Retrofitting hetrotrophically cultivated algae biomass as pyrolytic feedstock for biogas, bio-char and bio-oil production encompassing biorefinery. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sarkar, Omprakash; Agarwal, Manu; Naresh Kumar, A.; Venkata Mohan, S.
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 178(2015)
• Page Start: 132
• Page End: 138
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Lipids -- Oil extracted microalgae -- Sand additive -- Biohydrogen -- Adsorbent; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.09.070
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Fresh microalgae and oil extracted microalgae showed potential as pyrolytic feedstock. Pyrolysis of algae produced biogas, bio-oil and bio-char. Bio-oil showed fuel properties. Sand additive pyrolysis improved biogas from oil extracted microalgae. Abstract: Algal biomass grown hetrotrophically in domestic wastewater was evaluated as pyrolytic feedstock for harnessing biogas, bio-oil and bio-char. Freshly harvested microalgae (MA) and lipid extracted microalgae (LEMA) were pyrolysed in packed bed reactor in the presence and absence of sand as additive. MA (without sand additive) depicted higher biogas (420 ml/g; 800 °C; 3 h) and bio-oil (0.70 ml/g; 500 °C; 3 h). Sand addition enhanced biogas production (210 ml/g; 600 °C; 2 h) in LEMA operation. The composition of bio-gas and bio-oil was found to depend on the nature of feedstock as well as the process conditions viz., pyrolytic-temperature, retention time and presence of additive. Sand additive improved the H2 composition while pyrolytic temperature increment caused a decline in CO2 fraction. Bio-char productivity increased with increasing temperature specifically with LEMA. Integration of thermo-chemical process with microalgae cultivation showed to yield multiple resources and accounts for environmental sustainability in the bio-refinery framework.