Speakers - 2026

Title: Extraction of Intracellular Lipid As Potential Biofuel From Algal Biomass

Abstract

Algae generate fuels known as biofuel. This work was carried out to extract intracellular lipid in algae. Four ponds within Federal University Dutse Campus, Nigeria, were randomly selected sampled (60ml) pond water was added to 3ml NPK gel fertilizer with distilled water and autoclaved. Bold's Basal Medium (BBM) mixed with distilled water and 10 ml of the stock solution and 1.0 ml of the trace elements were autoclaved.  The media were cooled, antibiotics (penicillin G, di-hydro-streptomycin sulfate and gentamycin sulfate) were added. Isolations of species were carried out and four different algal species; Euglena, Spirogyra, Selenastrum and Chlorella were isolated and identified.  Culturing of the microalgae isolates was carried out obtaining two successfully grown species; Spirogyra and Selenastrum which were transferred aseptically into four constructed photobioreactors and the algal wet biomass and observed under microscope and subsequently photographed. Microalgal cultures were dewatered by repeated centrifugations and the supernatants were discarded and the micoralgal biomass dried and grinded. Growths were determined and transesterification was carried out and phase separation  and purification was carried out obtaining soap and other impurities which were removed and resulting solution remained flammable biodiesel. While Euglena and Chlorella failed to grow in the initial media, both Spirogyra, and Selenastrum produced significant amount of biodiesel with Selenastrum species producing higher quantity than that obtained from Spirogyra, hence a potential source of the fuel.