Abstract

The aim of the study was to obtain high quality biodiesel from microalgae Chlorella marina and Nannochloropsis salina through transesterification. Growth studies revealed that maximum cell growth rate was obtained at 15th day of the culture. The flocculation activity result showed that pH 11 was optimum for cell flocculation at 37°C. In the present study, 60.26% of biodiesel yielded from 0.752 g L-1 contains 30% oil content from N. salina, whereas 50% yielded from 0.527 g L-1 contains 20% oil content. The crude lipid content found in C. marina and N. salina was found to be 20.33 ± 1.82% and 32.13 ± 1.40% of dry biomass. The density and viscosity of the biodiesel obtained from the crude lipid of N. salina and C. marina were 0.992 and 0.971 (kg L-1), viscosity 3.2 and 4.8 (Pa.sat 40°C), respectively. The method implemented in this study could be novel approach and great potential in the industrial production of liquid fuel from microalgae.

Key words: Microalgae, Nannochloropsis salina, Chlorella marina, lipids, biodiesel, flocculation