Value-addition in Production of Ethanol from Macro Algae
Scientists have found a way to produce bio-ethanol from macro algal biomass of Gracilaria dura an
d Gelidiella acerosa and Gellidium pusillum. A ton of fresh biomass could supply several valuable extracts. Enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of cellulose obtained could yield 1.8 – 17.4 kg of ethanol.
The major highlight of this process is that along with ethanol, several by-products such as agar, pigments, lipids and fertilizer could be extracted.
