As carbon dioxide gases continue to rise and concerns about fossil fuel usage increases, there is an increased need for more sustainable and renewable energy sources. Microalgae have gained attention as a potential biofuel because of their high lipid content, rapid growth, and ability to grow in wastewater environments without competing with food crops or land resources. The purpose of this study is to determine whether Chlorella vulgaris can produce a workable amount of lipids for biodiesel production, while comparing two methods for processing microalgae lipids into biodiesel, the traditional linear multi-step transesterification process and in-situ transesterification. This study uses quantitative research methods because numerical data was collected and compared between both methods. C. vulgaris was cultivated under controlled conditions. After cultivation, a portion of the biomass was used for the traditional linear multi-step transesterification method, and the other portion was used for the in-situ transesterification method. Both methods will undergo lipid extraction to isolate the oils required for biodiesel production. The extracted lipid will then be converted into biodiesel through the transesterification process. It is expected that in-situ transesterification will produce biodiesel more efficiently by reducing processing steps, lowering energy consumption, and improving overall cost effectiveness compared to the traditional multi-step method. The practical implications of this study may benefit researchers, environmental scientists, and the renewable energy industry by contributing to improved biodiesel production methods and supporting more sustainable fuel alternatives for future large-scale applications.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mathew Alexander

Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering