A comparative review of prospective biodiesel reported from lipid sources of two microalgae and two non-traditional oilseeds

Abstract

This review presents two perspectives comparing preparation of biodiesel reported from lipid sources in microalgae Chlorella protothecoides (CP) and Neochloris oleoabundans (NOB) with non-traditional oilseeds (NTOs) Jatropha curcas (JC) and Pongamia pinnata (PP). The first perspective has three sections. The first section compares reported processes for recovering lipids/biomass from microalgae and NTOs. Two published papers. one describing lipid/triacylglycerol recovery from CP and other of enhancing TAG in lipids of NOB is discussed in detail with flow diagrams in the second section. The third section itemizes quantities of lipid/biomass reported from microalgae CP, NOB, enhanced NOB , JC/ PP seed oils with a discussion. The second perspective compares listed fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) from lipids/TAG of microalgae CP, wild type, enhanced TAG and JC/PP seed oils. The yield of TAG, FAME composition, and comparison of CO₂ uptake by microalgae and JC/PP plantations favors the two NTOs. Since sustainability of JC plantations is an issue, growing PP plantations is recommended for its ability to capture CO₂ emitted from coal-fired power stations, fixing N₂ in the soil, and use its detoxified cake as animal feed. Increasing monounsaturation in PP seeds, as in transgenic oilseeds, for prospective biodiesel, is recommended.

Keywords:

• Microalgae
• non-traditional oilseeds
• CO₂ sequestration
• N₂ fixing
• transgenic oilseeds

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Queensland, Australia for providing all facilties to complete this paper. The inputs provided by Professor Emily Carter and Dr JM Dieterich of Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering Department, Princeton University, USA for the simulation paper on pyrolysis of methyl linolenate is highly appreciated. This review was possible due to authors exposure to the work of late Professor JG Kane on non traditional oilseeds and the teaching philosophy of late Professor Damascene Rebello (lipid chemistry) from http://www.ictmumbai.edu.in/. This review is dedicated to the learning experience from the critical questioning approach of retired Professor ET White and former senior research fellow Dr Fu Yang Wang of https://www.chemeng.uq.edu.au/.