Effect of light intensity on cultivation of microalgae (Chiorella Vulgaris) for extraction of algae oil by using soxhlet extractor

Microalgae are a promising aquatic culture for supplying biofuels due to the depletion of fossil fuels. Despite of the environmental issues, it is necessary to find energy resources which are renewable feedstock for biofuels production for several years ahead. Microalgae also are recognized as sources of fatty acid (FA) of potential interest in preparation of functional health products. Although their nutritional value are not suitable for direct human consumption, but it can be exploited if added to animal feeds. These are intrinsic properties of microalgae systems that can be exploited for high value compounds such as carbohydrates, lipids, pigments and proteins. The aim of this research is to study effect of light intensity on cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris for extraction of algae oil. The parameters in this study are the light intensity and the solvents use in extraction of algae oil. Besides, the yield of algae biomass are different according to the different light intensity been used. The approach method for production of algae oil is by using Soxhlet extractor with chloroform and ethanol used as solvent. The compound and lipid contain in algae oil are analyzed through Gas Chromatography—Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). The results from GC-MS analysis show that, sample of algae oil from ethanol extraction yield more lipid compared to chloroform extraction. The results of common fatty acid profile in this study are oleic acid (C18:1), strearic acid (C18:0), palmitic acid (C16:0) and myristic acid(C14:0).However, the most studied microalgae-based biofuel chain is composed by microorganism cultivation, lipid accumulation, oil extraction, co-product valorization, and algae oil conversion through conventional esterification into Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME). The significant of this study are to produce the alternative biofuels from algae oil as the traditional fossil fuels that are limited and due to increasing price of petroleum nowadays. All in all, with the GC-MS analysis, the major components of lipid from different sample been used are known to be the best algae oil yield from the effect of light intensity on their cultivation process.