Abstract:
The present study explores the integrated approach for the sustainable production of biodiesel from
Chlorella vulgaris microalgae. The microalgae were cultivated in 10 m2 open raceway pond at
semi-continuous mode with optimum volumetric and areal production of 28.105 kg/L/y and
71.51 t/h/y, respectively. Alum was used as flocculent for harvesting the microalgae and optimized at
different pH. Lipid was extracted using chloroform: methanol (2:1) and having 12.39% of FFA. Effect of
various reaction conditions such as effect of catalyst, methanol:lipid ratio, reaction temperature and time
on biodiesel yields were studied under microwave irradiation; and 84.01% of biodiesel yield was obtained
under optimized reaction conditions. A comparison was also made between the biodiesel productions
under conventional heating and microwave irradiation. The synthesized biodiesel was characterized by
1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR and GC; however, fuel properties of biodiesel were also studied using specified
test methods as per ASTM and EN standards
