title: Microwave-assisted pyrolysis of microalgae for biofuel production.
abstract: The pyrolysis of Chlorella sp. was carried out in a microwave oven with char as microwave reception enhancer. The results indicated that the maximum bio-oil yield of 28.6% was achieved under the microwave power of 750 W. The bio-oil properties were characterized with elemental, GC-MS, GPC, FTIR, and thermogravimetric analysis. The algal bio-oil had a density of 0.98 kg/L, a viscosity of 61.2 cSt, and a higher heating value (HHV) of 30.7 MJ/kg. The GC-MS results showed that the bio-oils were mainly composed of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, long chain fatty acids and nitrogenated compounds, among which aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (account for 22.18% of the total GC-MS spectrum area) are highly desirable compounds as those in crude oil, gasoline and diesel. The results in this study indicate that fast growing algae are a promising source of feedstock for advanced renewable fuel production via microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP).
authors.affiliation: Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
authors.forename: Zhenyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Yecong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaoquan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yiqin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chenguang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiangyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yuhuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruan
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002708:Chlorella / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008872:Microwaves; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels