Estimation of biodiesel properties based on fatty acid profiles of Chlamydomonas sp. BTA 9032 and Chlorella sp. BTA 9031 obtained under mixotrophic cultivation conditions

Abstract

The sustainability of microalgal biodiesel industries depends not only on the development of a low-cost production system but also on the selection of the species used to produce commercially acceptable biodiesel. Therefore, estimation of biodiesel properties is a vital aspect of the microalgal biodiesel production process. Only if the properties of biodiesel comply with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and European Norms (EN) biodiesel standards can it be commercialized and used as an alternative source of fuel. In the current study two microalgal species, Chlamydomonas sp. BTA 9032 and Chlorella sp. BTA 9031, were grown using Blue-green 11 medium substituted with 40% cheese whey permeate under mixotrophic conditions, and their biodiesel properties were estimated empirically using equations available in the literature. The biodiesel properties estimated were viscosity, oxidative stability, calorific value, cetane number, iodine value, saponification value, degree of unsaturation, cold filter plugging point and long-chain saturation factor. The biodiesel properties of Chlamydomonas sp. BTA 9032 were observed to meet biodiesel standards ASTM D 6751-08 and EN 14214, and were comparable with previously reported values for biodiesel feedstocks such as jatropha, Chlorella minutissima, and Chlorella vulgaris.

Keywords:

• Microalgae
• biodiesel
• fuel properties
• Chlamydomonas sp. BTA 9032
• Chlorella sp. BTA 9031

Acknowledgements

The authors express their sincere gratitude to the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, for financial support through sanction number BT/322/NE/TBP/2012. They are also thankful to the Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, for their immense support.

Conflicts of interest

The authors possess no conflict of interest.

Contribution of authors

Madhumanti Mondal performed the experiment. Madhumanti Mondal and Anoar Ali Khan analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. Gopinath Halder commented on the results and modified the manuscript.