Investigation of the blue-green algae based bio diesel using n-hexane and n-hexanol solvents: Diesel engine emission parameter and characterization studies

Abstract

The present study utilizes the species namely Spirulina platensis for extracting the biodiesel using different solvents using trans-esterification process. The gas chromatographic analysis was carried out to determine the chemical compounds present in the algal extract. The selected species were cultivated in the open pond and subsequently, algae oil has been extracted using n-hexane and n-hexanol solvent. Further, the comparison of n-hexane and n-hexanol based bio-diesel in the BD-20 blended form is done. Additionally, the extracted biodiesel is tested for emission parameters in the diesel engine. These results are compared with the emission parameters of commercial diesel which shows that n-hexane and n-hexanol based bio-fuel produces lesser emissions at different load conditions. Hence the selected Spirulina platensis species is found to be the promising alternate energy source for fuel extraction. Moreover, they are prone to exhibit lesser toxic emissions in the air environment than the commercial sources and found to be a sustainable source.