Biodiesel properties of microalgae (Chlorella protothecoides) oil for use in diesel engines

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this study, biodiesel was produced from a microalgae oil, chlorella protothecoides, by typical alkali-catalyzed transesterification in conditions such as a 0.75 wt.% KOH of the oil as catalyst, 68°C and 80 min which was agreed as optimal conditions after investigating the effect of KOH concentration, reaction temperature and time at constant molar ratio of 6:1 on the conversion rate and fuel properties. Under these conditions, a 98.6% conversion rate of algae oil to its methyl ester was achieved with ester content higher than 96%. Furthermore, all physicochemical properties met the requirements of international biodiesel standards, EN 14214 and ASTM D 6751, with some remarkable ones such as high cetane number (57.3) and low CFPP (−10°C). The effect of microalgae biodiesel volume fraction in the fuel on the kinematic viscosity, CFPP, lubricity, density, and distillation temperature was also studied. A blending ratio of the algal-biodiesel up to 50% (v/v) was also found in agreement with the standards for biodiesel-diesel blends. From GC analysis, oleic and linoleic acids were found to be major fatty acids, and then the oxygen extended sooting index and adiabatic flame temperature were calculated using fatty acid distribution for evaluating the main diesel emissions such as soot and NO. As a result, the algae oil studied here was found to be an appropriate raw material for producing biodiesel and for using in Diesel Engines and its properties are within the typical ranges of conventional biodiesel fuels.