Biodiesel production from Caulerpa racemosa (macroalgae) oil

Abstract

In the present investigation, non-edible toxic oils from marine macroalgae Caulerpa racemosa species, richly available in India and composed of high calorific value and high FFA, have been selected as a feedstock for the making of biodiesel. Initially, oil extraction was carried out from the macroalgae biomass with different types of solvent systems and extraction steps. The algal oil was extracted with a solvent system consisting of 1 % diethyl ether and 10 % methylene chloride in n-hexane using ultrasonic pre-treatment technique. The algal oils were characterized by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for composition analysis. The biodiesel was produced by transesterification method. The produced biodiesel was characterized and the conversion was calculated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and Response Surface Methods. The fuel properties of obtained biodiesel were examined as per the American Standard Test Methods specifications in order to assess the potential of proposed biodiesel as an alternative fuel. Thus, marine macroalgae serve as a potential renewable raw-material for biodiesel production.