Algae are known to be a potential feedstock in the production of biodiesel fuel. Although much of the focus has been on microalgal species, macroalgae are also suitable as a source of lipids. In this study, a locally abundant (central Illinois) filamentous algae has been harvested from a water treatment plant; dried to about 10% of its initial weight; pulverized in a hammermill; and treated wit...

Due to the rapid development of the global economy, fossil oil is widely used, leading to its depletion and gradual deterioration of the global environment, including global warming, the greenhouse effect, fog, and haze. Therefore, many researchers have been interested in studying alternative fuels in an attempt to develop an eco-friendly fuel to replace traditional fuel and solve the above env...

The global demand for crude oil is expected to continue to rise in future while simultaneously oil production is currently reaching its peak. Subsequently, rising oil prices and their negative impacts on economy, together with an increased environmental awareness of our society, directed the focus also on the biotechnological production of fuels. Although a wide variety of such fuels has been s...

Enzymatic transesterification by using lipase as catalyst has become more attractive for the production of biodiesel due to easy separation of products such as glycerol and fatty acid esters. Comparative studies of enzyme catalyzed transesterification of three less attended non edible oils (jatropha, karanja and putranjiva) have been discussed. The maximum yield has been obtained at 3:1 molar r...

Vegetable oil derived fuels for diesel engines are becoming important as alternative to petroleum diesel fuels due to their environmental friendliness and availability. Ignition quality in compression ignition (CI) engines is influenced by thermal characteristics and fuel properties. In this study, the effects of vegetable oil transesterification and vegetable oil-1-butanol-diesel blend on fuel...

Introduction Biodiesel producers have long recognized the need for new sources of oil feedstock if biodiesel is to continue displacing petroleum-based diesel fuel. One potential source of oil that could minimize competition with food crops is microbial oil, with photosynthetic algae being the most widely studied option. An understanding of algal lipids, their native biochemistry and interaction...

Energy outputs from ethanol produced using corn, switchgrass, and wood biomass were each less than the respective fossil energy inputs. The same was true for producing biodiesel using soybeans and sunflower, however, the energy cost for producing soybean biodiesel was only slightly negative compared with ethanol production. Findings in terms of energy outputs compared with the energy inputs wer...

Biodiesel is emerging as a promising substitute of an alternative fuel and has gained significant attention due to the predicted depletion of conventional fuels availability in near future and environmental pollution concern. Utilization of biodiesel produced from Jatropha oil by transesterification process is one of the most promising options to replace conventional fossil diesel fuel. The phy...

Soap skimmings are an intermediate substrate in the production of tall oil from Kraft pulping black liquor. In this study, biodiesel was produced directly from soap skimmings before being processed into tall oil using acetyl chloride and sulfuric acid as accelerators. The effects of the accelerator amount, reaction time, and pH on the production yield were investigated. The yields of biodiesel ...