Optimization of microwave-assisted transesterification of dry algal biomass using response surface methodology |
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Authors: | Patil Prafulla D Gude Veera Gnaneswar Mannarswamy Aravind Cooke Peter Munson-McGee Stuart Nirmalakhandan Nagamany Lammers Peter Deng Shuguang |
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Affiliation: | Chemical Engineering Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA. |
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Abstract: | The effect of microwave irradiation on the simultaneous extraction and transesterification (in situ transesterification) of dry algal biomass to biodiesel was investigated. A high degree of oil/lipid extraction from dry algal biomass and an efficient conversion of the oils/lipids to biodiesel were demonstrated in a set of well-designed experimental runs. A response surface methodology (RSM) was used to analyze the influence of the process variables (dry algae to methanol (wt/vol) ratio, catalyst concentration, and reaction time) on the fatty acid methyl ester conversion. Based on the experimental results and RSM analysis, the optimal conditions for this process were determined as: dry algae to methanol (wt/vol) ratio of around 1:12, catalyst concentration about 2 wt.%, and reaction time of 4 min. The algal biodiesel samples were analyzed with GC-MS and thin layer chromatography (TLC) methods. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the algal biomass samples before and after the extraction/transesterification reaction are also presented. |
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