The Effect of Fermentation Time, pH and Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Concentration for Bioethanol Production from Ulva Reticulata Macroalgae.

Research has been carried out on the effect of pH, fermentation time and yeast concentration on bioethanol production through hydrolysis using a CEM (Ceramic Elekctromagnetic Microwave) synthesizer and bioethanol production from Ulva reticulata seaweed. Ulva reticulata seaweed contains carbohydrates in the form of heteropolysaccharides such as glucose, arabinose, ramnose and xylose which are very abundant and suitable for conversion into bioethanol because the people of Timor Island do not use them as food. The carbohydrate content of Ulva reticulata seaweed can be converted into hexose and pentose sugars (glucose, arabinose, ramnose and xylose) through hydrolysis using 3 types of acid catalysts, namely hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3). Fermentation was carried out with S. cerevisiae concentration variation of 6; 8; 10; 12 % (v/v) and fermentation time variation of 3; 5; 7; 9 days and a pH variation of 4; 4.5; 5; 5.5 at a temperature of 30 °C. Reducing sugar characterization used the Dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) reagent, sample surface texture analysis was carried out using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and ethanol characterization used Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). The results of surface texture analysis before and after hydrolysis experienced significant changes. Optimal conditions for hydrolysis of Ulva reticulata seaweed using sulfuric acid (H2SO4) combined with a CEM synthesizer at an acid concentration of 3 % (v/v) with irradiation power of 200 watts for 50 min at a temperature of 150 °C, produced reducing sugar of 97.06 g/L. The results of GC-FID analysis indicated that bioethanol concentration obtained at optimal conditions of pH 4.5 was 42.32 %, S. cerevisiae concentration was 12 % with a bioethanol content of 42.53 % at a fermentation time of 5 days. This research is expected to provide information for researchers and industry to overcome world energy problems and environmental pollution through Ulva reticulata waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]