초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The seaweed <I>Ulva prolifera</I>, distributed in inter-tidal zones worldwide, contains a large percentage of cellulosic materials. The technical feasibility of using <I>U. prolifera</I> residue (UPR) obtained after extraction of polysaccharides as a renewable energy resource was investigated. An environment-friendly and economical pretreatment process was conducted using hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide pretreatment improved the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis. The resulting yield of reducing sugar reached a maximum of 0.42g/g UPR under the optimal pretreatment condition (hydrogen peroxide 0.2%, 50°C, pH 4.0, 12h). The rate of conversion of reducing sugar in the concentrated hydrolysates to bioethanol reached 31.4% by <I>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</I> fermentation, which corresponds to 61.7% of the theoretical maximum yield. Compared with other reported traditional processes on <I>Ulva</I> biomass, the reducing sugar and bioethanol yield are substantially higher. Thus, hydrogen peroxide pretreatment is an effective enhancement of the process of bioethanol production from the seaweed <I>U. prolifera</I>.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> <I>Ulva prolifera</I> residue was used as a feedstock for bioethanol production. </LI> <LI> H<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB> pretreatment is the first to use in marine biomass to obtain fermentable sugar. </LI> <LI> Reducing sugar yield was 0.42g/g UPR higher than earlier report. </LI> </UL> </P>