BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM ALGAE

Abstract

Algae appear to be an emerging source of biomass for biodiesel that has the potential to completely displace fossil fuel. Two thirds of earth’s surface is covered with water, thus algae would truly be renewable option of great potential for global energy needs. This study discusses specific and comparative biodiesel quantitative potential of Cladophora sp., also highlighting its biomass (after oil extraction), pH and sediments (glycerine, water and pigments) quantitative properties. Comparison of Cladophora sp., with Oedogonium sp., and Spirogyra sp., (Hossain et al., 2008) shows that Cladophora sp., produce higher quantity of biodiesel than Spirogyra sp., whereas biomass and sediments were higher than the both algal specimens in comparison to the results obtained by earlier workers. No prominent difference in pH of biodiesel was found. In Pakistan this is a first step towards biodiesel production from algae. Results indicate that Cladophora sp., provide a reasonable quantity of biodiesel, its greater biomass after oil extraction and sediments make it a better option for biodiesel production than the comparing species.