Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Fossil fuels are the largest contributors to global climate change, accounting for nearly 75% of total greenhouse gas emissions. A green energy solution can be found in autotrophs, which both sequester carbon in their growth and can be made into biodiesel.Chlorella vulgarishas been studied for lipid extraction and production, both of which were made more efficient through means of culturing the algae in different media and by evaluating the biodiesel produced via IR spectroscopies.Synechococcus,a genus of cyanobacteria that grows prolifically in Conesus Lake, may be an even better source of fuel thanC. vulgarisbecause it grows at a rate nearly twice as fast and is known to be a strong carbon sequester. (This species has not yet been specified, but is believed to be of thevulcanococcusspecies.) Growth ofSynechococcuswas observed in a variety of media and it was determined that BG-11 fosters the most prolific growth.Synechococcusphospholipids will be extracted from dead cells and converted into biodiesel using a transesterification process. Finally, we will compare our results fromSynechococcuswith previous studies onC. vulgaristo determine which organism is the better source of biodiesel.
Recommended Citation
Mertson, Sarah; Klosko, Elizabeth; Bergman, Daniel; Wilkinson, Alex; Gretzinger, Nicole; Grossman, Colden; Rupp, Annabel; Mygland, Kjersti; and Holving, Theodore, "002-Biodiesel Production from Chlorella Vulgaris and Synechococcus" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 1.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/1
002-Biodiesel Production from Chlorella Vulgaris and Synechococcus
Fossil fuels are the largest contributors to global climate change, accounting for nearly 75% of total greenhouse gas emissions. A green energy solution can be found in autotrophs, which both sequester carbon in their growth and can be made into biodiesel.Chlorella vulgarishas been studied for lipid extraction and production, both of which were made more efficient through means of culturing the algae in different media and by evaluating the biodiesel produced via IR spectroscopies.Synechococcus,a genus of cyanobacteria that grows prolifically in Conesus Lake, may be an even better source of fuel thanC. vulgarisbecause it grows at a rate nearly twice as fast and is known to be a strong carbon sequester. (This species has not yet been specified, but is believed to be of thevulcanococcusspecies.) Growth ofSynechococcuswas observed in a variety of media and it was determined that BG-11 fosters the most prolific growth.Synechococcusphospholipids will be extracted from dead cells and converted into biodiesel using a transesterification process. Finally, we will compare our results fromSynechococcuswith previous studies onC. vulgaristo determine which organism is the better source of biodiesel.