Exploration of upstream and downstream process for microwave assisted sustainable biodiesel production from microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sharma, Amit Kumar; Sahoo, Pradeepta Kumar; Singhal, Shailey; Joshi, Girdhar
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 216(2016)
• Page Start: 793
• Page End: 800
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Chlorella vulgaris -- Open raceway cultivation -- Microwave irradiation -- Biodiesel; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.06.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Upstream and downstream process in Chlorella vulgaris has been explored for microwave assisted sustainable biodiesel production. 92.53% harvesting efficiency was achieved by a combined method of flocculation and filtration. 84.03% yield obtained by acid-based catalyzed transesterification in microwave assisted reactor. Microwave assisted transesterification was more efficient than conventional heating transesterification. Chlorella vulgaris can produce 13.62 ton/hectare/year biodiesel. Abstract: The present study explores the integrated approach for the sustainable production of biodiesel from Chlorella vulgaris microalgae. The microalgae were cultivated in 10 m 2 open raceway pond at semi-continuous mode with optimum volumetric and areal production of 28.105 kg/L/y and 71.51 t/h/y, respectively. Alum was used as flocculent for harvesting the microalgae and optimized at different pH. Lipid was extracted using chloroform: methanol (2:1) and having 12.39% of FFA. Effect of various reaction conditions such as effect of catalyst, methanol:lipid ratio, reaction temperature and time on biodiesel yields were studied under microwave irradiation; and 84.01% of biodiesel yield was obtained under optimized reaction conditions. A comparison was also made between the biodiesel productions under conventional heating and microwave irradiation. The synthesized biodiesel was characterized by 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, FTIR and GC; however, fuel properties of biodiesel were also studied using specified test methods as per ASTM and EN standards.