Bioconversion of the Brown Tunisian Seaweed Halopteris scoparia: Application to Energy

The brown Tunisian seaweed Halopteris scoparia was used as a feedstock for producing renewable bioethanol, biogas, and biodiesel to demonstrate the proof of concept North African energy sector. A quantitative qualitative quantification H. composition using different colorimetric methods completed highlight its bioconversion potential. These substrate inputs were subjected anaerobic fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae produce bioethanol. materials also generate bio-hydrogen volatile fatty acids during dark bacterial consortium oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. lipids extracted trans-esterified Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs), their profiles then analyzed with gas chromatography (GC). significant ratio e.g., 0.35 g ethanol/g DW substrate, produced without pretreatment, consistent theoretical Gay-Lussac yield. production biohydrogen up 1.3 mL H2/g 0.04 g/g respectively, from raw biomass. results higher than those reported other well-studied seaweeds such L. japonica. Overall, this work contributes current investigations in Tunisia alternative energies algae finding new solutions situation environmental challenges Maghreb.