Title: Intensified transesterification of algae oil using ultrasonic cavitation

Authors: Dhundiraj P. Deshpande; Utkarsh Maheshwari; Vivek Rangarajan; Amruta Adwant; Shrikant Nanwatkar

Addresses: Dr. D.Y. Patil Institute of Engineering, Management and Research, Akurdi, Pune, India ' D.Y. Patil International University, Akurdi, Pune, India ' Department of Chemical Engineering, BITS-Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, Goa, India ' Dr. D.Y. Patil Institute of Engineering, Management and Research, Akurdi, Pune, India ' D.Y. Patil International University, Akurdi, Pune, India

Abstract: In the today's time of energy crunch, sustainable method employed for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy security can be obtained utilising algal oil for production of biodiesel. The present work focuses on utilisation of ultrasonic cavitation, i.e., high sound wave frequency as an enhancing technique as a sustainable solution for enhancing the transesterification of algal oil. The parameters [reaction temperature (30-50°C), catalyst concentration (0.5-1 wt%), reaction duration (30-60 minutes), and methanol-to-oil molar ratio (6:1-10:1)] are optimised to boost the quality and yield of biodiesel. The optimised conditions for the process are utilising 1% of NaOH catalyst, 9:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, 45 min. reaction at 40°C providing 96.3% methyl esters. Produced biodiesel is following ASTM D-975, providing viscosity, flash point, density, indicating exceptional fuel quality thus restoring the belief of benefits of utilising ultra-sonication for biodiesel production considering all the environmental constraints. [Received: June 17, 2024; Accepted: November 27, 2024]

Keywords: biodiesel; ultra-sonication; renewable energy; algal biomass; methyl ester yield.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2025.149845

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2025 Vol.38 No.4, pp.514 - 527

Received: 01 May 2024
Accepted: 27 Nov 2024
Published online: 14 Nov 2025 *

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