PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ALGAL OIL (OILGAE) OF KUMAUN HIMALAYAN ORIGIN FOR POTENTIAL BIOFUEL APPLICATION.

A total of six naturally occurring microalgal biomass bulk samples were collected from different lakes of Kumaum Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. Algae were identified as Microcystis aruginosa, a blue green alga and rest were green algae Hydrodictyon reticulum, Spirogyra orientalis, Chlorella vulgaris, Cosmarium nitudulum, Mougetia parvula. Oil was extracted from the dried algal samples and fatty acid analysis was done. Physico-chemical properties of algal oils such as density, viscosity, lipid content and pH were estimated tah meet all the properties given by ISO 15607 and EN 14214-Europe. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed palmitic (16:0) and oleic (18:1) as major fatty acids from the algal sample. From the present study it revealed that among the six studied taxa of Kumaun Himalayan region, chlorophycean genera like Mougetia parvula, Spirogyra orientalis, Cosmarium nitudulum containing more MUFAs (31-34%) with a support of 16:0 FA (30-35%), would be more suitable for biodiesel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]