May-Aug Science fair 2019

Adaptation of seaweed (BOTRYOCOCCUS BRAUNII) for the production of

alternative fuel.
M. En I. Gabriela Ramírez Sanchez1, J. Luis Torres Martínez 1, A. Gómez Aldana2

(No. 19)

1
Automotive Mechanical Engineering, Polichtecnical University of Tecamac, Mexico.

ABSTRACT (CAPITAL LETTER, bold face type, 12 points, centered)

For many years, several countries have concentrated on reducing the pollutant emissions produced by
the internal combustion engine. Multiple alternative forms of fuel have been found, such as hydrogen,
electric and hybrid vehicles, others in alternative fuels such as cane, corn and algae, where algae
adaptation (Botryococcus braunii) becomes viable for the production of a fuel alternative fuel. The
production consists of chemical processes, from the cultivation with recycled water to the obtaining of
the plant that can be found in the wastewater rivers, the fuel is in the oil of the same transported at a
temperature of 300 ° C and a pressure of 1000 psi, also this type of seaweed is adaptable to any
environment without any complication for its reproduction, the objective is to adapt these algae for the
production of alternative fuel for gasoline engines, in addition to the extraction, refining to take it to an
engine In addition to estimating the costs to see the viability of this fuel, some of the regulations based
on the project, such as NOM-050-ECOL-1993, which speaks of vehicle emissions, as well as NOM 47-
2014, section 3.3, where It tells us that other types of alternative fuels can be used in combination with
fossil fuels, to keep vehicles in better condition. Finally, tests are performed on an internal combustion
engine to verify that this fuel does not alter the behavior of the engine, nor does it force the mixing of
both fuels.

One line in white

Introduction number of cars currently available, because. At

Environmental pollution is one of the biggest
problems today because it has increased in a
critical state within the population, where much
of the environmental pollution is due to the
the moment that it releases emissions, a large
part of the emissions is harmful. Within the
pollutant emissions that the car expels, sulfur
oxide (SOx), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen
oxide (NOx) can be found.

Polichtecnical University of Tecamac


It is intended to adapt the “BOTRYOCOCCUS
BRAUNII” algae to develop a fuel, which will
be used within 4-stroke engines in cars, which
will help reduce emissions of pollutant gases
emitted by it, as well as improve performance
and the efficiency within the engine, managing
to reduce the high levels of environmental
pollution within the population.
Methodology
In the process of elaboration of the alternative
fuel an investigation was carried out on the
possible organic materials, where the algae
were suitable for the project, for its easy
adaptation and reproduction. For the process of
heating and pressure on the algae, an express
pot was used as it was suitable to withstand
temperature and pressure. The refinement of the
algae consists in separating the impurities
within them and thus producing the alternative
fuel. For the extraction of hydroxide from the
algae it was necessary to perform a refining, in
a rotary evaporator. To test the functionality of
the alternative fuel, a test was performed on an
engine disconnecting the fuel pump, which did
not affect its operation, the behavior was
normal without any alteration.
Polichtecnical University of Tecamac
May-Aug Science fair 2019
Results and Discussion
Once the algae were collected, they were kept
in a container for a week at room temperature,
where the variations from one day to another
were minimal; however, these were reproduced
over 7 days, providing a greater amount of
material. From the collection process,
observations and analyzes were made, where it
was verified that this type of algae is a species
that adapts to any weather condition, as long as
it has water and sunlight, it starts to reproduce
from day one. For biomass extraction it is at a
pressure of 300 ° C at 1000 psi pressure, and
this is combined with ethyl alcohol at a
temperature of 72 ° C. In cost estimates the
process does not become very high in large
volume of production, it could even be said that
it can be cheaper than fossil fuel. The test was
carried out on a Ford Courier vehicle, where the
fuel pump was deactivated; this so that the
mixture between biofuel and fossil fuel, was not
affected by the one in the tank in the tank,
during the test the vehicle had a normal
behavior, without alterations, or effects on the
engine.
 May-Aug Science fair 2019

Fig. 1: Forma correcta de reproducción de algas

Table 1: Periods of reproduction.

Time (hours) Temperature Oxygen Volume of Species

water
24 24° Celsius Oxygenation 4 lts BOTRYOCOCCUS
Natural. BRAUNII
48 25° Celsius Oxygenation 4 lts BOTRYOCOCCUS
Natural. BRAUNII
72 24° Celsius Oxygenation 3.8 lts BOTRYOCOCCUS
Natural. BRAUNII
96 23° Celsius Oxygenation 3.8 lts BOTRYOCOCCUS
Natural. BRAUNII
120 21° Celsius Oxygenation 3.7 lts BOTRYOCOCCUS
Natural. BRAUNII
144 23° Celsius Oxygenation 3.7lts BOTRYOCOCCUS
Natural. BRAUNII
168 25° Celsius Oxygenation 3.6lts BOTRYOCOCCUS
Natural. BRAUNII

Polichtecnical University of Tecamac

 May-Aug Science fair 2019

Conclusions http://publicacionescbs.izt.uam.mx/DOCS/biolo
giadealgas.pdf. Retrieved from
The seaweed was adapted for the production of http://publicacionescbs.izt.uam.mx/DOCS/biolo
an alternative fuel for four-stroke engines in giadealgas.pdf.
cars, as well as a good result was obtained UAM (s.f.). Algae Biology laboratory practice
when using it in a vehicle directly with the help manual. Obtained from Manual of practices of
of an atomizer, making the vehicle had an Biology of Algae laboratory:
optimal functioning. http://publicacionescbs.izt.uam.mx/DOCS/biolo
Bibliography giadealgas.pdf

Hed. (s.f.). Unam. Obtained from wwwpdvhfu

UAM (s.f.).

Polichtecnical University of Tecamac