Zeitschrift für Küstenzonenmanagement

Abstrakt

Gracilaria chilensis: Bioethanol Production and By-Product Characterization

Carmen Gloria Seguel*, Emilio Soto and José Rojas

One of the most important challenges for the new global economy is to find new sources of bioenergy. Due to its photosynthetic efficiency and the possibility of biotransformation of its carbohydrates into bioethanol, seaweed plays an important role as a source of renewable biomass fuel. This paper aims firstly to assess Gracilaria chilensis (red algae) as a substrate for bioethanol production by using anaerobic fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and then to characterize the by-products of this biotransformation. The main stage in the generation of solid byproducts is the hydrolysis with a yield about 50% w/w dry weigh. This by-product contains: fiber (42.7% w/w), proteins (39.95% w/w), carbohydrates (6.43% w/w), lipids (5.77% w/w), ashes (5.15% w/w) and a percentage of micronutrients P >K > Ca >Mg >Na in minor quantity than G. chilensis biomass.