Abstract:
Biodiesel as an alternative fuel for diesel engines is becoming increasingly important due
to depleting petroleum reserves and the environmental consequences of exhaust gases
(co2, nitrogen and sulfur oxides) from Petroleum fuelled engines. The main environmental
advantages of biodiesel are its sustainability in using as renewable fuel thus promoting
independence from fossil fuel and maintaining the level of greenhouse gas (CO2) in the
atmosphere. As a future prospective fuel, biodiesel has to compete economically with
petroleum diesel fuels. Diverting food crops to fuel production may result in high food
prices as it will significantly reduce the areas available for food production and remove
forested lands to increase land for the production of energy crops
that will have negative impact on biodiversity by devoting large tracts of land for monoc
ular cultivation.The objective of this study was to investigate the production of biodiesel
from blends of waste cooking oil and algal biomass using methanol with alkali as catalyst.
Pretreated waste cooking oil was mixed with crude oil extracted from algal bio-mass at
the ratio of 1, 2 and 3 to obtain the desired biodiesel. Optimum temperature, alcohol to
molar ratio, waste cooking oil to microalgae ratio and catalyst concentration on Tran’s
esterification process (biodiesel production) was investigated during experimental
process. Physiochemical properties of biodiesel obtained from blends of waste cooking oil
and algal biomass were determined. A total of 31.6 % of oil was extracted from fresh
algae through the soxhlet apparatus as motioned in material and method. Four factors at
three levels were considered in the alkali catalytic transesterfication process. The fuel
properties tested are ASTM and EN standards and we are found to be very close to those
of petroleum diesel. Study on fuel property using HPLC or GC analysis, blending
conditions, engine performance and emission tests and techno economic analysis should
be carried out in future studies. Waste cooking oil and algae to biogas production of
biodiesel from microalgae to use as substitute of petroleum fuel and mitigate
environmental pollutions caused by fossil fuel consumption
