Question

24. (a) How is biodiesel extracted from raw algae and what constitutes the ideal algae for biodiesel production? (10 marks) (b) Describe the process of cheese production highlighting the role of bacteria in curd development and flavour profile. (10 marks)

Answer 1

Biodiesel is used as an energy source. As energy crises have become the largest problem today, there is a need for more alternative ways of producing sources of energy. This is due to increasing demand day by day. Fossil fuels are the largest source of energy but they are unsustainable as they increase the CO2 level and accumulate green house gases which is unhealthy for environment. In order to kep the environment safe there is a need to develop more ecofriendly source of energy. Biofuel is an option, these are the fuel produced from biomass of different agricultural product and ndustrial biodegradable waste. Biodiesal is extracted from various sources like vegetable oil, biobutanol, and recently algae.

Algae has now become the largest source of biofuel production. They are unharmful to environment as they are safe, non competitive and rapidly growing organisms. They have the ability to grow without much needed attenion and careand hence are considered as better source of biofuel.

Algae can be cultivated on a large scale on waste nutrient, in a short period of time. They can be grown as a potential energy crops and they not harmful to the environment.

Different species of algae have varied oil content and composition, and some of them have classified as good fatty acid values. The simplest method of separation of biodiesel and fatty acid extraction s the blending method. This process consists of several methods –

1. Algal production and growth
2. Selection and harvesting of better biofuel content through proper instruments
3. Filtration
4. Drying, done through sunlight or-or using biogas
5. Oil extraction, through cell disruption process
6. Biodiesel production, fatty acids, and lipids are separated.

The factors affecting the production area, temperature, type of algae species and the amount of mall of algae. Harvesting techniques are based on locations and conditions which include settling pond and sedimentation tank. Density and moisture content is an important parameter in the whole process of biofuel production.

Ideal algae considered for biofuel production are usually unicellular green alge. They are photosynthetic, eukaryotic

Characterized by high growth rate, high population density. Under favourable conditions they can 2X its biomass in 24 hours. They have large lipid content and hence considered as excellent source of biodiesel production.