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Biodiesel Production from Algae Oil

Algal oil is highly viscous, with viscosities ranging 10–20 times those of no. 2 Diesel fuel. The high viscosity is due to the large molecular mass and chemical structure of oils which in turn leads to problems in pumping, combustion and atomization in the injector systems of a diesel engine. Therefore, a reduction in viscosity is important to make high-viscous oil a suitable alternative fuel for diesel engines.

There are a number of ways to reduce vegetable oil's viscosity. These methods include; transestrification, pyrolysis (Pyrolysis Definition from AFR), micro Emulsion (Emulsions & Emulsification – from Wikipedia), blending and thermal depolymerization. One of the most common methods used to reduce oil viscosity in the Biodiesel industry is called transesterification. It involves chemical conversion of the oil into its corresponding fatty ester.

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

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:
  • We’d like to regularly add more useful content and web resources to Oilgae.com. Should you know of any good web resource for Biodiesel production from algae, do let us know by sending a note to narsi@clixoo.com . Many thanks for your patience.
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