title: Production of algae-based biodiesel using the continuous catalytic Mcgyan process.
abstract: This study demonstrates the production of algal biodiesel from Dunaliella tertiolecta, Nannochloropsis oculata, wild freshwater microalgae, and macroalgae lipids using a highly efficient continuous catalytic process. The heterogeneous catalytic process uses supercritical methanol and porous titania microspheres in a fixed bed reactor to catalyze the simultaneous transesterification and esterification of triacylglycerides and free fatty acids, respectively, to fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel). Triacylglycerides and free fatty acids were converted to alkyl esters with up to 85% efficiency as measured by 300 MHz (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The lipid composition of the different algae was studied gravimetrically and by gas chromatography. The analysis showed that even though total lipids comprised upwards of 19% of algal dry weight the saponifiable lipids, and resulting biodiesel, comprised only 1% of dry weight. Thus highlighting the need to determine the triacylglyceride and free fatty acid content when considering microalgae for biodiesel production.
authors.affiliation: SarTec Corporation, 617 Pierce Street, Anoka, MN 55303, USA.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Krohn
authors.forename: Clayton V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: McNeff
authors.forename: Bingwen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nowlan
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002384:Catalysis; D004951:Esterification; D004952:Esters / Q000737:chemistry; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D000432:Methanol / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D008863:Microspheres; D016062:Porosity; D013696:Temperature; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D004952:Esters; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D000432:Methanol