title: Biodiesel from wet microalgae: extraction with hexane after the microwave-assisted transesterification of lipids.
abstract: A chloroform-free novel process for the efficient production of biodiesel from wet microalgae is proposed. Crude biodiesel is produced through extraction with hexane after microwave-assisted transesterification (EHMT) of lipids in wet microalgae. Effects of different parameters, including reaction temperature, reaction time, methanol dosage, and catalyst dosage, on fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs) yield are investigated. The yield of FAME extracted into the hexane from the wet microalgae is increased 6-fold after the transesterification of lipids. The yield of FAME obtained through EHMT of lipids in wet microalgae is comparable to that obtained through direct transesterification of dried microalgae biomass with chloroform; however, FAME content in crude biodiesel obtained through EHMT is 86.74%, while that in crude biodiesel obtained through the chloroform-based process is 75.93%. EHMT ensures that polar pigments present in microalgae are not extracted into crude biodiesel, which leads to a 50% reduction in nitrogen content in crude biodiesel.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. Electronic address: juncheng@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
authors.forename: Junhu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
authors.forename: Kefa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cen
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis*; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D004951:Esterification / Q000528:radiation effects; D006586:Hexanes; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D000432:Methanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D058086:Microalgae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008872:Microwaves; D011930:Reaction Time; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D006586:Hexanes; D008055:Lipids; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Biodiesel; Hexane; Microwave; Transesterification; Wet microalgae