Analysis of biodiesel production (FAME) from microalgae Chorella SP. In a photobioreactor under optimum laboratory conditions

Abstract

Third-generation biofuels derived from microalgae offer a sustainable solution to meet rising energy demands while minimizing competition with food resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Microalgae are a raw material with high potential for their use in the production of biodiesel. This study investigates the effect of nitrogen deprivation on lipid accumulation in Chlorella sp., a promising microalga for biodiesel production, identifying in the process the optimal conditions for production, being the main goal to compare biomass and lipid production between these controlled conditions and environmental ones using a bioreactor. The results showed that nitrogen deprivation increased lipid content by 7.7 % in Chlorella sp., demonstrating its potential for biodiesel enhancement. The optimal conditions for biodiesel production, including temperature (24.74 °C), pH (8.25), and light intensity (6600 lux), were identified using factorial design. Under optimized laboratory conditions (pH 8.25, light intensity 6600 lux, temperature 24.74 °C), maximum biodiesel yield was achieved at 79 %. Under environmental conditions in Arequipa, biodiesel production achieved 21.21 % lipid content, demonstrating comparable efficiency to laboratory conditions (21.24 %). Environmental and laboratory conditions yielded similar biodiesel outputs, highlighting the feasibility of outdoor production.