TITLE:
Biodiesel Production from Spirulina-Platensis Microalgae by In-Situ Transesterification Process
AUTHORS:
H. I. El-Shimi, Nahed K. Attia, S. T. El-Sheltawy, G. I. El-Diwani
KEYWORDS:
Biodiesel; Spirulina-Platensis; Microalgae; In-Situ Transesterification
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems,
Vol.3 No.3,
September
20,
2013
ABSTRACT:
This research investigates the effect of reaction
variables that strongly affect the cost of biodiesel production from non-edible Spirulina-Platensis microalgae lipids, and use the
acid-catalyzed in situ transesterification process. Experiments were designed to determine how
variations in volume of reacting methanol, the concentration of an acid catalyst, time, temperature and stirring affected the biodiesel
yield. The total lipid content of Spirulina-Platensis microalgae was
obtained to be 0.1095g/g
biomass. The weight of the by-product glycerol obtained was used to predict the
percentage yield conversion of microalgae oil biodiesel. Best results (84.7%), a yield of fatty acid
methyl ester (FAME), were obtained at 100%
(wt./wt.oil) catalyst concentration, 80 ml methanol volumes, 8 h reaction time
and 65℃ reaction temperature with continuous stirring at 650 rpm. Properties
of the produced biodiesel were measured according to EN 14214 standards.