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Selection of microalgae species based on their lipid content, fatty acid profile and apparent fuel properties for biodiesel production

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Abstract

Different microalgae species produce varying quantity and quality of the lipids. Fatty acid methyl ester composition, which comprises both saturated and unsaturated contents, critically affects biodiesel properties. Current study compares six locally isolated microalgae strains belonging to three classes (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyceae, and Cyanophyceae) on the basis of lipid content and biodiesel properties. All the six species are grown in similar condition up to the late stationary phase, and their lipid content and fatty acid methyl ester composition are measured experimentally. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) tool has ranked Calothrix species (class Cyanophyceae) on the top, owing to better cetane number, density and oxidation stability; whereas Chlorococcum species (class Chlorophyceae) is ranked second because of its higher lipid content, better cold flow property, and low viscosity. Property analysis of these two species is extended in the enlarge temperature range for five properties, vapor pressure, latent heat of vaporization, liquid density, liquid viscosity and vapor diffusivity, which are important in spray and combustion modeling. It is found through detailed property estimation that Chlorococcum sp. is a more suitable species in comparison with Calothrix sp. as it is having better properties and its lipid content is much higher than that of Calothrix sp. Although the properties of microalgae biodiesel are poorer in comparison with conventional diesel fuel, a greater number of such studies will help in understanding the requisite changes as required for microalgae biodiesel–based engine and their properties as compared with conventional diesel.

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Abbreviations

CFPP:

Cold filter plugging point (°C)

CN:

Cetane number

D :

Number of double bonds

D AB :

Diffusion coefficient (cm2/s)

DU m :

Modified degree of unsaturation

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl ester

G ij :

Interaction parameter between component i and j

HHV:

Higher heating value (MJ/kg)

IV :

Iodine value (g/100 g)

LCSF:

Long-chain saturation factor

M :

Molecular weight of fatty acid methyl ester (g)

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acid

N :

Percentage of FAME present (%)

OS:

Oxidation stability (h)

P :

Pressure (bar)

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

SCSF:

Straight-chain saturation factor

SFA:

Saturated fatty acid

T :

Temperature (K)

V :

Volume (cm3/mol)

y :

Mole fractions of methyl esters

Z RA :

Constant to calculate liquid density

∆Hv :

Latent heat of vaporization (J/mol)

ν :

Kinematic viscosity (mm2/s)

ρ :

Density (kg/L)

ω :

Acentric factor

η :

Dynamic viscosity (cP)

b :

Property at boiling point

c :

Critical property

L :

Liquid property

m :

Property of a mixture (biodiesel)

r :

Reduced property

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Simrol, Indore, 453552, India

    Suchit Deshmukh & Ritunesh Kumar

  2. Discipline of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Simrol, Indore, 453552, India

    Kiran Bala

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  1. Suchit Deshmukh
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  2. Kiran Bala
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  3. Ritunesh Kumar
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Correspondence to Ritunesh Kumar.

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Deshmukh, S., Bala, K. & Kumar, R. Selection of microalgae species based on their lipid content, fatty acid profile and apparent fuel properties for biodiesel production. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 24462–24473 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05692-z

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