The Production of Bioethanol Through Anaerobic Fermentation of Chlorella Algae and Corn
Every person that drives a car wants to pay the minimum for gas. A cheaper alternative to regular gas is E85 or ethanol 85. E85 is created by fermenting plant matter, traditionally corn. However, corn is used is in such a wide variety that is in a very high demand. An alternative like algae that is in abundance, has a fast growth rate, the ability to grow in various conditions, little use in food industry, and green production and harvesting methods worth researching. To see if algae was a better alternative both algae and corn were fermented and the ethanol and fermentable sugar concentrations were measured.
In order to ferment the substances, Chlorella algae flour and corn flour were first liquefied with water, heat, and alpha amylase enzymes for a total of two and a half hours. After sitting for 24 hours yeast, urea, glucoamylase enzymes, and ampicillin were added to the mashes. The ethanol and fermentable sugar concentrations were measured at this point using a brix refractometer and an ethanol sensor. The solutions then fermented without air for 72 hours. The ethanol and fermentable sugar concentration were measured again and compared to the data that was measured at zero hours.
After completing the trials, the average difference of ethanol concentrations and fermentable sugar concentrations were calculated. Based on the results of the experiment, the average ethanol concentration was much higher for corn than the average of algae. In addition, there were also more fermentable sugars in corn flour than there was in algae flour. This lead to the hypothesis that chlorella algae flour would produce more ethanol to be rejected.
Research Conducted By:
Sara Nevedal
Lake Shore High School
Stephen Robinson
Sterling Heights High School
Warren Consolidated Schools