Biodiesel from Scenedesmus Obliquus Algae - A Research Project

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Biodiesel from Scenedesmus Obliquus Algae - A Research Project

See details of this project as presented at Confex in Nov 2006

By: Maria I. Monteverde, Juan C. Flores, and Jose A. Colucci. Chemical Engineering Department University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus, Mayaguez, PR 00680

During decades micro algae have been studied for its nutritional potential value. Recently, other applications involving the use of this common and big contributor to aquatic life organism has emerged. At this time, the technology has improved in such manner that the possibility to produce fuel in the form of oils using this living organism as the raw material is a reality. Studies performed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) indicate that the oil productivity (pounds/acre-year) of micro algae could be 20 times higher than the best oil producing crop. In this project we will investigate the algae Scenedesmus obliquus which composition demonstrates a big percent of oil. By using Scenedesmus obliquus, which is part of our ecosystem and is very accessible, a more environmental friendly and renewal fuel can be produced. The reproduction of this algae will be achieved using its usual pathway, photosynthesis, taking in consideration its natural ecosystem and creating a setup that includes the correct proportion of carbon dioxide and visible light to reproduce them as in its natural environment. Then, to extract oil more efficiently, the well known method of “expeller/press” will be used to remove the oil produced by this algae. At last but no least, the feasibility of producing biodiesel from this kind of oil will be analyzed and assessed.

Keywords: Scenedesmus obliquus, micro algae, expeller/press

Original Confex link here

Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
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algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

About Oilgae - Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general. Algae present an exciting possibility as a feedstock for biodiesel, and when you realise that oil was originally formed from algae - among other related plants - you think "Hey! Why not oil again from algae!"