Fatty Acids from Microalgae Botryococcus braunii for Raw Material of Biodiesel

Abstract

One of the alternative sources of renewable energy that can overcome the environmental crises and the current fossil energy crisis is microalgae. Microalgae contain fatty acids that can be converted into biofuel products, such as biodiesel. This study was a preliminary research which was conducted to determine the amount of fatty acids contained in microalgae and its potentiality to be converted into biodiesel. The microalgae used in this study were Botryococcus braunii. Data collection of fatty acids of Botryococcus braunii were obtained by the direct analysis in the laboratory using an instrument in the form of gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and also obtained from literature study in several research of previous researcher. Based on that, it was found out that Botryococcus braunii contained with oleic acid ranged from 15.65 - 35.85%, linoleic acid 3.05 - 23.15%, palmitic acid 4.03 - 22.13 % and stearic acid 0.48 - 15.41%. The profile and fatty acid content of this preliminary study could be one of the decisive parameters in the selection of microalgae species. Based on results concluded that Botryococcus braunii had good potentiality to be converted into biodiesel because the ratio of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in this species is not much different.