Conclusions
Compositional analysis of Sargassum spp. revealed its advantage
as feedstock for ethanol production. The pretreatment temperature
obtained for this macroalgae, as well as the enzyme saccharification
conditions employed are relatively milder compared to that
of terrestrial biomass. The ethanol conversions obtained from this
study were markedly higher than the theoretical yield based on
glucose as substrate. Since all the glucose present in the hydrolysate
was consumed during fermentation, other sugars were also
converted to ethanol. Therefore, the macroalgae, Sargassum spp.,
showed significant potential as a renewable feedstock for the production
of bioethanol.