IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v15y2011i1p584-593.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Microalgae as a sustainable energy source for biodiesel production: A review

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmad, A.L.
  • Yasin, N.H. Mat
  • Derek, C.J.C.
  • Lim, J.K.

Abstract

Of the three generations of biodiesel feedstocks described in this paper, food crops, non-food crops and microalgae-derived biodiesel, it was found that the third generation, microalgae, is the only source that can be sustainably developed in the future. Microalgae can be converted directly into energy, such as biodiesel, and therefore appear to be a promising source of renewable energy. This paper presents a comparison between the use of microalgae and palm oil as biodiesel feedstocks. It was found that microalgae are the more sustainable source of biodiesel in terms of food security and environmental impact compared to palm oil. The inefficiency and unsustainability of the use of food crops as a biodiesel source have increased interest in the development of microalgae species to be used as a renewable energy source. In this paper, the main advantages of using microalgae for biodiesel production are described in comparison with other available feedstocks, primarily palm oil.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmad, A.L. & Yasin, N.H. Mat & Derek, C.J.C. & Lim, J.K., 2011. "Microalgae as a sustainable energy source for biodiesel production: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 584-593, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:15:y:2011:i:1:p:584-593
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364-0321(10)00305-9
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mata, Teresa M. & Martins, António A. & Caetano, Nidia. S., 2010. "Microalgae for biodiesel production and other applications: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 217-232, January.
    2. Pramanik, K, 2003. "Properties and use of jatropha curcas oil and diesel fuel blends in compression ignition engine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 239-248.
    3. Çelikten, İsmet & Koca, Atilla & Ali Arslan, Mehmet, 2010. "Comparison of performance and emissions of diesel fuel, rapeseed and soybean oil methyl esters injected at different pressures," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 814-820.
    4. Gui, M.M. & Lee, K.T. & Bhatia, S., 2008. "Feasibility of edible oil vs. non-edible oil vs. waste edible oil as biodiesel feedstock," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 1646-1653.
    5. Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Wu, Xuan & Leung, M.K.H., 2010. "A review on biodiesel production using catalyzed transesterification," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1083-1095, April.
    6. Lim, Steven & Teong, Lee Keat, 2010. "Recent trends, opportunities and challenges of biodiesel in Malaysia: An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 938-954, April.
    7. Sumathi, S. & Chai, S.P. & Mohamed, A.R., 2008. "Utilization of oil palm as a source of renewable energy in Malaysia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(9), pages 2404-2421, December.
    8. Balat, Mustafa & Balat, Havva, 2010. "Progress in biodiesel processing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(6), pages 1815-1835, June.
    9. Brennan, Liam & Owende, Philip, 2010. "Biofuels from microalgae--A review of technologies for production, processing, and extractions of biofuels and co-products," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 557-577, February.
    10. Janaun, Jidon & Ellis, Naoko, 2010. "Perspectives on biodiesel as a sustainable fuel," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(4), pages 1312-1320, May.
    11. Khan, Shakeel A. & Rashmi & Hussain, Mir Z. & Prasad, S. & Banerjee, U.C., 2009. "Prospects of biodiesel production from microalgae in India," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(9), pages 2361-2372, December.
    12. Huang, GuanHua & Chen, Feng & Wei, Dong & Zhang, XueWu & Chen, Gu, 2010. "Biodiesel production by microalgal biotechnology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 38-46, January.
    13. Singh, S.P. & Singh, Dipti, 2010. "Biodiesel production through the use of different sources and characterization of oils and their esters as the substitute of diesel: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 200-216, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sharma, Yogesh Chandra & Singh, Veena, 2017. "Microalgal biodiesel: A possible solution for India’s energy security," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 72-88.
    2. Atadashi, I.M. & Aroua, M.K. & Abdul Aziz, A.R. & Sulaiman, N.M.N., 2012. "Production of biodiesel using high free fatty acid feedstocks," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 3275-3285.
