The purpose of this experiment is to test which invasive type of seaweed species, Brown (Sargassum) or Green (Ulva Lactuca) can produce the most Bioethanol fuel at a given time of fermentation. If a Sargassum biofuel and an Ulva Lactuca biofuel are created then the Sargassum biofuel will be estimated to produce the most biofuel after 144 hours of fermentation. To perform this experiment, Both seaweeds were cleaned with distilled water. They were then dehydrated and set aside. After turned into fine powders the seaweeds were hydrolyzed with sulfuric acid and autoclaved. Cellulase and Amylase were added and enzymatic digestion was performed in an incubator. Yeast was then placed in the solutions to ferment and ethanol yield would be calculated (96h, 120h, 144h). Samples were then diluted using distilled water and Sulfuric acid. Samples of each solution were then placed into a microplate and placed into the microplate reader to measure absorbance value. With that number and a series of calculations the amount of glucose was calculated and then the yield of bioethanol produced was estimated. The amount of ethanol calculated in grams for the green seaweed was 0.001096937, 0.001225892, and 0.001382597. While, the amount of ethanol calculated in grams for the brown seaweed was 0.001222627, 0.001425038, and 0.001607861. The longer the seaweed mixtures fermented the more ethanol was yielded. This experiment is of practical use because this biofuel can reduce pollution as well as alleviate the coastal issue of these invasive species and many more others in the future.
