Production of Sugars and Levulinic Acid from Marine Biomass Gelidium amansii

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and biotechnology Vol. 161; no. 1-8; pp. 41 - 52
• Main Authors: Jeong, Gwi-Taek, Park, Don-Hee
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York New York : Humana Press Inc 01.05.2010; Humana Press Inc; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acid production; Algae; Animals; Biochemistry; biofuels; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Catalysis; Chemical reactions; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Enzyme Inhibitors - chemistry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; galactose; Galactose - chemistry; Gelidiaceae; Gelidium amansii; glucose; Glucose - chemistry; levulinic acid; Levulinic Acids - chemistry; optimization; response surface methodology; Rhodophyta - chemistry; Rhodophyta - metabolism; Seawater; Sugar; sugars; temperature; Marine biomass; Chemical intermediates; Response surface methodology; Levulinic acid; Sugar; Marine environment; Statistical method; Gelidium amansii; Production; Response surface; Biomass
• ISSN: 0273-2289; 1559-0291
• DOI: 10.1007/s12010-009-8795-5

This study focused on optimization of reaction conditions for formation of sugars and levulinic acid from marine algal biomass Gelidium amansii using acid catalyst and by using statistical approach. By this approach, optimal conditions for production of sugars and levulinic acid were found as follows: glucose (reaction temperature of 139.4°C, reaction time of 15.0 min, and catalyst concentration of 3.0%), galactose (108.2°C, 45.0 min, and 3.0%), and levulinic acid (160.0°C, 43.1 min, and 3.0%). While trying to optimize the conditions for the production of glucose and galactose, levulinic acid production was found to be minimum. Similarly, the production of glucose and galactose were found to be minimum while optimizing the conditions for the production of levulinic acid. In addition, optimized production of glucose required a higher reaction temperature and shorter reaction time than that of galactose. Levulinic acid was formed at a high reaction temperature, long reaction time, and high catalyst concentration. The combined results of this study may provide useful information to develop more economical and efficient systems for production of sugars and chemicals from marine biomass.