Physiochemical Characterization of Algae Oil from Microalgae of Nike Lake Enugu
Ejim, I. F.1 and Kamen, F.L.2
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Management and Technology Enugu State.
2Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State.
E-mail: ijkeejim@ yahoo.com, felyleby@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT: Algae have emerged as one of the most promising sources of oil when grown in
C02 enriched environment. In this experiment, algae oil extract from microalgae samples
collected from Nike Lake was subjected to basic characterization analysis. The physicochemical
properties of the produced oil were measured and compared to the properties of soybean oil and
other oil seeds. Results showed that saturated fatty acid; oleic gave higher percentage (36%)
while other properties obtained were density (0.892 g/cm3), pH (4.6-5.0). refractive index (1.5),
saponification value (200g), acid value (1.9g), free fatty acid value (0.96%), iodine value (100-
120), cloud point (100C), pour point (5-80C), flash point (1100C) and moisture content (0.85%)
freezing points (31-400C) and greenish yellow in colour. Many of the properties of the algae oil
are comparable with those of soybean oil and other oil seeds.