Evaluating the Potential of Algal Pyrolysis Bio-Oil as a Low-Cost Biodiesel for use in Standby Generators for home Power Generation

Bothwell Nyoni, Shanganyane Percy Hlangothi

Abstract


Because of unpredicted weather patterns, households relying on power generation via solar systems are most often equipped with standby bio/diesel or gasoline generator systems. Electricity generation from solar systems is regarded as carbon neutral, however, the use of fossil fuels in standby generator systems used during solar outages compromises the carbon neutral-ness. In this study, an assessment of pyrolysis oils synthesized via a simple pyrolysis process is performed to determine the possibility of using the oil as a low-cost biodiesel fuel for standby generators used in home solar power systems. GCMS analysis revealed that the bio-oil was rich in fatty acids (6.3 – 10.7 %), alcohols (7.1 – 13.5 %) and fatty acid esters (11.3 - 23.7 %). The potential biodiesel content, i.e., the total amount of fatty acid esters and, alcohols and fatty acids that have a possibility of being further processed via transesterification reactions to generate more free fatty acid esters, is in the range 36.28 – 50.21 %.


Keywords


Algae; biodiesel; biomass; fatty acid esters; pyrolysis

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DOI (PDF): https://doi.org/10.20508/ijsmartgrid.v6i4.258.g248

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