Physiсo-Chemical Investigations on the Catalytic Production of Biofuel from Algal Biomass

Energy crises and growing demand for energy has increased the importance of biodiesel from algae, because renewable, carbon neutral, transport fuels are necessary for environmental and economic sustainability. This study was undertaken to know the proper production of biodiesel from algae. The Spirogyra species of algae was used in the gasification process in the presence of catalyst. For this purpose cobalt/calcium oxide nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation, characterized and were then used for catalytic gasification of algae at temperature of 300°C. The catalyst increased the oil content at low temperature and the products obtained were bio-oil and biochar to be used as bio-fertilizer. Cobalt oxide and calcium oxide nanoparticles were used due to their reactivity with high surface area which decrease the activation energy and reaction temperature. Bio-oil was transesterified to convert it into biodiesel by using sodium hydroxide catalyst and methanol. These results were confirmed through using various techniques like Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS), and particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE). Results not only confirmed the successful production of oil but also indicated that the nano-catalyst showed good efficiency and increased the oil content at a relatively lower temperature.