Crude glycerol as microalgae feedstock boosts biofuel production

In India, a new low-cost method for producing biofuels using crude glycerol was developed thanks to researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. The team used the algal based crude glycerol, which is a low-cost organic carbon source and the main by-product of the biodiesel production process as a main feedstock for microalgae cultivation bringing down the cost drastically. They also found the use of crude glycerol improved the total lipid accumulation in the algal cells and resulted in better quantity and quality of biofuel.

Dr Richa Katiyar, Centre for Transportation Systems, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee told Times of India, “Microalgae are considered as one of the superior resources for production of biodiesel, due to its ability to produce higher biomass and accumulate more lipids, which are the target material for biodiesel production. To increase the rate of production and to make it cost-effective, we continuously employed the use of heterotrophic cultivation of microalgae using low cost organic carbon-based feed stocks such as agro waste, molasses, municipal and industrial wastes, algal based crude glycerol and fruits extracts.”