Biodiesel production and characterization from micro algae (chlorodesmis fastigiata)

The steady rise in energy demand around the global coupled with the environmental pollution associated with fossil fuel have given rise to an increase in search for alternative sources of energy that is sustainable and environmentally friendly. Biodiesel is a renewable, clean energy that can be produced from vegetable oils and animal fats. This research was aimed at synthesizing and analyzing biodiesel from micro green algae (Chlorodesmis fastigiata), to determine its potential as an alternative to petrol diesel. The algae samples were collected, identified, cultured, flocculated, harvested, sun-dried and ground prior to the oil extraction. Soxhlet extraction method was used to extract the oil from the algae biomass with n-hexane as the solvent. The oil was characterized of acid value, % FFA, % moisture content, iodine value, density and was converted to biodiesel via transesterification reaction. The biodiesel produced was also characterized of Acid value, Saponification value, Iodine value, Peroxide value, SG etc. The oil yield of the algal oil was 18.77%, Acid value was 3.40mg/g, Specific Gravity was 1.230. The biodiesel yield was 92%, other properties of the biodiesel were acid value 2.20mg/g, SG was 0.984, flash point was 105oC, Cloud point – 6oC, Pour point was -10oc, Cetane number was 49, pH was 6.7 e.t.c. The values of the properties gotten from the analysis were within the American standard (ASTMD6751) and this showed that biodiesel from Chlorodermis fastigiata (green algae) can serve as a good alternative to petro-diesel.