A New Model of Response Surface Methodology(RSM) for Optimized Biofuel Production

Non-renewable petroleum-based fuels used in the transportation sector are associated with twin problems, including depletion of fossil fuel reservoirs and environmental pollution.This has shifted the attention of researchers towards the use of renewables around the globe.The fastest-growing small lipid factories are the best candidates among the renewable energy sources to produce biodiesel.This study has focused on the novel use of alumina supported dodeca-molybdophosphoric acid (MPA/alumina) for the transesterification of Chlorella vulgaris oil and production process optimization by response surface methodology.The catalyst concentration (1-5 w/w%), methanol to oil ratio (10:1-30:1), reaction temperature (40-200C), and time (60-300 minutes) were the studied independent variables.C. vulgaris biodiesel was found to be of good quality, meet international standards and has a significant potential for the futuristic needs of the transportation sector.The combined effect of the four independent variables on the algal biodiesel yield using MPA/alumina was studied by the response surface plots between any two reaction variables at the central level of the other two variables.The response surface curves predicted an algal biodiesel yield of 95.55% at optimum reaction parameters.