Photobioreactor cultivation and catalytic pyrolysis of the microalga Desmodesmus communis (Chlorophyceae) for hydrocarbons production by HZSM-5 zeolite cracking. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Conti, Roberto; Pezzolesi, Laura; Pistocchi, Rossella; Torri, Cristian; Massoli, Patrizio; Fabbri, Daniele
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 222(2016)
• Page Start: 148
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Desmodesmus communis -- Catalytic pyrolysis -- HZSM-5 -- Py-GC–MS -- Column photobioreactor; 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.2016.10.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Desmodesmus communis was grown in a photobioreactor in semi-continuous system. Scale-up to bench scale pyrolysis confirmed the Py-GC–MS results. Gasoline-like fraction was trapped by dissolution in a cooled n-heptane. Small amount of 3- and 4-rings PAHs was detected into the catalytic oil. Abstract: The study evaluated the growth of Desmodesmus communis on column photobioreactor and its thermochemical treatment by catalytic pyrolysis using HZSM-5 zeolite. D. communis showed good results in terms of growth (0.05g L −1 d −1 ). Analytical pyrolysis of original algae and derived bio-oil mixed with zeolite was used as a screening method in order to gather information on the cracking process. Preparative pyrolysis on bench scale reactor was performed on algae biomass over a zeolite bed at 1:10 ratio (wt/wt). Py-GC–MS of biomass/catalyst mixture showed that the denitrogenation/deoxygenation increased with increasing zeolite load from 1:5 to 1:20 ratio and became significant at 1:10 ratio. The composition observed by analytical pyrolysis was featured by the predominance of alkylated monoaromatic hydrocarbons. The scaling-up to bench scale confirmed the results obtained with analytical pyrolysis in terms of monoaromatic hydrocarbons. However, low yield of catalytic oil (8% by weight) was observed.