title: Ferric chloride based downstream process for microalgae based biodiesel production.
abstract: In this study, ferric chloride (FeCl3) was used to integrate downstream processes (harvesting, lipid extraction, and esterification). At concentration of 200 mg/L and at pH 3, FeCl3 exhibited an expected degree of coagulation and an increase in cell density of ten times (170 mg/10 mL). An iron-mediated oxidation reaction, Fenton-like reaction, was used to extract lipid from the harvested biomass, and efficiency of 80% was obtained with 0.5% H2O2 at 90 °C. The iron compound was also employed in the esterification step, and converted free fatty acids to fatty acid methyl esters under acidic conditions; thus, the fatal problem of saponification during esterification with alkaline catalysts was avoided, and esterification efficiency over 90% was obtained. This study clearly showed that FeCl3 in the harvesting process is beneficial in all downstream steps and have a potential to greatly reduce the production cost of microalgae-originated biodiesel.
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, 373-1, Guseong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yeong Hwan
authors: YH
authors: Seo
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, 373-1, Guseong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Mina
authors: M
authors: Sung
authors: Clean Fuel Department, Korea Institute of Energy Research, 152 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-343, Republic of Korea.
authors: Bohwa
authors: B
authors: Kim
authors: Clean Fuel Department, Korea Institute of Energy Research, 152 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-343, Republic of Korea.
authors: You-Kwan
authors: YK
authors: Oh
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, 373-1, Guseong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Dong Yeon
authors: DY
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, 373-1, Guseong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hanj2@kaist.ac.kr.
authors: Jong-In
authors: JI
authors: Han
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002708:Chlorella / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004951:Esterification; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007501:Iron / Q000494:pharmacology; D008055:Lipids / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058086:Microalgae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D002712:Chlorides; C045076:Fenton's reagent; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D008055:Lipids; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007501:Iron; C024555:ferric chloride
keywords: Esterification using alkaline catalyst; Fenton-like reaction; Ferric chloride; Harvesting; Lipid extraction