POTENTIAL OF GREEN ENERGY GENERATION OF RIVER KHARKAI AT JAMSHEDPUR, JHARKHAND

Abstract

- Algal biomass is considered as best option for clean and green energy due to its fastest growth, sink for pollutants. This study deals with biofuel production from the algal biomass collected from River Kharkai at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand processed under laboratory. Chlorella vulgaris, Chlamydomonas rheinhardii , Botryococcus braunii, Scenedesmus sp.,Microcystis aeruginosa, Nitzschia sp. ,Cladophora sp. ,Porphyridium cruentum ,Zygnema sp. ,Spirogyra sp., Synechoccus sp are the major algal species recorded during study period that have biofuel generation capacity. An amount of 0.865 g dry wt m -2 algal biomass collected from the site. Soxhlet extraction method having chloroform: methanol (2:1) was used for Lipid extraction. 21.87% of lipid was extracted from collected algal biomass. Extracted lipids were further hydrolyzed for release of fermentable sugar by trans-esterification and single step acid hydrolysis process. These fermentable sugars converted into an amount of 56.76% bioethanol which shows the green energy potential of River Kharkai. energy sources in the near future. Algae also serve as better feedstock for many bioactive compounds. Algae considered as boon for River Kharkai because they act as sink for pollutants and treat the wastewater. Alkaline nature of water promotes algal growth. This study revealed that River Kharkai has immense potential of green energy generation and provides a base line data for future study.