Oil Extraction from Macrophytes: Effect of Environmental Factors on Efficiency and Oil Quality in Coastal Lagoon

Macrophytes represent interesting matrices for oil extraction with biodiesel production purposes, particularly in eutrophic coastal lagoons. This short note reported results on bio-oil extraction efficiency in two different species of macrophytes in a Mediterranean lagoon (Lesina lagoon, south-eastern Italy), by testing effects of different factors (year, season, species of macrophytes) on oil production and oil quality. Extracted total oils values ranged from 0.65 % (Chara spp.) to 2.35 % (Chaetomorpha linum) and a significant difference (p < 0. 01) between the two species was reported in relation to the variability of diene production with seasons. Compared to the available literature, higher oil extraction efficiencies are reported in this paper for the species C. linum, mainly due to the pressure optimization before extractions.