Kakinada Institute of Engineering and Technology for Women
Abstract
The present study describes the biodiesel production from food processing wastewater by using Chlorella vulgaris, Botryococcus braunii and mixed algae (Chlorella vulgaris, Botryococcus braunii, Nostoc and Anaebena). Continuous monitoring of parameters like pH, Volatile fatty acid, Chemical oxygen demand, Biochemical oxygen demand, Alkalinity, Sulphates were carried out to asses the efficiency of the treatment process. The micro algal oil was extracted with different solvents like hexane, benzyl alcohol, Iso amyl alcohol, dichloro methane, dichloro ethane, proponal and methanol using distillation. The catalyst concentration (0.00, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, 1.50 and 2.00%) and Catalyst type (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium methoxide and potassium methoxide) were studied for the production of biodiesel. The experimental results showed that more than 88% of COD and BOD were removed. Benzyl alcohol and hexane were found to be the best solvents for extraction of algal oil. The biodiesel was characterized by using gas chromatography with mass spectrophotometer. Sodium and potassium hydroxide offered the higher yields when compared to their corresponding methoxides. The results clearly indicated that the optimum concentration of NaOH required for effective transesterification of algal oil was 1.00% for the production of biodiesel. The properties of FAME investigated in this study satisfied nearly all prescribed ASTM D6751
