Bio algae resources for efficient energy generation and utilization

Abstract

As the petro-derived fuels have been exhausted rapidly now-a-days, newlinethere is a need to find out an alternative source to fulfill the demand of the newlineworld. In this regard, microalgae are considered as a future alternative newlinerenewable energy sources due to minimum green gas emission, maximum newlinebio-absorption of CO2. In this study, biofuel production from three different newlinefreshwater microalgae species viz Botryococcus braunii, Chlorella (Chlorella newlineprotothecoides: C1, Chlorella sp.: C2 and Chlorella vulgaris: C3) and newlineSpirulina (Spirulina maxima: S1 and Spirulina platensis: S2), collected from newlineKovalam solar salt works in Kanyakumari India, were carried out via newlinetransesterification in hydrogen environment, assisted by a transition metal(II) newlineion namely nickel(II) as catalyst along with Ni(II) Schiff base chelate newlinepromoter.The FT IR, UV vis., GC Mass, 1H and 13C NMR spectral studies newlinewere physico chemically carried out for the extracted microalgae biodiesel. newlineThe added promoter all through the production process makes the biodiesel to newlinedensity low and inhibition ability towards corrosion. In addition, the engine newlineperformance and parameters via torque, power production, BSFC, BTE and newlinenature of emissions for the prepared various biodegradable biodiesel diesel newlineblends namely were investigated. The emissions analyses of certain exhausted newlineGHG constituents namely HCs, CO, CO2, (NO)x, O2 and the smoke newlineparticulates after the combustion of the biodiesel blends at minimum engine newlinespeed 1000rpm shows that the emanation are very small while comparing to newlinepure diesel fuel except for (NO)x release. The dissimilarities in the discharge newlineof CO2, (NO)x and hydrocarbons for a wide range of engine speed in favor of newlineall the blends were observed. newline newline