title: Thermogravimetric analysis of the gasification of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris.
abstract: The gasification of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris under an atmosphere of argon and water vapor was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The data were interpreted by using conventional isoconversional methods and also by the independent parallel reaction (IPR) model, in which the degradation is considered to happen individually to each pseudo-component of biomass (lipid, carbohydrate and protein). The IPR model allows obtaining the kinetic parameters of the degradation reaction of each component. Three main stages were observed during the gasification process and the differential thermogravimetric curve was satisfactorily fitted by the IPR model considering three pseudocomponents. The comparison of the activation energy values obtained by the methods and those found in the literature for other microalgae was satisfactory. Quantification of reaction products was performed using online gas chromatography. The major products detected were H2, CO and CH4, indicating the potential for producing fuel gas and syngas from microalgae.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Escola Politécnica, Department of Chemical Engineering, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, travessa 3, No 380, 05508-010 Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Emilia
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Figueira
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Escola Politécnica, Department of Chemical Engineering, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, travessa 3, No 380, 05508-010 Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Firmino
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Escola Politécnica, Department of Chemical Engineering, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, travessa 3, No 380, 05508-010 Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: rgiudici@usp.br.
authors.forename: Reinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giudici
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D048408:Chlorella vulgaris / Q000737:chemistry*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D007700:Kinetics; D058086:Microalgae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D013818:Thermogravimetry
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels
keywords: Gasification; Independent parallel reaction model; Isoconversional model; Microalgae; Thermogravimetric analysis