title: Fast microwave-assisted pyrolysis of microalgae using microwave absorbent and HZSM-5 catalyst.
abstract: Fast microwave-assisted pyrolysis (fMAP) in the presence of a microwave absorbent (SiC) and catalyst (HZSM-5) was tested on a Chlorella sp. strain and on a Nannochloropsis strain. The liquid products were characterized, and the effects of temperature and catalyst:biomass ratio were analyzed. For Chlorella sp., a temperature of 550 °C, with no catalyst were the optimal conditions, resulting in a maximum bio-oil yield of 57 wt.%. For Nannochloropsis, a temperature of 500 °C, with 0.5 of catalyst ratio were shown to be the optimal condition, resulting in a maximum bio-oil yield of 59 wt.%. These results show that the use of microwave absorbents in fMAP increased bio-oil yields and quality, and it is a promising technology to improve the commercial application and economic outlook of microwave pyrolysis technology. Additionally, the use of a different catalyst needs to be considered to improve the bio-oil characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, United States; GIMSCOP and Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Engenheiro Luiz Englert, Prédio 12204, 90040-040, Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Cabral
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, United States.
authors.forename: Qinglong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, United States.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: GIMSCOP and Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Engenheiro Luiz Englert, Prédio 12204, 90040-040, Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luis Antônio Rezende
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.affiliation: GIMSCOP and Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Engenheiro Luiz Englert, Prédio 12204, 90040-040, Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farenzena
authors.affiliation: GIMSCOP and Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Engenheiro Luiz Englert, Prédio 12204, 90040-040, Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge Otávio
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Trierweiler
authors.affiliation: Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, United States.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, United States. Electronic address: ruanx001@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruan
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D002384:Catalysis; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry; D002708:Chlorella / Q000737:chemistry*; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D058086:Microalgae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008872:Microwaves; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal
keywords: Bio-oil; Fast pyrolysis; Microalgae; Microwave; Model compounds