title: Two-step thermal conversion of oleaginous microalgae into renewable hydrocarbons.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the conversion of microalgal biomass to renewable chemicals and fuels through a two-step reaction and separation process. High density Chlorella protothecoides culture with 40% lipid accumulation (dwb) was produced in 10 L bioreactors and hydrolyzed in batch stainless steel reactors under subcritical conditions. After hydrolysis, fatty acids free of sulfur and low in nitrogen and salts, were recovered by hexane extraction. The fatty acids were pyrolyzed at 410°C for 2h under N2 yielding n-alkanes, α-olefins and internal olefins and low molecular weight fatty acids. This study demonstrated the direct conversion of microalgal biomass into valuable platform chemicals and fuels compatible with the existing industrial hydrocarbon infrastructure.
authors.affiliation: Biorefining Conversions and Fermentations Laboratory, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 4-10 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Espinosa-Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Biorefining Conversions and Fermentations Laboratory, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 4-10 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada.
authors.forename: Justice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Asomaning
authors.affiliation: Biorefining Conversions and Fermentations Laboratory, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 4-10 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mussone
authors.affiliation: Biorefining Conversions and Fermentations Laboratory, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 4-10 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada. Electronic address: david.bressler@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Bressler
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002708:Chlorella / Q000378:metabolism*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D006868:Hydrolysis
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons
keywords: Chlorella protothecoides; Hydrolysis; Lipids; Pyrolysis; Renewable hydrocarbons