Work

Enhanced biofuel production from Nannochloropsis sp. via microwave-assisted extraction in-Situ transesterification using CaO/hydrotalcite catalyst

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT The increasing demand for renewable energy has driven the exploration of efficient and sustainable biofuel production methods. The present study investigates the technology of in situ transesterification using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of microalgae Nannochloropsis sp to produce biodiesel on a lab scale. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, EDAX, and BET methods. The optimum yield produced from the ratio of microalgae ( Nannochloropsis sp.) to solvent (methanol) by 1:25 (17.8%); the ratio of additional catalyst of CaO/Hydrotalcite to microalgae was 4 wt%; and reaction time variation of 20 minutes with 350 watts of microwave power and 10mL of n-hexane. Meanwhile, the results of the GC-MS analysis on the highest yield of crude biodiesel showed n-paraffin at 62.42%area. These findings highlight the potential of methods for large-scale biofuel production, offering an effective performance and environmental friendly alternative to conventional biodiesel synthesis.

Source: Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101234