Bio oil from micro algae applying Hydrothermal Liquefaction (process condition assessment)

Fuel oil production from different species of micro algae has been the subject of many researches in recent years. In this study a laboratory scale experimental procedure was designed and conducted on bio crude oilproduction from Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) via hydrothermal liquefaction process. A 500 ml highpressure-temperature reactor was used to conduct the experiments. The sample with an initial solid content of20% w/w was pretreated at 100 °c under 60 bars pressure. The final process was conducted at 250 °c and 100bars pressure for 30 minutes. The end product (mixture of oil, liquid and residue) was separated as it isexplained in the methodology.Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and CHN analyzer wereused for analyzing the samples The result showed that the products of hydrothermal process consisted of different range of hydrocarbonsalmost similar to hydrocarbon chain available in fuel oil (gasoline). Also, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur contentsof the oil obtained from hydrothermal liquefaction process, was consistent with those reports provided by othersimilar studies.This research has proved that hydrothermal liquefaction is a promising process for converting micro algae tobio oil and emphasizing the effect of pretreatment on improving the oil production

Keywords:

Micro algae biomass , bio oil , Hydrothermal liquefaction , Pretreatment