Production of Biosugar from Red Macro-algae Eucheuma cottonii using Acid-hydrolysis

摘要

In this study, biosugar production by the red-algae Eucheuma cottonii was investigated using dilute sulfuric acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and data analysis by response surface methodology. This approach yielded 25.8 g/1 total reducing sugar under the conditions of 160.1°C, 1% (v/v) sulfuric acid, and 13.1 min. The sugar concentration showed a linear inverse correlation with the combined severity factor (CSF) of the reaction conditions. CSF was calculated as log(￡-exp[(TH - Tr)/14.75]) -pH, where ( isthe coupling reaction time, Th is the target temperature, and Tr is the reference temperature (100°C). In addition, levulinic acid production showed a linear positive correlation with CSF. E. cottonii may represent a useful feedstock for sugar production in the field of bioenergy.