PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL FROM GREEN ALGAE SPECIES BY TRANSESTERIFICATION PROCESS

Abstract

The research was emphasized on the production of biodiesel from the extraction of green algae; namely Spirogyra species (macroalgae) and Tetraspora species (microalgae) through the transesterification method. The biodiesel from algal oil is alternative raw material as vegetable oil that is produced from edible source. The main purpose of the research was to compare the amount of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) produce from both sample and to determine the best method that gives the most effective result on this experiment. The methods used on this research were the effect on catalyst and the effect on homogenizer. Major findings or trends found as the result of the analysis shown that the highest percentage of esters with 36% (FAME) is at 1.0M concentration of catalyst (NaOH) while the least amount of ester is at 1.5M with 12.5% (FAME) concentration catalyst for the macro algae. The Microalgae, effect on homogenizer shows the highest amount of ester with 59% (FAME) is during 3 minutes of time while the macro algae show the highest amount of ester with 70% (FAME) is at 6 minutes for the effect on homogenizer. Transesterification of the oil to its corresponding fatty ester is the most promising solution to the high viscosity problem. Fatty acid methyl esters produced from natural oils and fats called as biodiesel. Generally, methanol has been mostly used to produce biodiesel as it is the least expensive alcohol.