ABSTRACT
Replacing fossil fuel with a suitable and sustainable fuel source is necessary to address the issue of global warming. Biodiesel can be considered as an alternative solution due to its non-toxic and eco-friendly nature. Among the different feedstocks, microalgae have been considered as a potential candidate for biodiesel production. Microalgae can be cultivated in non-arable land which requires less cropland when compared to other conventional crops as microalgal feedstock does not compete with the food supply. Microalgae have a high growth rate and high lipid content. Moreover, microalgal biodiesel production is less energy intensive and economically feasible. However, the commercialization of microalgal biodiesel production is still confronted with numerous challenges in practice. Selection of microalgae is very important to achieve high biomass and lipid yield. A microalgal cultivation system is one of the crucial factors for achieving sustainable microalgal production which can undoubtedly affect the biomass and lipid yield. In this chapter, lipid extraction and biodiesel production methods are discussed. The findings provided in this chapter could be described as a roadmap in acquiring the knowledge required for microalgal biodiesel production and future microalgal biodiesel development.