    3. Atabani, A.E. & Silitonga, A.S. & Badruddin, Irfan Anjum & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Masjuki, H.H. & Mekhilef, S., 2012. "A comprehensive review on biodiesel as an alternative energy resource and its characteristics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 2070-2093.
    4. Bhuiya, M.M.K. & Rasul, M.G. & Khan, M.M.K. & Ashwath, N. & Azad, A.K., 2016. "Prospects of 2nd generation biodiesel as a sustainable fuel—Part: 1 selection of feedstocks, oil extraction techniques and conversion technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1109-1128.
    5. Tariq, Muhammad & Ali, Saqib & Khalid, Nasir, 2012. "Activity of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, spectroscopic and chromatographic characterization of biodiesel: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 6303-6316.
    6. Azad, A.K. & Rasul, M.G. & Khan, M.M.K. & Sharma, Subhash C. & Hazrat, M.A., 2015. "Prospect of biofuels as an alternative transport fuel in Australia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 331-351.
    7. No, Soo-Young, 2011. "Inedible vegetable oils and their derivatives for alternative diesel fuels in CI engines: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 131-149, January.
    8. Mukhtar, Ahmad & Saqib, Sidra & Lin, Hongfei & Hassan Shah, Mansoor Ul & Ullah, Sami & Younas, Muhammad & Rezakazemi, Mashallah & Ibrahim, Muhammad & Mahmood, Abid & Asif, Saira & Bokhari, Awais, 2022. "Current status and challenges in the heterogeneous catalysis for biodiesel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    9. Atadashi, I.M. & Aroua, M.K. & Abdul Aziz, A.R. & Sulaiman, N.M.N., 2012. "The effects of water on biodiesel production and refining technologies: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 3456-3470.
    10. Silitonga, A.S. & Atabani, A.E. & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Masjuki, H.H. & Badruddin, Irfan Anjum & Mekhilef, S., 2011. "A review on prospect of Jatropha curcas for biodiesel in Indonesia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3733-3756.
    11. Azad, A.K. & Rasul, M.G. & Khan, M.M.K. & Sharma, Subhash C. & Mofijur, M. & Bhuiya, M.M.K., 2016. "Prospects, feedstocks and challenges of biodiesel production from beauty leaf oil and castor oil: A nonedible oil sources in Australia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 302-318.
    12. Borugadda, Venu Babu & Goud, Vaibhav V., 2012. "Biodiesel production from renewable feedstocks: Status and opportunities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 4763-4784.
    13. Praveena, V. & Martin, Leenus Jesu & Matijošius, Jonas & Aloui, Fethi & Pugazhendhi, Arivalagan & Varuvel, Edwin Geo, 2024. "A systematic review on biofuel production and utilization from algae and waste feedstocks– a circular economy approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    14. Atabani, A.E. & Silitonga, A.S. & Ong, H.C. & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Masjuki, H.H. & Badruddin, Irfan Anjum & Fayaz, H., 2013. "Non-edible vegetable oils: A critical evaluation of oil extraction, fatty acid compositions, biodiesel production, characteristics, engine performance and emissions production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 211-245.
    15. Mofijur, M. & Masjuki, H.H. & Kalam, M.A. & Hazrat, M.A. & Liaquat, A.M. & Shahabuddin, M. & Varman, M., 2012. "Prospects of biodiesel from Jatropha in Malaysia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 5007-5020.
    16. Takase, Mohammed & Zhao, Ting & Zhang, Min & Chen, Yao & Liu, Hongyang & Yang, Liuqing & Wu, Xiangyang, 2015. "An expatiate review of neem, jatropha, rubber and karanja as multipurpose non-edible biodiesel resources and comparison of their fuel, engine and emission properties," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 495-520.
    17. Maity, Sunil K., 2015. "Opportunities, recent trends and challenges of integrated biorefinery: Part II," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1446-1466.
    18. Manzano-Agugliaro, F. & Sanchez-Muros, M.J. & Barroso, F.G. & Martínez-Sánchez, A. & Rojo, S. & Pérez-Bañón, C., 2012. "Insects for biodiesel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(6), pages 3744-3753.
    19. Singh, Bhaskar & Guldhe, Abhishek & Rawat, Ismail & Bux, Faizal, 2014. "Towards a sustainable approach for development of biodiesel from plant and microalgae," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 216-245.
    20. Ong, H.C. & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Masjuki, H.H. & Norhasyima, R.S., 2011. "Comparison of palm oil, Jatropha curcas and Calophyllum inophyllum for biodiesel: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3501-3515.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:15:y:2011:i:1:p:584-593. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.