“Algal” Biodiesel: Future Prospects and Problems

Rapid increase in human population, industrialization, automobiles and GDP drives world energy requirements and in particular fossil fuels with the enhanced site of is likely to deplete limited natural resources over short period of time whereas sustained development needs demandancy energy cannot be compromised. So search for alternative fuel is only the way to overcome this problem of upcoming energy crisis. In this aspect biofuel is a sustainable option. Production of biofuels from various biomasses becomes a very interesting field of research. Biomasses used for biodiesel production include algae, animal fats, vegetable oils like soyabean, rapeseed, jatropha, mahua, mustard, flax, sunflower, palm, hemp, field pennycress, Pongamia pinnata etc. Presently, the population explosion needing huge food demands, agricultural land cannot be used for biofuel production. To mitigate the problem using algae for biodiesel production could play an important role. Certain species of algae contains oil at a very significant level and also are fast growing. This algal oil could be processed into biodiesel easily. Provided certain conditions are maintained during the process. Biodiesel production from algae involves identification of proper algal species, cultivation of algae by maintaining certain parameters (like temperature, pH, nutrients, and aeration), harvesting, oil extraction, and process standardization. Biodiesel production from algae is in an initial stage which needs attentions of researchers for further explorations.