Methyl esters (biodiesel) from and fatty acid profile of Gliricidia sepium seed oil

Abstract Increasing the supply of biodiesel by defining and developing additional feedstocks is important to overcome the still limited amounts available of this alternative fuel. In this connection, the methyl esters of the seed oil of Gliricidia sepium were synthesized and the significant fuel-related properties were determined. The fatty acid profile was also determined with saturated fatty acids comprising slightly more than 35 %, 16.5 % palmitic, 14.5 % stearic, as well as lesser amounts of even longer-chain fatty acids. Linoleic acid is the most prominent acid at about 49 %. Corresponding to the high content of saturated fatty acid methyl esters, cold flow is the most problematic property as shown by a high cloud point of slightly \u3e20 °C. Otherwise, the properties of G. sepium methyl esters are acceptable for biodiesel use when comparing them to specifications in biodiesel standards but the problematic cold flow properties would need to be observed. The 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra of G. sepium methyl esters are reported. © AOCS (outside the USA) 2015

Algae as a Potential Source of Biokerosene and Diesel – Opportunities and Challenges

In times of dwindling petroleum reserves, microalgae may pose an alternate energy resource. Their growth is vast under favorable conditions. However, producing microalgae for energy in an economically as well as ecologically feasible way is a difficult task and the prospects are challenging. The chapter gives an insight into perspectives of growing microalgae as a crop, highlighting some of their exceptional energy storage properties in regard to commercial exploitation. Large scale algae production techniques and concepts up to downstream processes are presented. Today, conversion to fuels is constrained by energy usage and costs – but future combination of fuel production with added value products may improve balances and lower the industrial CO2 footprint. These challenges drive research and industry worldwide to constant improvement, supported by numerous funding opportunities. Microalgae in their tremendous diversity are a young and still very much unexplored crop. It is a challenge worth addressing