Biodiesel from microalgae

• Main Author: Lee, Eunice You Jing.
• Other Authors: Chen Wei Ning, William
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Chemical engineering::Fuel
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/38887
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In the era of increasing oil prices, energy crisis and global warming concerns, there are many reasons why we should consider the use of a more environmentally friendly solution to meet the current energy consumption. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is the major contributor of global warming and is generated by burning fossil fuels. Over the years, global warming has caused tremendous damage to the environment. Recently, biofuels have gained much attention as alternatives to fossil fuels. Biofuels are clean burning fuel source mainly produced from vegetable oils and animal fats. Vegetable oils and animal fats are non-toxic and most importantly, they are renewable. Microalgal oils are preferred over vegetable oils and animal fats because microalgae are non-edible and hence, do not cause the increase in food prices. Microalgae is cultivated to produce the maximum lipid content, harvested and reacted with methanol to generate fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) which is our biodiesel. This process if known as transesterification. Biodiesel can be used directly or blended with petroleum to use as fuel.