Abstract:
Microalgal lipid is a potential feedstock of bioenergy
in recent years. Rapid growth rate and high lipid content
in microalgae are foremost factors to compete with first and
second-generation biofuels. However, high levels of chlorophyll
in feedstock limit its large scale application. Chlorophyll makes
oil more susceptible to photo-oxidation, decreases the storage
stability, causes low-quality oil with a dull and dark color
and decreases the transesterification efficiency and combustion
efficiency of biodiesel. This study aimed to develop a novel
preprocessing method (i) to identify the best solvent ratios
(ii) temperature and (iii) reaction time for chlorophyll removal
from the selected microalgae to synthesize high-quality biofuel.
The species Mychonastes homospaera isolated from Beire Lake,
Colombo, SriLanka was employed to study chlorophyll removal.
The doubling time and the lipid accumulation in the isolated
microalgae were 2.89 d and 58 % (w/w). According to the results
the best solvent ratio (NaOH: ethanol), temperature and reaction
time were reported as 7:3, 60 0C and 90 min respectively.
