GREEN-CO :BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM CHLORELLA VULGARIS AND N-HEXANE USING ULTRASONIC METHOD

Abstract

Biodiesel, as a renewable fuels is one of the most important discovery to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and microalgae is an organism who plays a big role in the process of making biodiesel. Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris has high oil content amount for about 57%. Therefore, Chlorella vulgaris is a very potential material for biodiesel. This research was conducted by 6 processes: Lipid extraction (added N-Hexane solvent), Ultrasonication, Viscosity test, Density test, Acid number test, and Saponification number test. The lipid extraction process was conducted 2 times. The ultrasonication process resulting a  nanoparticle size (smaller size) of extraction which are more effective to the biodiesel quality. The ratio of Chlorella vulgaris and N-Hexane are 1:4 and 1:8. This research resulted the ratio of 1:8 is more effective than the ratio of 1:4 to become the raw material for biodiesel production.