Effect of Anaerobic Digestate on the Fatty Acid Profile and Biodiesel Properties of Chlorella sorokiniana Grown Heterotrophically

George Papapolymerou, Athanasios Kokkalis, Dorothea Kasiteropoulou, Nikolaos Gougoulias, Anastasios Mpesios, Aikaterini Papadopoulou, Maria N. Metsoviti and Xenofon Spiliotis
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George Papapolymerou: Department of Environmental Studies, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece
Athanasios Kokkalis: GRINCO S.A., Industrial Area of Larisa, 41303 Larissa, Greece
Dorothea Kasiteropoulou: Department of Environmental Studies, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece
Nikolaos Gougoulias: Department of Agrotechnology, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece
Anastasios Mpesios: Department of Environmental Studies, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece
Aikaterini Papadopoulou: Department of Environmental Studies, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece
Maria N. Metsoviti: Department of Environmental Studies, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece
Xenofon Spiliotis: Department of Environmental Studies, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: The growth kinetics and the lipid and protein content of the microalgal species Chlorella sorokiniana (CS) grown heterotrophically in growth media containing glycerol and increasing amounts of anaerobic digestate (AD) equal to 0%, 15%, 30%, and 50% was studied. The effect of the AD on the fatty acid (FA) distribution of the bio-oil extracted from the CS, as well as on the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) properties such as the saponification number (SN), the iodine value (IV), the cetane number (CN), and the higher heating value (HHV) was also estimated. The percentage of AD in the growth medium affects the rate of carbon uptake. The maximum carbon uptake rate occurs at about 30% AD. Protein and lipid content ranged from 32.3–38.4% and 18.1–23.1%, respectively. Fatty acid distribution ranged from C10 to C26. In all AD percentages the predominant fatty acids were the medium chain FA C16 to C18 constituting up to about 89% of the total FA at 0% AD and 15% AD and up to about 54% of the total FA at 30% AD and 50% AD. With respect to unsaturation, monounsaturated FA (MUFA) were predominant, up to 56%, while significant percentages, up to about 38%, of saturated FA (SFA) were also produced. The SN, IV, CN, and HHV ranged from 198.5–208.3 mg KOH/g FA, 74.5–93.1 g I/100 g FAME, 52.7–56.1, and 39.7–40.0 MJ/kg, respectively. The results showed that with increasing AD percentage, the CN values tend to increase, while decrease in IV leads to biofuel with better ignition quality.

Keywords: Chlorella sorokiniana; heterotrophic; anaerobic digestate; glycerol; FAME (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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