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

sources of biofuel, but their high initial moisture content remains a hindrance to efficient lipid extraction. A major concern that affects the economic feasibility of microalgal biofuel is the drying process. An experimental drying setup was used to analyze the drying characteristics of Tetraselmis sp. The drying characteristic of the microalgae was assessed through radiation heat intensity, air flow velocity, and M convective heat input employing a Taguchi orthogonal array design of experiments. The analysis of variance resulted in a linear regression model relating the effects of the three factors mentioned with the three responses: average chamber temperature, average microalgae slurry surface temperature, and average drying rate. The study developed a mathematical model fitted in Newton’s drying kinetics model. The results showed the effect of varying the values of the three factors, reflected in the drying coefficient k of the derived mathematical model.