title: Hydrothermal liquefaction of mixed-culture algal biomass from wastewater treatment system into bio-crude oil.
abstract: In this study, a mixed-culture algal biomass harvested from a functioning wastewater treatment system (AW) was hydrothermally converted into bio-crude oils. The highest bio-crude oil yield (49% of volatile matter) and the highest energy recovery were obtained at 300 °C with 1 h retention time. The highest heating value of the bio-crude oil was 33.3 MJ/kg, produced at 320 °C and 1h retention time. Thermogravimetric analysis showed approximately 60% of the bio-crude oils were distilled in the range of 200-550 °C; and the solid residue might be suitable for use in asphalt. GC-MS results indicated that the bio-crude oil contained hydrocarbons and fatty acids, while the aqueous product was rich in organic acids and cyclic amines. The nitrogen recovery (NR) in the bio-crude oil ranged from 8.41% to 16.8%, which was lower than the typical range of 25%-53% from previous studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Wan-Ting
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: yzhang1@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Yuanhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China.
authors.forename: Jixiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Guo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Lance C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Schideman
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minarick
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D058086:Microalgae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010578:Petroleum / Q000382:microbiology*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012995:Solubility; D013696:Temperature; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D013997:Time Factors; D044366:Transition Temperature; D062065:Wastewater / Q000382:microbiology*; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D009584:Nitrogen; D010578:Petroleum; D010758:Phosphorus; D062065:Wastewater; D014867:Water
keywords: AWVM; Algae; Ash; Bio-crude oil; F; G; Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL); MWI; Nitrogen recovery; R; SR; VM; WI; Wastewater treatment; ash fraction in the dry mass of AW (no units); mass of feedstock (g); mass of gas products (g); mass of moisture in the water-insoluble products (g); mass of toluene-insoluble fraction in the water-insoluble products (g); mass of volatile matter of mixed-culture algal biomass from wastewater treatment system (g); mass of water-insoluble products (g); raw oil (g); volatile matter (g)