this has a long history, try reading publications from late 50's, followed by a massive trend before turn of the century and recent, you'll be surprised

Dear friend Badhan Badhan

Thank you for raising such a thought-provoking question about biodiesel production from microalgae. This is indeed a fascinating area of research, and I appreciate the opportunity to explore it together.

To begin, the lipids in microalgae are crucial because they serve as the primary feedstock for biodiesel synthesis. These lipids, mainly in the form of triglycerides, can be efficiently converted into biodiesel through chemical processes. Transesterification is widely recognized as the main method for this conversion, where triglycerides react with an alcohol (typically methanol) in the presence of a catalyst to produce biodiesel and glycerol. Understanding the efficiency and limitations of this reaction is key to optimizing overall yield.

Purifying the resulting biodiesel presents its own set of challenges, such as removing residual catalysts, unreacted alcohol, and byproducts like glycerol. Common purification methods include water washing, dry washing with adsorbents, and membrane filtration. Selecting the most suitable method depends on the specific properties of the microalgal lipids and the scale of production.

To optimize the entire process for microalgae, it’s essential to consider steps such as strain selection for high lipid content, efficient harvesting and extraction techniques, and refining the transesterification and purification stages. Each element interacts closely with the others, so a holistic approach is necessary for maximizing both yield and quality.

I’d be very interested to hear your insights or any findings you’ve come across regarding these steps. Please feel free to share your thoughts or questions as we continue this discussion.

Important articles to read/cite:

Chapter Future Direction of Biodiesel in the Next Decade

Conference Paper A Review of Biodiesel Policy around the Globe

Article Using Microalgae for Treating Wastewater

Best regards,

Kaushik

Thanks for the response dear friend Kaushik Shandilya