Culture optimality, phylogenetic analysis and bioethanol production from Tetraselmis spp using yeast

Conference poster, 2012

Tetraselmis spp are green microalgae, motile, and about 10x14 µm. These organisms are known as rich in proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. The species have a high content of carbohydrates in the cell wall. Therefore, it is assumed that these microalgae are a promising raw material for bio-ethanol production through carbohydrate fermentation using yeast. The objectives of this research are to find the best strain, using strains isolated from Indonesian seas compared to other regions (Europe, America, Australia, Asia), and to find suitable scheme of illumination and Nitrogen-Phosphoruos ratio of the medium for culturing the species to produce carbohydrates as source of ethanol fermentation. There are three steps of research in the attempt to achieve those objectives. The first step is to improve the microalgal cultivation, to obtain an optimal growth for carbohydrate production. The second step is performing a phylogenetic analysis of the strains studied and the third step is fermentation using yeast.