INTRODUCTION

Soon, fossil fuels will be exhausted due to the increasing demand in energy for the
rapidly growing population and advancing industries. Fossil fuels had also caused global
warming and due to these important issues biofuels are gaining popularity as another renewable
and clean source of energy. Biofuels are derived from cultivation of vegetables or oleaginous
plants but it competes for the land that will be needed for food production.

Microalgaes are more specialized than yeast and bacteria. It does not have a cell
membrane but a phospholipidic membrane therefore direct extraction of microalgal lipid can be
done. Thermochemical liquefaction of algal cells or biological conversion to lipids or
hydrocarbons could be used for production of microalgal oil. This organism poses great
advantage among other traditional source of biomass such as high efficiency in photosynthesis,
larger biomass, faster maturation. Also due to the small size, microalgaes are easier to treat
chemically and requires a smaller area of land but same or even greater amount of oil than oil
plants and can be produced on conditions and type of land unsuitable for important crops. Hence,
there is no competition for agricultural land.

Growth Requirements
Microalgaes being a photosynthetic organism its primary need is solar energy making
materials for the reactor transparent. Carbon dioxide can be acquired from flue gases or other
chemical plants that produce carbon dioxide as by product. Water medium (salt, brackish,
wastewater) depends on the type of specie of microalgae. And it has been argued that waste
water could also be a source of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.

Popular microalgae specie for oil production

An important factor in choosing for the right microalgae is the amount of oil produced
and at the same time fast growing. Botryococcus braunii which has high hydrocarbon content at
most 80% of its dry mass without using nitrogen starvation. Also microalgae specie must be
sustainable and easy to access and cultivate like Spirulina platensis, Dunaliella salina, and
Chlorella . While Spirulina has already been produced commercially. Other species that could be
grown in waste water or salt water like Nannochloropsis salina which is halotolerant is more
preffered than species that requires fresh water.