Currently one fifth of the global CO2 emissions are from the
transport sector. The outlook for reduction of emissions from this
sector does not look promising as the number of light motor vehicles
on the roads globally is estimated to increase to over 2 billion
vehicles by 2050 [1]. Due to diminishing supply, crude oil will continue
to rise in cost thereby making production of fuels from alternate
sources more feasible. Further climate change will be
accentuated by the continued use of fossil fuels due to release of
environmentally unfriendly gases such as CO2. Biodiesel is produced
from microalgal oil, thus crude fossil petroleum can be
substituted by mass cultured biomass’s microalgal oil for eco-sustainable
biodiesel production in the near future. Biodiesel is a
monoalkyl ester produced by the transesterification of triglycerides
or free fatty acids with short chain alcohols and has the ability to be
used in conventional diesel engines with little or no modification
[2]. Biodiesel has been experimentally shown to be less eco-toxic
than petro-diesel. In studies conducted by Lapinskiene and coworkers
[3], it was shown that diesel fuel at concentrations greater
than 3% (w/w) is toxic to soil microorganisms. Biodiesel however is
non-toxic at total soil saturation. Biodiesel contributes no net
carbon dioxide or sulphur and overall less gaseous pollutants to
the atmosphere than petro-diesel [4–6]. With growing concern
for the environment, these factors play an important role in the
acceptability of biodiesel. First generation biofuels have been
around for over a century [7]. Biodiesel is currently produced in
the United States from soybeans [8]. Sources of commercial biodiesel
include canola oil, animal fat, palm oil, corn oil, waste cooking
oil, and jatropha oil. The use of plant oils for fuel production is however
highly controversial and requires resources such as arable land
which may not be available in large enough quantities to meet fuel
requirements of a designated area and will greatly affect food security
[9]. Currently 1% of the arable land available globally is used for
crop based (1st generation) biofuels. This fuel is sufficient only to
meet 1% of the global requirement [10]. Research into production
from alternate sources has resulted in biodiesel from microalgae
being hailed as the most appropriate petro-diesel alternative.