Characterization and transesterification of fresh water microalgal oil

Abstract

In the present investigation bulk algal biomass was collected from different natural water bodies of Himachal Pradesh, India. Maximum oil content of consortia was estimated at 3.7% and major fatty acids were oleic acid (18:1), palmitic acid (16:0), linoleic acid (18:2), and palmitoliec acid (16:1), which are the main constituents of biodiesel. Viscosity of algae oil was found to be high and transesterification was done by basic, microwave-, and ultrasonication-assisted methods. Maximum conversion from algal oil to fatty acid methyl esters was obtained by ultrasonication-assisted transesterification (71.5%), whereas microwave-assisted and basic transesterification was 58.6 and 51.3%, respectively.