RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT –PRODUCTION OF OIL FROM ALGAE

*Y. Neeraja, Ammani, Lumbini Devi and Alekhya

ABSTRACT

The use of fossil fuels as energy is now widely accepted as unsustainable due to depleting resources and also due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the environment. Renewable and carbon neutral biofuels are necessary for environmental and economic sustainability. Microalgae appear to be the only source of renewable energy that is capable of meeting the global demand for transport fuels. Like plants, microalgae use sunlight to produce oils but they do so more efficiently than crop plants. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the feasibility of the water bodies of Eluru city to produce algal oil, which can be used as renewable energy. Algal cultures from Thammileru Stream, Kolleru Lake and Composite culture were evaluated for the oil production. The cultures were maintained in an open pond system with regular observation of growth conditions and periodic harvestation. Oils were extracted using solvent extraction method by Soxhlet apparatus. The extracted lipids were quantitatively analyzed by gravimetric method and qualitatively by Specific gravity, Density, Acid value and Iodine Value to assess their use as renewable energy. Higher oil production was observed from the composite culture which is a mixture of Thammileru Stream and Kolleru Lake. The qualitative analysis of extracted lipids proved that micro algal oil is a source of renewable energy.

Keywords: Thammileru Stream, Kolleru Thammileru Stream and Kolleru Lake.