main component in the seaweed samples was agar, which ranged from 20 to 51 % (g g(-1) dry weight). After optimizing acid hydrolysis, 100 g of seaweed was hydrolyzed at 130 A degrees C for 15 min with 0.2 M H2SO4. Then, 120 mL of a 1:2 mixture of the hydrolysate broth and basal medium was fermented in a 200-mL bottle at 30 A degrees C for 96 h. Of the three seaweeds, G. amansii had the best ethanol yield, producing 0.23 g g(-1) of galactose or 45 % of the theoretical yield. This yield increased to 60 % after detoxification of the hydrolysate with activated carbon.