title: Biodiesel production by direct transesterification of microalgal biomass with co-solvent.
abstract: In this study, a direct transesterification process using 75% ethanol and co-solvent was studied to reduce the energy consumption of lipid extraction process and improve the conversion yield of the microalgae biodiesel. The addition of a certain amount of co-solvent (n-hexane is most preferable) was required for the direct transesterification of microalgae biomass. With the optimal reaction condition of n-hexane to 75% ethanol volume ratio 1:2, mixed solvent dosage 6.0mL, reaction temperature 90°C, reaction time 2.0h and catalyst volume 0.6mL, the direct transesterification process of microalgal biomass resulted in a high conversion yield up to 90.02±0.55wt.%.
authors.affiliation: National Energy R&D Center For Biorefinery, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Energy R&D Center For Biorefinery, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Energy R&D Center For Biorefinery, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China. Electronic address: zhangxu@mail.buct.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Energy R&D Center For Biorefinery, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Tianwei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D004951:Esterification; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D006586:Hexanes / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058086:Microalgae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D006586:Hexanes; D008055:Lipids; D012997:Solvents; C026385:n-hexane; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: 75% ethanol and n-hexane; Co-solvent; Direct transesterification; Microalgal biodiesel