Biodiesel Production from Algae Oil

Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature’s way again

The major problem associated with the use of pure vegetable oils as well as oil from algae as fuels for diesel engines is caused by high fuel viscosity (Viscosity – from Physics Hypertextbook) in compression ignition.

Algal oil, as well as vegetable oils, are all highly viscous, with viscosities ranging 10–20 times those of no. 2 Diesel fuel. Amongst vegetable oils in the context of viscosity, castor oil is in a class by itself, with a viscosity more than 100 times that of no. 2 Diesel fuel (MSDS of No.2 Diesel Fuel – PetroCard). Due to their high viscosity and low volatility, they do not burn completely and form deposits in the fuel injector of diesel engines. Furthermore, acrolein (a highly toxic substance) ( Acrolein – from EPA) is formed through thermal decomposition of glycerol (Glycerol – from Info Please).

Dilution, micro-emulsification (Emulsions & Emulsification – from Wikipedia), pyrolysis ( Pyrolysis Definition from AFR) and Transesterification are the four techniques applied to solve the problems encountered with the high fuel viscosity. Amongst the four techniques, chemical conversion of the oil to its corresponding fatty ester is the most promising solution to the high viscosity problem. This process - chemical conversion of the oil to its corresponding fatty ester, and thus Biodiesel - is called transesterification.

See also:

More articles & news on Biodiesel production from algae: Visitors may kindly have a look at the Oilgae Blog Directory for relevant blog articles.

More Links on Transesterification

• Transesterification of Rapeseed Oil
• Biofuels Library
• Transesterification of Vegetable Oils – A Review (PDF)
• Transesterification & Hydrolysis
• Research Notes for Biodiesel – Rick Pelletier
• Kinetics of Palm Oil Transesterification – from Journey to Forever (PDF)
• Biodiesel - History & Production – from Cyberlipid.org
• Transesterification Information – from Biodiesel Process
• Biodiesel Preparation Info from North Dakota State University
• Understanding Transesterification – from Planet Diesel
• Biodiesel Handbook from Cytoculture
• Biodiesel Production – from Wikipedia
• Transesterification can be Fun – from IndyMedia
• Transesterification – the Solution for Biodiesel – from Business Line, India
• Transesterification of Crude Rice Bran Oil - from World Energy (PDF)
• Bio-diesel Production Info – from Green Trust
• Production & Testing of Ethyl & Methyl Esters
• Biodiesel from Vegetable Oils Via Transesterification in Supercritical Methanol
• Transesterification of Vegetable Oils Employing Ethanol (PDF)
• Transesterification Equipment Info – from Petrogas
• Production Process of Biodiesel from Vegetable Oil

Biodiesel Manufacturing Equipment

· Biodiesel Equipment, Kits Directory – from Eco Business Links

· Biodiesel Gear – Biodiesel Equipments, Processing & Related Information

· Biodiesel Production Equipment & Plants – from BioKing ( see also: Algae Biodiesel Plant from BioKing @ AlgaeFuels)

· Testing

· Biodiesel Fuel Testing – from Intertek Caleb Brett

Other Methods of Producing Bio-diesel from Algal Oil

Other than transesterification, the other methods that have been considered to reduce the high viscosity of vegetable oils/algal oil are:

· dilution of 25 parts of plant/algal oil with 75 parts of diesel fuel

· microemulsions with short chain alcohols (e.g. ethanol or methanol)

· thermal decomposition, which produces alkanes, alkenes, carboxylic acids and aromatic compounds

· catalytic cracking, which produces alkanes, cycloalkanes and alkylbenzenes

However, when compared with the above, the transesterification process appears to be the best choice, as the physical characteristics of fatty acid esters (biodiesel) are very close to those of diesel fuel, and the process is relatively simple. Furthermore, the methyl or ethyl esters of fatty acids can be burned directly in unmodified diesel engines, with very low deposit

More Bio-diesel Production Links

The following web sites provide more inputs on the various methods to produce bio-diesel, including the transesterification process. The links are not specific to algal oil but are generally applicable to all plant and vegetable oils, including algal oils.

· Biodiesel Production Methods – from Distribution Drive

· Biodiesel Analytical Methods – from National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA (PDF)

· Chemical Biodiesel Microreactor

· How to Make Biodiesel – SchNew, UK

· Advanced Biodiesel Production Methods Forums – from Biodiesel Now

· Biodiesel Production Resources – from Wikipedia

· Biodiesel Production Methods & Costs

· An Improved Method for the Production of Ethyl Ester Biodiesel

· Making Biodiesel – from Utah Biodiesel

· Publications of Thomas Foglia, Agricultural Research Service, USDA

· Tiny Microreactor for Biodiesel Production – University of Oregon

· Better Biodiesel – New Biodiesel Production Technology

· New Technologies for Making Biofuels

· Development of Biodiesel by Supercritical Methanol (PDF)

· Potential Production of Biodiesel – from University of Idaho (PDF)

· Small-scale Biodiesel Production – from Energy Line 2000

· Making Biodiesel – from Biodiesel Update

· Research into Biodiesel Kinetics & Catalyst Development (PDF)

· Biodiesel Basics (PDF)

· Biodiesel Production Process

· Biodiesel Production Info from Biodiesel.org (PDF)

· Breakthrough in Biodiesel Production by Japanese Scientists

· Collaborative Biodiesel Production Tutorial

· Biodiesel Production Technology, NREL.gov (PDF)

· Small-scale Biodiesel Production Feaibility Report, Uiuc.edu (PDF)

· Biodiesel Handling & Use Guidelines (PDF)

· Biodiesel Production Research Abstracts

· Veg Conversion of Diesel Engine for SVO

· Validation of a Model for Biodiesel Production

· The Biodiesel Chemical Make-up – from Wikipedia

· Biodiesel Chemical Info Page – from Biodiesel Gear

· A Visual Guide to Titraiton – from Flexistentialist.org

· Transesterification & Biodiesel Production

Notes:

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