Making Biodiesel from Algae at Home

Making biodiesel from algae at home is more efficient than making biodiesel from corn. Algae’s are also being used as a base matter. It is very interesting that the gross stuff found on the top of ponds and still water can actually be used effectively. But recently algae have been used in the alternate fuel industry of biodiesel. Converting biodiesel from algae will help to provide an environmentally friendly. The important benefit is that, the algae found in sewage have also been used for biodiesel conversion. There is definitely no shortage of sewage and using sewage in this way can also help the environment. Green fuels Technologies seems to be the best known company that is converting algae to biodiesel fuel.

It is only through research and testing that we will learn if biodiesel from algae is a viable option. Few species of algae contain very high oil content and these families of algae are perfectly capable for biodiesel production. Not only they have high oil content, they grow quite rapidly. Some algae have more than 50% oil. There are few methods on the web to prepare biodiesel from algae at home. But only after doing we can say how effective it is. And also only certain methods are effective.

Making Algae Biodiesel

Currently most research into efficient algal-oil production is being done in the private sector, but predictions from small scale production experiments bear out that using algae to produce biodiesel may be the only viable method by which to produce enough automotive fuel to replace current world diesel usage.

Algae are harvested using a device called photobioreactors. Microalgae contain lipids and fatty acids as membrane components, storage products, metabolites and sources of energy.

Biodiesel can be made from algae by using centrifuges. Feedstock preparation - In this case, algae must first be separated from its medium, then the oil extracted from the algae. Separation of transesterification products – Biodiesel and glycerine must be separated, and any leftover reactants removed. Water wash – Biodiesel can be washed of soap and glycerine using a centrifuge. Magnasol solids removal - As an alternative to water washing, it may be possible to wash the biodiesel in Magnasol.

Studies show that algae can produce up to 60% of their biomass in the form of oil. Because the cells grow in aqueous suspension where they have more efficient access to water, CO2 and dissolved nutrients, microalgae are capable of producing large amounts of biomass and usable oil in either high rate algal ponds or photobioreactors. This oil can then be turned into biodiesel which could be sold for use in automobiles. The more efficient this process becomes the larger the profit that is turned by the company. Regional production of microalgae and processing into biofuels will provide economic benefits to rural communities.

The algal-oil feedstock that is used to produce biodiesel can also be used for fuel directly as "Straight Vegetable Oil", (SVO). The benefit of using the oil in this manner is that it doesn't require the additional energy needed for transesterification, (processing the oil with an alcohol and a catalyst to produce biodiesel). The drawback is that it does require modifications to a normal diesel engine. Transesterified biodiesel can be run in an unmodified modern diesel engine, provided the engine is designed to use ultra-low sulfur diesel, which, as of 2006, is the new diesel fuel standard in the United States.

The algal fuel is very resourceful to people who use biodiesel on a large scale. Airlines, railways and bus depots should use algal fuel to refuel the automobiles. Algal fuel is extremely eco-friendly energy and would save a lot of our fossil fuels if used wisely. Keep the world green!!