title: Nannochloropsis algae pyrolysis with ceria-based catalysts for production of high-quality bio-oils.
abstract: Pyrolysis of Nannochloropsis was carried out in a fixed-bed reactor with newly prepared ceria based catalysts. The effects of pyrolysis parameters such as temperature and catalysts on product yields were investigated. The amount of bio-char, bio-oil and gas products, as well as the compositions of the resulting bio-oils was determined. The results showed that both temperature and catalyst had significant effects on conversion of Nannochloropsis into solid, liquid and gas products. The highest bio-oil yield (23.28 wt%) and deoxygenation effect was obtained in the presence of Ni-Ce/Al2O3 as catalyst at 500°C. Ni-Ce/Al2O3 was able to retain 59% of the alga starting energy in the bio-oil, compared to only 41% in absence of catalyst. Lower content of acids and oxygen in the bio-oil, higher aliphatics (62%), combined with HHV show promise for production of high-quality bio-oil from Nannochloropsis via Ni-Ce/Al2O3 catalytic pyrolysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Education, Yuzuncu Yil University, 65080 Van, Turkey; Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, EH14 4AS Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Tevfik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aysu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, EH14 4AS Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Aimaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanna
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002384:Catalysis; D002563:Cerium / Q000737:chemistry; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D058009:Stramenopiles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D002563:Cerium; D009532:Nickel; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Bio-oil; Catalyst; Ceria; Nannochloropsis; Pyrolysis