title: Assessing microalgae biorefinery routes for the production of biofuels via hydrothermal liquefaction.
abstract: The interest in third generation biofuels from microalgae has been rising during the past years. Meanwhile, it seems not economically feasible to grow algae just for biofuels. Co-products with a higher value should be produced by extracting a particular algae fraction to improve the economics of an algae biorefinery. The present study aims at analyzing the influence of two main microalgae components (lipids and proteins) on the composition and quantity of biocrude oil obtained via hydrothermal liquefaction of two strains (Nannochloropsis gaditana and Scenedesmus almeriensis). The algae were liquefied as raw biomass, after extracting lipids and after extracting proteins in microautoclave experiments at different temperatures (300-375°C) for 5 and 15min. The results indicate that extracting the proteins from the microalgae prior to HTL may be interesting to improve the economics of the process while at the same time reducing the nitrogen content of the biocrude oil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Diego.LopezBarreiro@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: López Barreiro
authors.affiliation: Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Industriale (CIRI), University of Bologna, via S. Alberto 163, 48123 Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Samorì
authors.affiliation: Institute for Catalysis Research and Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmoltz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Terranella
authors.affiliation: Institute for Catalysis Research and Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmoltz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ursel
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hornung
authors.affiliation: Institute for Catalysis Research and Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmoltz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; Conversion Technology and Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Resources (440f), Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wolter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Prins
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels / Q000382:microbiology*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000032:analysis; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D005740:Gases; D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D014867:Water; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Biofuel production; Biorefinery; Hydrothermal liquefaction; Microalgae