Feasibility of Algae (Cyanobacteria) Oil as an Alternative and Eco-Friendly

Biofuel

A Research Proposal
Presented to
The Senior High School Faculty of
Luis Palad Integrated Highschool
City of Tayabas Quezon

In Partial Fullfillment
Of the Requirements in
Research Project

By:

Rodolfo A. Palambiano
Piolo Sebastian D. Oabel
Aljohn P. Raquel
Krizzia Mae Labrada

March 2019
Rationale

As the price of crude oil in our market increase and some sources of
energy in our world steadily depleted, biofuels are on the horizon as a possible
solution for energy crisis. According to the United Nations Statistics Division
(2017) the global primary energy consumption grew strongly in 2017, led by natural
gas and renewables, with some of the primary sources of energy share continuing to
decline. For meeting the energy needs of the future and reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and in the atmopshere, the world need to create an alternative and eco-
friendly source of energy substitute. Based on the statistical report of BP-SRWE
(2018) the growth of the primary energy consumption is rapidly increasing every
year at 2.2% since 2013.

As a solution, this study is aiming to investigate the effectiveness of algae

oil as the source of energy when converted as biofuel. Based on the study of
(Schenck 2008) to keep the environment clean and to maintain its sustainability
environmentally friendly renewable fuels are needed to be produced. As a result,
algae biofuel can be used as an alternative and substitute in some type of fuel that
we used in our everyday life. Algae are tiny Biological Factories that used
photosynthesis to transform carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy. Like fossil
fuels, algae releases CO2 when burnt but unlike fossil fuel, algae fossil fuel and
other biofuels only releases CO2. Based on the book written by (Muradov 2011)
intitled “Carbon Neutral Fuel and Energy Carriers” described that algae is
“carbon neutral.” This means that carbon dioxide is used by algae from the
atmosphere during photosynthesis to make their own food but the same amount of
carbon dioxide is also returned to the atmosphere. In that case algae can make our
world balance in terms of gases in our atmposphere. As part of photosynthesis
process algae can produce oil and can generate 15 times more oil than other plants
used for biofuel. For that reason, algae is more efficient source of oil that can be
use as biofuel more than other plants. If so, Algae could produce biofuel while
cleaning up other problems in our diversity. The findings of this study will
contribute to the benefits of the society considering that some of the sources of
fuels nowadays are steadily depleted. Decreasing number of sources of fuels and
high amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere justifies the needs of creation
of more alternative and eco friendly biofuel.
Statement of the Problem

The researchers were sought to determine the feasibility of algae

(cyanobacteria) oil as an alternative and eco-friendly biofuel in reducing the
amount of C02 in the atmoshphere and use as a substitute in some inorganic crude
oil. This study will specifically aim to answer the following questions:

1. What will be the physical properties do algae (Cyanobacteria) oil in terms

of:
1.1 Texture 1.4 Flexibility
1.2 Color 1.3 Odor

2. What are the properties of algae (Cyanobacteria) oil that makes it possible
to produce an alternative and eco-friendly biofuel?

3. Will the biofuel in algae (Cyanobacteria) oil be acceptable by the

community based on the following criteria:

3.1 Safety
3.2 Functionality
3.3 Quality
3.4 Cost
3.5 Overall physical appearance
Hypotheses

1. The color, texture and odor of the algae (Cyanobacteria) oil will be similar
to a natural crude oil.

2. The algae (Cyanobacteria) oil has virtually no sulfur content and can grow
in every place where there is enough sunlight.

3. The biofuel will be accepted by the community due to its good qualities.

Statistical Treatment

The researchers will use the following statistical treatments to interpret the
quantitative data they have gathered. Moreover, these statistical treatments will
help them to acquire an assurance that they can give an answer to all the specific
problems in the study.

Mean refers to the mean or average that is used to derive the central
tendency that is used to derive the central tendency data in question. It is
determined by adding all the data points in a population and then dividing the
total by number of points. The resulting number is known as the mean or the
average.

Frequency is the number of times a data value occurs meaning, this tells
how frequent the respondents chosen a particular response.
 Weighted Mean is used when the relative importance of the items in a
series is not same for all items. the result of dividing the sum of the products of
each observed value, the number of times it occurs, and this other factor by the
total number of observations. This is interpreted as

x̅ 𝑤 = ∑(𝑊 ∗ 𝑋)
∑(𝑊)

Where: x̅ 𝑤 is the weighted mean

W is the weight

X is the values

The Likert Scale is a five (or seven) point scale which is used to allow the
individual to express how much they agree or disagree with a particular statement.
Likert Scale uses fixed choice response formats and are designed to measure
attitudes or opinions (Bowling, 1997; Burns, & Grove, 1997).