Macroalgae-Based Bioethanol

Abstract

The chapter discusses the methods effective for the extraction of useful energy from the macroalgae biomass including liquefaction, anaerobic digestion, fermentation to biobutanol, trans-esterification to biodiesel, pyrolysis, direct combustion, fermentation to bioethanol, and gasification. However, if the algae are suited for the production of biodiesel, they can be studied from the content of their triacylglycerols (TAGs). Due to having high fatty acid content, they have a high conversion rate to biodiesel, and the lack of sulphur, phosphorus, and nitrogen also aids in the conversion. This chapter highlights the limitations and suitability of macroalgae for the conversion process in reference to chemical composition, process optimization, and cost effectiveness. It is concluded that bio-oils and bioethanol produced from wet macroalgae are considered over biodiesel production because of high lipid content of microalgae biomass. Moreover, the chapter considers electricity production from the dry mass as it would turn profitable, and this can be achieved from fast-growing macroalgae like “Ulva.”