Spectrometric analysis of algal biodiesel as a fuel derived through base-catalysed transesterification

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe present experimental investigation focuses on production of biodiesel from marine macro algae Stoechospermum marginatum, a brown seaweed. S. marginatum was collected from the intertidal zone of coastal Tamil Nadu. Processed macro algae were subjected to lipid extraction through maceration and soxhlet methods. A single-stage transesterification process with methanol and NaOH was employed to synthesise biodiesel from crude algal oil. Characterisation of algal biodiesel (ABD) was carried out through analysis of gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 14 different fatty acid methyl esters in ABD by their fragmentation patterns and retention time. The NMR and FTIR spectroscopy analysis confirmed the GC-MS data. The physiochemical properties of ABD were also determined through American Standards for Testing Materials methods and found to be within limits.Abbreviations ABD: algal biodiesel; AO: algal oil; ASTM: American Society for Testing and Material; CO: carbon monoxide; CO2: carbon di oxide; D: mineral diesel; FAME: fatty acid methyl ester; FFA: free fatty acids; FTIR: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; GC-MS: gas chromatography mass spectroscopy; HC: hydrocarbon; JBD: jatropha biodiesel; NMR: nuclear magnetic resonance; NOx: oxides of nitrogen; PBD: palm oil biodiesel