Influence of strain-specific parameters on hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2013-10, Vol.146, p.463-471
• Main Authors: López Barreiro, Diego, Zamalloa, Carlos, Boon, Nico, Vyverman, Wim, Ronsse, Frederik, Brilman, Wim, Prins, Wolter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Biochemistry; Biofuel production; Biofuels; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; Chromatography, Gel; Conversion; Culture Media; Energy; Feedstock; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrothermal liquefaction; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Liquefaction; Liquefied; Microalgae; Moisture content; Nannochloropsis gaditana; Nitrogen - chemistry; Photobioreactors; Scenedesmus; Scenedesmus - metabolism; Species Specificity; Stramenopiles - metabolism; Temperature; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.07.123

•Eight different algae species were subjected to hydrothermal liquefaction.•The influence of strain-specific parameters on the HTL process were investigated.•The inorganic material in the feedstock directly affects the HTL process.•Strain-specific parameters play less of a role at high hydrothermal temperatures. Algae are an interesting feedstock for producing biofuel via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), due to their high water content. In this study, algae slurries (5–7wt% daf) from different species were liquefied at 250 and 375°C in batch autoclaves during 5min. The aim was to analyze the influence of strain-specific parameters (cell structure, biochemical composition and growth environment) on the HTL process. Results show big variations in the biocrude oil yield within species at 250°C (from 17.6 to 44.8wt%). At 375°C, these differences become less significant (from 45.6 to 58.1wt%). An appropriate characterization of feedstock appeared to be critical to interpret the results. If a high conversion of microalgae-to-biocrude is pursued, near critical conditions are required, with Scenedesmus almeriensis (freshwater) and Nannochloropsis gaditana (marine) leading to the biocrude oils with lower nitrogen content from each growth environment.