title: Lipid extraction and esterification for microalgae-based biodiesel production using pyrite (FeS2).
abstract: In this study, pyrite (FeS2) was used for lipid extraction as well as esterification processes for microalgae-based biodiesel production. An iron-mediated oxidation reaction, Fenton-like reaction, produced an expected degree of lipid extraction, but pyrite was less effective than FeCl3 commercial powder. That low efficiency was improved by using oxidized pyrite, which showed an equivalent lipid extraction efficiency to FeCl3, about 90%, when 20 mM of catalyst was used. Oxidized pyrite 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 pyrite could be utilized as a cheap catalyst in the lipid extraction and esterification steps for microalgae-based biodiesel production.
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: 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. Electronic address: hanj2@kaist.ac.kr.
authors: Jong-In
authors: JI
authors: Han
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D002384:Catalysis; D004951:Esterification; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D008055:Lipids; D013440:Sulfides; C011342:pyrite; D007501:Iron
keywords: Fenton-like reaction; Ferric chloride; Lipid extraction; Pyrite; Two-step esterification