Article info.

ABSTRACT

Received date: 29/10/2015

Accepted date: 30/11/2016

In this study, transesterification reaction under subcritical condition of methanol (or called subcritical methanol method) was employed to directly produce biodiesel from Chlorella sp. instead of conventional method that was based on acid/base catalysts. The effects of reaction parameters on FAME (biodiesel) conversion such as temperature (165, 175 and 185°C), methanol to biomass ratio (10/1, 15/1, 20/1 and 25/1 g/g), water content (5, 15, 30, 50 and 80%), and reaction time (1, 4, 6, 8, and 12 h) were studied. According to the experimental results, FAME conversion increased with the increase of reaction time and highest FAME conversion 95% at 175°C, 20/1 (g/g) methanol to biomass ratio and 50% water content in biomass.

Keywords

Biodiesel, microalgae, subcritical methanol, transesterification

Cited as: Phong, H.Q., Au, T.D., Huong, H.L. and Dat, N.V., 2016. Biodiesel synthesis from algae (Chlorella sp.) in condition of subcritical methanol. Can Tho University Journal of Science. Vol 4: 1-5.