Details

Title:

Effect of Feedstock Composition on Quality and Yield of Bio-oil from the Pyrolysis of Three Microalgae Species from Open Pond and Closed Photobioreactor

Author(s):

Rizzo, A.M., Nistri, R., Buffi, M., Marsili-Libelli, I., Bettucci, L., Prussi, M., Chiaramonti, D.

Document(s):

Abstract:

Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms living in marine or freshwater environment. In this study, samples of three different microalgae, fresh water Chlorella from open pond and marine Chlorella and Nanochloropsis from photo­bioreactors, differing in origin and growing medium and condition, were analyzed and subjected to intermediate pyrolysis in a novel research reactor to settle a preliminary characterization of these microorganisms as intermediate energy carriers. Microalgae were characterized in terms of elemental composition (CHONS and P) and relative abundance of constituents (protein, lipid, carbohydrates); then, approx.1 kg of each strain was subjected to pyrolysis at 450°C and the bio­oil recovered and analyzed. In this study, bio­oil from fast pyrolysis of pine chips was retained as the reference fuels form comparison purpose. Microalgae pyrolysis oil exhibited superior properties as intermediate energy carrier compared to pyrolysis oil from fast pyrolysis of pine chips, in particular higher HHV, higher carbon and hydrogen content, and lower oxygen; nonetheless, pyrolysis oils from microalgae resulted to be more viscous and less homogenous than the reference bio­oil. A corrosion test was also performed on alluminium alloy, copper, AISI 304 and AISI 316L strips and VITON, NBR and silicon elastomers to assess the aggressiveness of the bio­oils from microalgae compared to that of pine chips bio­oil on these common material. Bio­oil from microalgae was also analysed in GC/MS and GC/FID to quantify part of its constituents to make a preliminary estimate of its potential for the extraction or separation of valuable components.

Keywords:

bio-oil, microalgae, pyrolysis oil, photobioreactor, Chlorella, pine chips, constitutional analysis

Topic:

R&D on Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Electricity and Chemicals

Subtopic:

Pyrolysis and other biomass liquefaction technologies

Event:

21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

2BO.7.5

Pages:

494 - 499

ISBN:

978-88-89407-53-0

Paper DOI:

10.5071/21stEUBCE2013-2BO.7.5

Price:

FREE