Saccharification of microalgae biomass obtained from wastewater treatment by enzymatic hydrolysis. Effect of alkaline-peroxide pretreatment

Bioresour Technol. 2016 Oct:218:265-71. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.06.087. Epub 2016 Jun 24.

Abstract

An enzymatic method for the carbohydrate hydrolysis of different microalgae biomass cultivated in domestic (DWB) and pig manure (PMWB) wastewaters, at different storage conditions (fresh, freeze-dried and reconstituted), was evaluated. The DWB provided sugars yields between 40 and 63%, although low xylose yields (< 23.5%). Approximately 2% of this biomass was converted to byproducts as succinic, acetic and formic acids. For PMWB, a high fraction of the sugars (up to 87%) was extracted, but mainly converted into acetic, butyric and formic acids, which was attributed to the bacterial action. In addition, the performance of an alkaline-peroxide pretreatment, conducted for 1h, 50°C and H2O2 concentrations from 1 to 7.5% (w/w), was essayed. The hydrolysis of pretreated microalgae supported a wide range of sugars extraction for DWB (55-90%), and 100% for PMWB. Nevertheless, a large fraction of these sugars (∼30% for DWB and 100% for PMWB) was transformed to byproducts.

Keywords: Alkaline-peroxide pretreatment; Enzymatic hydrolysis; Glucose; Wastewater; Xylose.

MeSH terms

  • Acetic Acid / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Biomass
  • Butyric Acid / chemistry
  • Carbohydrates / chemistry
  • Formates / chemistry
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / chemistry*
  • Hydrolysis
  • Microalgae / chemistry
  • Microalgae / metabolism*
  • Swine
  • Waste Management / methods*
  • Wastewater*
  • Xylose / chemistry

Substances

  • Carbohydrates
  • Formates
  • Waste Water
  • formic acid
  • Butyric Acid
  • Xylose
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Acetic Acid