title: Thermochemical conversion of microalgal biomass into biofuels: a review.
abstract: Following first-generation and second-generation biofuels produced from food and non-food crops, respectively, algal biomass has become an important feedstock for the production of third-generation biofuels. Microalgal biomass is characterized by rapid growth and high carbon fixing efficiency when they grow. On account of potential of mass production and greenhouse gas uptake, microalgae are promising feedstocks for biofuels development. Thermochemical conversion is an effective process for biofuel production from biomass. The technology mainly includes torrefaction, liquefaction, pyrolysis, and gasification. Through these conversion technologies, solid, liquid, and gaseous biofuels are produced from microalgae for heat and power generation. The liquid bio-oils can further be upgraded for chemicals, while the synthesis gas can be synthesized into liquid fuels. This paper aims to provide a state-of-the-art review of the thermochemical conversion technologies of microalgal biomass into fuels. Detailed conversion processes and their outcome are also addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: weihsinchen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wei-Hsin
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Bo-Jhih
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ming-Yueh
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan, ROC; Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan, ROC; Research Center for Energy Technology and Strategy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Jo-Shu
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels / Q000382:microbiology*; D018533:Biomass; D002384:Catalysis; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005740:Gases
keywords: Gasification; Liquefaction and pyrolysis; Microalgae and biomass; Thermochemical conversion review; Torrefaction