Abstract
Biodiesel derived from microalgae has several benefits over other resources, such as oil productivity. Many microalgae greatly exceeds the best oil producing crops. Nonetheless, in order to make microalgal biodiesel competitive, single-cell oil productivity evaluation is required under different process conditions. This work evaluates the potential of third generation biodiesel (3G) by microalgae Aphanothece microscopica Nageli cultivate heterotrophically in agro-industrial wastewaters (fish processing, rice parboiling and dairy processing). The results indicate that the single-cell oil productivities reached 0.05, 0.12 and 0.49 glipid/L.day for cultivations in fish processing, rice parboiling and dairy processing wastewater, respectively. These values are comparable to oil productivities obtained currently with soybean, demonstrating the potential of microalgae as matrix for oil production for biofuels.
Highlights
In recent years, several researchers have attempted to use single cell oil (SCO), whose lipid composition is similar to that of traditional vegetable oils, as alternatives for biodiesel production because of the current energy crisis
High values of μ are indicative of high microbial growth rates. This kinetic parameter determines the maintenance of the steady state in biological reactors operated at a constant volume
The values of maximum specific growth rate show that the use of dairy processing wastewater (8.64 d-1) or rice parboiling wastewater (2.64 d-1) improved the cell growth rate, since the maximum specific growth rates obtained were higher than those reached in the fish processing wastewater (1.18 d−1)
Summary
Several researchers have attempted to use single cell oil (SCO), whose lipid composition is similar to that of traditional vegetable oils, as alternatives for biodiesel production because of the current energy crisis. According to Thajuddin (2005) another fact attracting interest in these microorganisms is that they are characterized by high growth rates, determining technological and commercial advantages when compared to conventional techniques of producing these nutrients. As shown by Sánchez Mirón et al (2003) microalgal biomass contains significant quantities of proteins, carbohydrates and other nutrients. The residual biomass from biodiesel production processes can be used potentially as animal feed. Some of the residual biomass may be used to produce methane by anaerobic digestion, for generating the electrical power necessary for running the microalgal biomass production facility. Excess power could be sold to defray the cost of producing biodiesel
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