title: Co-production of bio-oil and propylene through the hydrothermal liquefaction of polyhydroxybutyrate producing cyanobacteria.
abstract: A polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) producing cyanobacteria was converted through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) into propylene and a bio-oil suitable for advanced biofuel production. HTL of model compounds demonstrated that in contrast to proteins and carbohydrates, no synergistic effects were detected when converting PHB in the presence of algae. Subsequently, Synechocystis cf. salina, which had accumulated 7.5wt% PHB was converted via HTL (15% dry weight loading, 340°C). The reaction gave an overall propylene yield of 2.6%, higher than that obtained from the model compounds, in addition to a bio-oil with a low nitrogen content of 4.6%. No propylene was recovered from the alternative non-PHB producing cyanobacterial strains screened, suggesting that PHB is the source of propylene. PHB producing microorganisms could therefore be used as a feedstock for a biorefinery to produce polypropylene and advanced biofuels, with the level of propylene being proportional to the accumulated amount of PHB.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Chemical Technologies, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bransgrove
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tracey A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Beacham
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, IFA-Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Konrad-Lorenz Straße 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meixner
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, IFA-Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Konrad-Lorenz Straße 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Drosg
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Valeska P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom. Electronic address: C.chuck@bath.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chuck
mesh_terms: D000475:Alkenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D056804:Biofuels / Q000382:microbiology*; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002087:Butyrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D009821:Oils / Q000378:metabolism*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000378:metabolism*; D053545:Spirulina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000475:Alkenes; D056804:Biofuels; D002087:Butyrates; D005740:Gases; D009821:Oils; D011091:Polyesters; D014867:Water; C013658:propylene
keywords: Advanced biofuel; Biorefinery; Hydrothermal liquefaction; Microalgae; Polyhydroxybutyrate