Abstract

Algae are a potential resource for biodiesel production. Scandasmus algae displayed faster growth at a wide temperature range of 4 to 32°C compared to Chlorella vulgaris. As the Conventional fuels are depleting day by day, there is a need to find out an alternative fuels to fulfill the energy demand of the world. Biofuels is one of the best available resources that have come to the forefront recently. In this paper, a detailed review has been conducted to highlight different related aspects to biodiesel industry. These aspects include: biodiesel feedstocks, extraction and production methods, properties and qualities of biodiesel, problems and potential solutions of using vegetable oil, advantages and disadvantages of biodiesel, the economical viability and finally the future of biodiesel. The literature reviewed is selective and critical. Based on the overview presented, it is clear that the search for beneficial biodiesel sources should focus on feedstocks that do not compete with food crops, do not lead to land-clearing and provide greenhouse-gas reductions. These feedstocks include non-edible oils such as Jatropha curcas and Calophyllum inophyllum, and more recently microalgae and genetically engineered plants such as poplar and switchgrass have emerged to be very promising feedstocks for biodiesel production.

Key words: Biodiesel feedstock, extraction, production, properties and qualities, problems