1. Reactive Extraction of Microalgae for Biodiesel Production; an Optimization Study.
- Author
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El-Sheltawy, S. T., El-Diwani, G. I., Attia, N. K., and El-Shimi, H. I.
- Abstract
Concerns about energy security and declining of fossil fuels have led to growing worldwide interests in renewable energy sources such as biofuels. Algal biodiesel is a technically alternative and renewable diesel fuel without excessive engine modifications. This paper provides the biodiesel production from Spirulina-platensis microalgae via reactive extraction methodology "in-situ transesterification" using alcohol and acid catalyst, since the engineering factors that strongly affect the percentage yield of algal biodiesel like alcohol-to-oil molar ratio, acid-catalyst concentration, time and temperature of reaction were studied. The lipids content of Egyptian Spirulina-platensis microalgae was estimated to be 11% wt. The weight of the co-product glycerol obtained was employed to estimate the percentage yield of algal biodiesel. Experiments to look for algal biodiesel was successful; since 84.7% as a yield was achieved at 1:3714 molar ratio of oil-to-alcohol, 100% (wt./wt. oil) catalyst concentration, 8h reaction time at temperature of 65°C with continuous agitation at 650 rpm. Various properties of produced biodiesel were investigated according to EN 14214 standards. Spirulina-platensis methyl esters were closest to be applied as biodiesel according to their properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015