Algae is a very promising source of biomass in this context as it sequester a significant quantity of carbon from atmosphere and industrial gases and is also very efficient in utilizing the nutrients from industrial effluents and municipal wastewater. Therefore cultivation of algal biomass provide dual benefit, it provides biomass for the production of biofuels and also save our environment from air and water pollution. Algae are the fastest-growing plants in the world. Industrial reactors for algal culture are open ponds, photobioreactors and closed systems. Algae are very important as a biomass source. Algae will some day be competitive as a source for biofuel. Algae are among the fastest-growing plants in the world, and about 50% of dry algae weight is oil. This liquid oil can be used to make biodiesel for cars, trucks, and airplanes. Algae have much faster growth-rates than terrestrial crops. the per unit area yield of oil from algae is estimated to be from 20,000 to 80,000 l per acre, per year; this is 7–31 times greater than the next best crop, palm oil. The experimental investigation was conducted on a single cylinder, four stroke, vertical, air-cooled diesel engine. It is concluded from the experiment that the brake thermal efficiency with algae biodiesel was found lower than that of diesel fuel at all load conditions. There is a significant reduction in the emission of CO, HC and Smoke intensity, which make this biodiesel as environmental friendly. On the other hand, NOx emission is higher for this biodiesel compared to neat diesel operation.

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Biodiesel Algae Biofuels and Transesterification