Biofuel production from algae

Our world has various array of resources that it can offer to its
people that may be a factor as a contribution in making our
everyday lives easier. We utilize the usage of our available
resources in order to fit our needs for consumption, but there are
resources that we may consider unsustainable in relation to the
duration of its formation. With that, these natural supplies are not
enough to adapt with the demand and consumption of the
individuals since it takes a long period of time in order to
replenish. Thus, we may be experiencing scarcity on such
supplies which hinders people with their activities. Nonrenewable
resources come from our planet, released from the ground in gas,
liquid, or solid form, and then converted for various uses such as
a source of energy. Examples of these resources are crude oil,
natural gas, coal that are formed by geological processes which
takes millions of years. These supplies may be processed into
different products and can be used commercially or personally.
Because of this scarcity, we must cut down and/or decrease our
dependency on non-renewable carbon-based fuels, like gasoline.
Biofuels are organically derived from plants or animal wastes.
Ethanol is a common biofuel used today as an additive to the
common gasoline. There are numerous types of ethanol-based
fuels, one of which is the cellulosic ethanol that is of growing
interest because it is made by converting the cellulose found in
plant cell walls into ethanol, through a series of chemical
reactions.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Our resources of energy are of growing interest and is being
talked about by various people since our dependency to
nonrenewable resources limits our daily lives. It covers a long
period of time for these supplies to replenish, and would not be
capable of adapting to the demand or consumption of the people.
Thus, leading to scarcity of these resources. On the other hand,
there are biofuels that are obtained from organic materials that
may aid as an alternative to these nonrenewable carbon-based
fuels. This study aims to utilize and make use of specific plants to
acquire cellulosic ethanol and use it as an additive to fuels.
Specifically, the researchers would like to answer the following
questions:
1. To what extent will the cellulosic ethanol be effective in run
machines?
2. How much will it be more effective when cellulobiase (enzyme
used to help convert the cellulose into glucose) is added?

Review of related literature:

1. (Zhang, Shahbazi, & Xiu, Aquatic Plants: is it a viable Source
for Biofuel Production, 2012)

This study discusses their aim to produce a biofuel using corn

Stover or crops gown specifically as energy crops, such as
switchgrass, and poplars. although there is another viable
feedstock that could be aquatic plants that was obtained from
constructed wetlands. They used aquatic plants, such as cattails,
water lettuce, water hyacinth, and duckweeds, as biofuel sources.
Because of rising of oil prices and uncertainty over the security of
existing fossil fuel reserves, plus with their concerns over global
climate change. Because of this problem they want to create new
transportation fuels and bio products from renewable resources to
substitute for fossil carbon-based materials.

2. (Beetul, Taleb-Hossenkhan, Sadally, & Bhagooli, An

Investigation on Biodiesel Production from Microalgae found
in Mauritian Waters, 2014)

This study discusses their aim was to assess the lipid content and
the subsequent potential of different microalgae present in the
Mauritan marine water to produce diesel. Cyanobacterial mats
and endosymbiotic dinoflagellates were characterised
morphologically and genetically using RFLP. The samples were
quantified gravimentrically and analysed using 1H &13C NMR
spectroscopy. According to the microalgae cellular study, lipid
content is the main driving factor to make biodiesel, while
proteins and carbohydrates are the key components for bio-oil
and bioethanol production. They attempt to synthesise biodiesel
by alkaline trans-esterification reaction was also performed and
the presence of biodiesel was detected using the Fourier
Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The Infrared analysis yielded
peaks at around 1738cm-1 and 1200cm-1 characteristic of the
carbonyl and ether groups respectively, indicating the presence of
biodiesel.

3. (Hasan, Aziz, Hassan, & Ali, Production of biodiesel from

freshwater algae, 2016)

This study discusses their aim to produce biodiesel from

freshwater algae. The production of biodiesel from micro algal
lipids is conducted by using newly isolated fresh water algal
stains. In this study, they used four different strains of
Chlorococcum, Deasonia, chlorella and Botryococcus species.
Selection of the fastest growing specie was made through the
results of growth kinetic studies when grown under optimum
conditions. By using alkaline transesterification of algal lipids,
biodiesel was formed as the main product with glycerol as by-
product. Their conclusion is the physicochemical quality of algal
biodiesel was found comparable to conventional diesel.

4. (Hernandez, Stein, Gedye, Sarath, Owens, & Boe, A Multiple

Species Approach to Biomass Production from Native
Herbaceous Perennial Feedstocks, 2010)
This study discusses the rapid rate of worldwide consumption of
nonrenewable fossil fuels, production of biofuels from cellulosic
sources is receiving increased research emphasis. In this study,
they review the feasibility to produce lignocellulosic biomass on
marginal lands that are not well-suited for conventional crop
production. And they also review the existing literature, current
work, and potential of two native species of the tallgrass prairie,
prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), and little bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium) as candidates for commercial
production of biofuel. They also discuss the need to accelerate
research in the areas of agronomy, breeding, genetics, and
potential pathogens.
 5. (Khan, Ayaz, Shah, & Ahmed, Production of Biodiesel from
Algae, 2015)
This study discusses how biodiesel has gained much attention in
the past few years due to its eco-friendly nature, nontoxic
characteristics, Biodegradability and lower net carbon cycle
compared to conventional diesel fuels. In this study, potential
algal specie spirogya were collected from different districts of
Pakistan and employed as a feedstock for biodiesel production. In
the first process, oil from algal specie was extracted using n-
Hexane and Di-ethyl Ether as solvents, while in the second
process; extracted oil was converted into biodiesel via
transestrification reaction.