Production of biodiesel from microalgae via nanocatalyzed transesterification process: A review

Microalgae biomass is becoming an interesting raw material to produce biodiesel, where several approaches in the transesterification process have been applied such as different catalysts, different acyl acceptors, incorporation of co-solvents and the different operational conditions. However there are some drawbacks that must be solved before any industrial application could be intended. The main problems are related with the high water content of the biomass (over 80 %) and the several process steps involved in biodiesel production such as: drying, cell disruption, oils extraction, transesterification and biodiesel refining. In comparison to other alternatives, the use of direct transesterification could be a suitable alternative since cell disruption, lipids extraction and transesterification are carried out in one step, with a direct reaction of oil-bearing biomass to biodiesel. This process could be applied even using biomass with high water content, and its efficiency could be improved by the incorporation of promising technologies such as microwave or ultrasonication that can enhance the mass transfer rate between immiscible phases, simultaneously diminishing the reaction time. However, it is still necessary to decrease the costs of these technologies so they can be suitable alternatives in future industrial applications.

Advances in direct transesterification of microalgal biomass for biodiesel production

A perspective on biotechnological applications of thermophilic microalgae and cyanobacteria.

http://www.ibpc.fr/UMR7099/Publis/pdf/Arnold15.pdf

Identification of lipid and saccharide constituents of whole microalgal cells by 13C solid-state NMR

Comprehensive modeling and investigation of the effect of iron on the growth rate and lipid accumulation of Chlorella vulgaris cultured in batch photobioreactors

Biodiesel has received much attention in recent years. The motivation for renewable fuel is not just energy independence but also mitigation of global climate disruption, which has been called â€œthe deficiency challenge of our eraâ€ Energy, is essential and vital for development, and the global economy literally runs on energy. Although numerous reports are available on the production of biodiesel from vegetable oils of terrestrial oil-plants, such as soybean, sunflower and palm oils the use of fossil fuels as energy now widely accepted as unsustainable due to depleting resources Â  and also due to the accumulation of green house gases in the environment. Biodiesel demand is constantly increasing as the reservoir of fossil fuel are depleting. Unfortunately biodiesel production from oil crop, waste cooking oil and animal fats are not able to replace fossil fuel. The viability of the first generation biofuel production is however questionable because of the conflict with food supply. The manuscript is an attempt to review the potential of microalgae in lipid production and provides a brief summary of genes which enhances the lipid synthesis and biomass productivity of different species of micro algae.

Microalgae lipid research, past, present: A critical review for biodiesel production, in the future

In the present study, the algal samples were collected from temple tanks, saline water in Chennai, Mahapaliburam and Kovallam. Collections were carried out during the month of September 2010 and February 2011. Samples were studied in the laboratory and identified. In their surveyed the population, identification, morphological, and examined the Nile red method with microalgae genus of various classes. Various physical and chemical treatments were applied to the existing Nile red method to improve the effectiveness and efficiency. The following algae were present Chlorella vulgaris, Nannnochloropsis, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Tetraselmis suecica, Chlorococcum humicolo, Scenedesmus acuminatus, Amphora coffeaformis, and Nitzschia longissima . Algae are described with photographs.

Isolation, identification, morphological studies and lipid granules staining (Nile red) of different micro-algae for biodiesel production from fresh water and saline water.

Four species of micro and macroalgae collected from Mahabalipuram and Kovalam were analyzed for their elemental composition with the help of Perkin Elmer Optima DV Inductively Couple Plasma â€“ Optical Emission Spectroscopy. Several significant elements e.g., Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium and Iron were detected quantitatively. Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium were found in large amounts (22.461 â€“ 626.385 ppm), Iron and Sodium were present in small quantities (2.391 â€“ 6.167 ppm). The average quantity of Potassium was found to be highest among these algae (626.385 ppm), followed by Calcium (65.253 ppm) and Magnesium (22.461 ppm) and low quantity of Sodium (6.167 ppm) and Iron (2.391 ppm).

Ramasamy Sakthivel

Papers

Microalgae lipid research, past, present: A critical review for biodiesel production, in the future

Isolation, identification, morphological studies and lipid granules staining (Nile red) of different micro-algae for biodiesel production from fresh water and saline water.

Analysis of algal cell elements collected from temple tanks, rock ponds and seashore in Kovalam and Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India