Production and Characterization of Algal Biodiesel from Spirulina Maxima
Biodiesel is renewable; reduce the greenhouse gas emission and potential as a substitute of fossil fuel. The aim of the current investigation is to produce biodiesel and compare physiochemical properties of spirulina maxima biodiesel (BD) with diesel fuel (DF). Soxlet apparatus was used to extract oil from algal body. Transesterification process was carried out to produce BD by adding potassium hydroxide (KOH) and methanol. Different properties of BD were determined. The physical properties includes density, viscosity, flash point, Higher Calorific Value (HCV), Cetane Number (CN), PH, moisture content, carbon residue, ash content, acid value, etc., and chemical properties include fatty acid composition; fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), elemental analysis. All the fuel properties were ASTM standard and close to those of DF. FTIR results revealed that BD was like diesel like hydrocarbon.
