Biodiesel production from microalgae and determine properties of produced fuel using standard test fuel.

Microalgae with their higher growth rate and oil volume can be counted on as a new source of producing biodiesel. Chlorella vulgaris microalgae have been used in this study for producing biodiesel. From one germinator device was used as the culture room. The optimum temperature for cultivation was adjusted, 25oC; pH, 7; Light intensity, 3500 Lux. Due to stiffness of cell envelope of this type of microalgae, the cell envelope was broken using Ultrasonic device in 40°C. The biodiesel produced from transesterification methods was analyzed by gas chromatograph (GC). The biodiesel samples were characterized in accordance with American standard specification for biodiesel (ASTM D6751) and European standard specifications for biodiesel (EN14214) protocols. 18-carbon fatty acids with 51.3% constitute the most fatty acids presence. Olecic acid with 28.10%, Palmitic acid with 24%, Linolelaidic acid with 16.7%, Linolenic acid with 10.6% and Linoleic acid 10% assign the biggest share to themselves respectively. The resultant biodiesel was evaluated for physic-chemical properties namely kinematic viscosity (4.8 mm2/s), density (870 kg/m3), flash point (140 °C), cetane number (60), cloud point (0 °C), pour point (-11 °C), heating value (41MJ/kg). Although the presence of some unsaturated fatty acids increased the pour and cloud point of the biodiesel, the microalgae with its high growth rate however can be considered as a proper source of biodiesel production.