Biochemical Conversion of Algae Biomass: Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Fermentation

Due to the high availability of carbohydrates in cellular composition of algae and the absence of lignin in most species, the application of their hydrolysates as raw material in the production of biomolecules in biorefineries has stimulated the development of studies that aim to reduce challenges related to green production, in parallel with economic obstacles, when compared to other biomass generation routes. Classified as third-generation raw material, micro and macroalgae are highly efficient photosynthetic organisms that have biomasses of great economic power. However, when applied to industry, depending on the product, their applications require a pre-treatment step, which changes according to their cell wall characteristics and macromolecular components, followed by an enzymatic hydrolysis process to utilize carbohydrate or lipid fraction, mainly. In this context, this chapter aimed to discuss the main characteristics of this biomass type to fermentation applications (bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas and lactic acid) from hydrolysate obtained by an enzymatic process.