![Theses and Dissertations](../../assets/md5images/007ba8c2f9f7b20b26ed4b229bc29542.jpg)
Theses and Dissertations
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
Gude, Veera Gnaneswar
Committee Member
Truax, Dennis D.
Committee Member
Hernandez, Rafael A.
Committee Member
Martin, James L.
Committee Member
Magbanua, Benjamin S., Jr.
Date of Degree
12-14-2013
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Open Access
Major
Civil Engineering
Degree Name
Master of Science
College
James Worth Bagley College of Engineering
Department
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Abstract
This study presents the use of non-conventional methods such as microwaves and ultrasound for algal biodiesel production. Dry algae biomass (Chlorella sp.) was used as feedstock to evaluate three novel single-step extractive-transesterification methods: 1) microwave irradiation with ethanol as solvent/reactant; 2) microwave irradiation with ethanol as reactant and hexane as solvent and 3) ultrasound irradiation with ethanol as solvent/reactant, all catalyzed by sodium hydroxide catalyst. The three novel methods were compared with the conventional Bligh and Dyer method which followed a two-step extraction and transesterification process. The maximum lipid yields for microwave, microwave with hexane, ultrasound, and Bligh and Dyer methods were 20.1%, 20.1% ,18.5, and 13.9%, respectively while the biodiesel (FAEE) conversion of the algal lipids were 96.2%, 94.3%, 95.0%, and 78.1%, respectively. Two comparative process optimization studies (microwave vs. ultrasound and microwave vs. microwave-hexane), algae biomass characterization, FAEE composition analysis and specific energy consumption are presented.
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/11668/18885
Recommended Citation
Martinez-Guerra, Edith L., "Algal Biodiesel Production Via Extractive-Transesterification using Microwave and Ultrasound Irradiation" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 430.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/430