An investigation of biodiesel production from microalgae found in Mauritian waters

Keshini Beetul,Nawsheen Taleb-Hossenkhan,Ranjeet Bhagooli,Shamimtaz Bibi Sadally,Daneshwar Puchooa

doi:10.18331/brj2015.1.2.5

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the lipid content and the subsequent potential of different microalgae present in the Mauritian marine water to produce biodiesel. The share of micro-phytoplankton species in the water column was determined. The cyanobacterial mats and endosymbiotic dinoflagellates were characterised morphologically and genetically using RFLP. The samples were quantified gravimetrically and analysed using 1H &13C NMR spectroscopy. Total micro-phytoplankton count amounted to 6.59±1.27x105 cells L-1which was dominated by diatoms (95.2%), followed by dinoflagellates (2.9%) and cyanobacteria (1.9%). The cyanobacterial mats were identified as Leptolyngbya sp. and Nodularia harveyana, and the RFLP characterised the endosymbiotic dinoflagellates as the Symbiodinium clade C. The highest amount of lipid was recorded in the Symbiodinium clade C (38.39±6.58%). 1H and 13C NMR analyses indicated the presence of acyl glycerols. An attempt to synthesise biodiesel by alkaline trans-esterification reaction was also performed and the presence of biodiesel was detected using the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The Infrared analysis yielded peaks at around 1738cm-1 and 1200cm-1 characteristic of the carbonyl and ether groups respectively, indicating the presence of biodiesel.

Highlights

In the twenty-first century, the atmospheric carbon dioxide level is 30% higher than the pre-industrial era (NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory 2013; Bernstein et al 2007; Hofmann et al 2009) sharing a direct relationship with the hike in fossil fuel burning since 1950 (US Energy Information Administration, 2012)
An investigation of biodiesel production from microalgae found in mauritian waters
The morphology and microscopic structures of the cyanobacterial mats have been illustrated in Figure 3 and the latter were identified as Leptolyngbya sp. (Charpy et al, 2010) and Nodularia harveyana (Lyra et al, 2005) respectively

Summary

Introduction

In the twenty-first century, the atmospheric carbon dioxide level is 30% higher than the pre-industrial era (NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory 2013; Bernstein et al 2007; Hofmann et al 2009) sharing a direct relationship with the hike in fossil fuel burning since 1950 (US Energy Information Administration, 2012). In 2011, the global transport sector had a 28% energy share and accounted for almost a quarter of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions (US Energy Information Administration 2012). Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas contributing to global warming and ocean acidification; triggering concern worldwide (Bernstein et al, 2007). Biodiesel is the ultimate solution for replacing the petroleum-centered transports industry (Chisti, 2008), subsequently, reducing the sector’s carbon dioxide emissions

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Conclusion