Biodiesel Production from Freshwater Algae

A novel approach in the production of renewable energy carrier-namely, biodiesel-was performed using algal biomass as a raw material. The effect of drying algal biomass and its role oil lipid content during extraction process was also investigated. Transesterification of algal oil was conducted, using ethanol in the presence of potassium hydroxide as a catalyst. A gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) chromatogram was used to analyze the organic compounds present in the crude biodiesel sample after the transesterification process. The lipid content in the algal biomass was determined to be 45% +/- 4%. Biodiesel derived from algae had a fuel value with the following characteristics: density, 0.801 kg/L; ash content, 0.21%; flash point, 98 degrees C; pour point, -14 degrees C; cetane number, 52; minimum gross calorific value, 40 MJ/kg; and water content, 0.02 vol %. Copper strip corrosion showed a value less than that of Class 1, which was close to light orange, when compared to the polished strip (i.e., slight tarnish).