A Review on Effective Processes in Biodiesel Production Using Microalgae

The increase demands for energy and consequent depletion of fossil fuels resulted in various environmental issues such as air pollution. So, finding clean and renewable energy sources is critical. Diesel as a fossil fuel is excessively used in diesel engines which led to the emission of greenhouse gas and depletion of these resources, as well. Therefore, looking for an appropriate energy source for diesel engines is necessary. In this context, use of the third generation of biofuels, or microalgae, not only makes it possible to produce fuel from a sustainable, renewable, and biocompatible energy source, but also can be combined with wastewater treatment and carbon dioxide fixation. Considering the importance of biodiesel production, in this work, the main effective parameters on biodiesel production from algae sources, including algae growth, methods for algae harvesting, methods for extraction of oil from algae, and various processes involved in biodiesel production using the oil extracted from algae were reviewed. In addition, in the end, the characteristic futures of the biodiesel from algal sources for application as fuel are comprehensively discussed.