Production and characterization of biodiesel and glycerine pellet from macroalgae strain: Cladophora glomerata

Abstract

Biodiesel was prepared by extracting oil from Cladophora glomerata green algae followed by transesterification of the oil using NaOH as a catalyst. The algae Oil extraction was carried out using two different techniques (Soxhlet and refluxing) and similar oil yield was obtained (23-24%). The resulting biodiesel showed desirable physical and chemical properties. Specific gravity, acid value, iodine value, ash content and calorific value of the algae biodiesel were within the specification of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and European Standards (EN). The analysis of fatty acid methyl ester composition revealed, 63, 27 and 10% for 9-octadecodenoic, hexadeconic and octadeconoic acid methyl ester, respectively. From the production line, two waste streams (glycerol and residual biomass) were combined to form a glycerine pellet. The measured energy content of the glycerine pellet was found to be comparable with firewood. Therefore, C. glomerata could potentially be utilized for the production of both biodiesel and glycerine pellet with no net waste in the transesterification process.