In Uganda, fewer than 20% of people have access to electricity, and those that do only have access to unreliable electricity that regularly shuts off for hours at a time.  We explore the conversion of lipids in algae to useable biodiesel as a source of electrical energy when run through a diesel generator.  While previous research focuses on creating industrial-scale models of biodiesel conversion from optimal lipid-producing algal species, this research aims to produce decentralized energy from readily available, on-site resources and indigenous organisms in Uganda and Notre Dame, Indiana.  Using various extractions, percent lipid composition of dry biomass from Ugandan algae from Crater Lakes and Lake Victoria and Notre Dame algae from St. Mary’s Lake was determined.  After esterification of lipids, the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) produced were run through gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GCMS) and compared to marine FAME standards to characterize the potential for their use as biodiesel.  This is significant because these strains of algae have never been characterized for use as biodiesel.  The conversion of Ugandan algae to biodiesel could be a step towards developing more reliable electricity options in Uganda.  Finally, as more US colleges and universities strive to implement sustainable energy options to replace existing coal consumption, characterization of St. Mary’s Lake algae as biodiesel could provide a local green energy alternative for the University of Notre Dame to reduce its reliance on coal.<br/>

Algal biodiesel conversion and characterization for use as decentralized electrical energy

255th National Meeting (2018)

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