VOLUME 6 NUMBER 2 (July to December 2013)

2013n2.23

Philipp. Sci. Lett. 2013 6 (2) 206-219
available online: November 22, 2013

*Corresponding author
Email Address: alvin.culaba@dlsu.edu.ph
Submitted: December 3, 2012
Revised: April 17, 2013; July 10, 2013
Accepted: July 11, 2013

ARTICLE

A Mathematical Model for the Drying Characteristics of Microalgae (Tetraselmis sp.)

by Alvin B. Culaba1,4*, Raymond R. Tan2,4, Jose BienvenidoManuel M. Biona1,4, Aristotle T. Ubando1,4, Neil Stephen A.Lopez1,4, Joel Q. Tanchuco3, Soledad S. Garibay5, Nieves A.Toledo5, Caridad N. Jimenez5, Ida G. Pahila5 and Letty S. Ami5

1Mechanical Engineering Department, De La Salle University, Philippines
2Chemical Engineering Department, De La Salle University, Philippines
3School of Economics, De La Salle University, Philippines
4Center for Engineering and Sustainable Development Research (CESDR),
  De La Salle University,Philippines
5Institute of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences/Division of Chemistry,
  College ofArts and Sciences, University of the Philippines - Visayas, Philippines
Microalgae are some of the most promisingsources of biofuel, but their high initialmoisture content remains a hindrance toefficient lipid extraction. A major concernthat affects the economic feasibility ofmicroalgal biofuel is the drying process. An experimental dryingsetup was used to analyze the drying characteristics ofTetraselmis sp. The drying characteristic of the microalgae wasassessed through radiation heat intensity, air flow velocity, andconvective heat input employing a Taguchi orthogonal arraydesign of experiments. The analysis of variance resulted in alinear regression model relating the effects of the three factorsmentioned with the three responses: average chambertemperature, average microalgae slurry surface temperature, andaverage drying rate. The study developed a mathematical modelfitted in Newton's drying kinetics model. The results showed theeffect of varying the values of the three factors, reflected in thedrying coefficient k of the derived mathematical model.

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