Thermochemical conversion of raw and defatted algal biomass via hydrothermal liquefaction and slow pyrolysis
2012; Elsevier BV; Volume: 109; Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/j.biortech.2012.01.008
ISSN1873-2976
AutoresDerek R. Vardon, Brajendra K. Sharma, Grant V. Blazina, Kishore Rajagopalan, Timothy J. Strathmann,
Tópico(s)Biodiesel Production and Applications
ResumoThermochemical conversion is a promising route for recovering energy from algal biomass. Two thermochemical processes, hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL: 300 °C and 10–12 MPa) and slow pyrolysis (heated to 450 °C at a rate of 50 °C/min), were used to produce bio-oils from Scenedesmus (raw and defatted) and Spirulina biomass that were compared against Illinois shale oil. Although both thermochemical conversion routes produced energy dense bio-oil (35–37 MJ/kg) that approached shale oil (41 MJ/kg), bio-oil yields (24–45%) and physico-chemical characteristics were highly influenced by conversion route and feedstock selection. Sharp differences were observed in the mean bio-oil molecular weight (pyrolysis 280–360 Da; HTL 700–1330 Da) and the percentage of low boiling compounds (bp < 400 °C) (pyrolysis 62–66%; HTL 45–54%). Analysis of the energy consumption ratio (ECR) also revealed that for wet algal biomass (80% moisture content), HTL is more favorable (ECR 0.44–0.63) than pyrolysis (ECR 0.92–1.24) due to required water volatilization in the latter technique.
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