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Microwave drying characteristics of microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) for biofuel production

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Abstract

Algal biofuels serve as a promising alternative energy source for liquid fuels. However, one of the bottlenecks in the conversion of microalgae to biofuels is the drying process. A moisture content of at most 10 % is desired for algal biomass prior to oil extraction to maximise biofuel yield. Conventional means of drying results to longer drying time and uneven drying of algal biomass. This study investigated the drying characteristics of microwave for microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris). Three microwave intensity levels (300, 600, and 900 W) were considered to dry 10, 20, and 30 of algal mass. Page model gave a better fit on the moisture ratio with time of microwave drying than the exponential model. Furthermore, the specific energy requirement was computed, and a relationship was found between moisture ratio with power and mass. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results showed significant reduction of infrared signal intensities of the functional groups present in the algae after drying at higher microwave power level. It was concluded that the 20 W/g microwave drying setting gave a lower specific energy requirement with good quality of remaining high lipid content qualitatively. Furthermore, it was recommended to use gas chromatography mass spectroscopy to further quantify the algal lipids and other functional groups.

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Acknowledgments

This work is funded by the CHED-PHERNet Sustainability Studies Program of the Commission for Higher Education (CHED), Philippines. The authors are also grateful for the assistance of De La Salle University Mechanical Engineering Department and University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna. Parts of this work were carried out in the National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines, Diliman, the Chemistry Department and the Physics Department of De La Salle University, and the School of Material Science Engineering of Universiti Malaysia Perlis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, De La Salle University, 0922, Manila, Philippines

    Al Rey C. Villagracia, Nelson B. Arboleda Jr. & Melanie Y. David

  2. Division IX, National Research Council of the Philippines, Bicutan, 1631, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines

    Al Rey C. Villagracia, Nelson B. Arboleda Jr. & Melanie Y. David

  3. Science and Technology Complex, De La Salle University, 4024, Laguna, Philippines

    Nelson B. Arboleda Jr.

  4. Mechanical Engineering Department, De La Salle University, 0922, Manila, Philippines

    Andres Philip Mayol, Aristotle T. Ubando, Jose Bienvenido Manuel M. Biona & Alvin B. Culaba

  5. Plasma Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines, Diliman, 1101, Quezon City, Philippines

    Roy B. Tumlos & Henry Lee Jr.

  6. School of Materials Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 02600, Perlis, Malaysia

    Ong Hui Lin

  7. Chemistry Department, De La Salle University, 0922, Manila, Philippines

    Rafael A. Espiritu

  8. National Institute of Technology, Akashi College, Akashi, Hyogo, 674-8501, Japan

    Hideaki Kasai

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  1. Al Rey C. Villagracia
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Correspondence to Al Rey C. Villagracia.

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Villagracia, A.R.C., Mayol, A.P., Ubando, A.T. et al. Microwave drying characteristics of microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) for biofuel production. Clean Techn Environ Policy 18, 2441–2451 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-016-1169-0

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