Identification of microalga euglena sanguinea for biodiesel production using nano calcium methoxide catalyst

Abstract

Fuels from the conventional fossil reserve have been used as a primary newlineenergy source for several decades, but it is found that in the near future the fossil newlinefuel resources will be exhausted. Also, due to the depletion of traditional fossil newlinefuel resources and negative impact on the environment such as discharge of newlinepollutants and harmful gases, economic and energy concern, it makes way for newlinethe search of a new source of energy which is sustainable, easily available, newlineaffordable, eco-friendly and renewable that can replace the use of existing newlinepetro-diesel fuel. newlineIn recent years, biodiesel has received much attention due to its newlinerenewable properties. Biodiesel derived from renewable feedstocks such as newlineedible and non-edible vegetable oils, animal fats microalgae, higher lipid newlinecontent industrial wastes etc., are considered as a most prominent and also as a newlinesubstitute to traditional petro-diesel, since they are non-toxic and highly newlinebiodegradable. Similarly, catalysts play a vital role in biodiesel conversion newlineprocesses. Generally, homogeneous acid and alkali as well as heterogeneous newlineacid and alkali catalyst were used. The use of heterogeneous alkali catalyst has newlinemore advantages than the heterogeneous acid catalyst. newlineIn this study, marine microalgae were isolated from the Bay of Bengal newlineand their biodiesel potential was investigated. Five different strains of newlinemicroalgae were identified viz. Nannochloropsis salina, Dunaliella salina, newlineChaetocereous calcitrans, Tetraselmis chuii and Euglena sanguinea. At the end newlineof the exponential phase, algal biomass were harvested, dried, powdered and newlineused for lipid extraction. Further, the biomass productivity was estimated newlinegravimetrically and the lipid content of the individual alga was determined and newlinecompared. Among these algae, newline