Biorefinery Production of Fuels and Platform Chemicals

6Algae Biofuel Production Techniques: Recent Advancements

Trinath Biswal¹, Krushna Prasad Shadangi²* and Prakash Kumar Sarangi³

¹Department of Chemistry, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, Odisha, India

²Department of Chemical Engineering, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology,

Burla, Odisha, India ³College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur, India

Abstract

This study describes the use of algae as a significant source of biofuel. Microalgae are considered as an unbelievable source of biofuel. For the production of 3^rd generation biofuel, algae are subjected to a number of stages and its efficiency of performance in I/C engines is the key technology of the production of biofuel from algae. Algae biofuel can be produced using thermochemical and biochemical methods. Both the methods have some benefits along with the drawbacks. Direct combustion, thermochemical liquefaction, gasification, and pyrolysis are techniques to produce solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels. Biochemical methods of conversion yield biogas, bio-hydrogen, and bioethanol as the products. Apart from this, the extracts of the algae can be used to produce biodiesel. In this chapter a detailed description of the methods of conversion of algae biomass including Genetic Engineering toward biofuels production are given.

Keywords: Microalgae, biofuel, pyrolysis, gasification, biodiesel, direct combustion

6.1 Introduction

Biofuel is the alternative to fossil fuels derived ...