Wastewater treatment high rate algal pond biomass for bio-crude oil production.
This study investigates the production potential of bio-crude from wastewater treatment high rate algal pond (WWT HRAP) biomass in terms of yield, elemental/chemical composition and higher heating value (HHV). Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of the biomass slurry (2.2wt% solid content, 19.7kJ/g HHV) was conducted at a range of temperatures (150-300°C) for one hour. The bio-crude yield and HHV varied in range of 3.1-24.9wt% and 37.5-38.9kJ/g, respectively. The bio-crudes were comprised of 71-72.4wt% carbon, 0.9-4.8wt% nitrogen, 8.7-9.8wt% hydrogen and 12-15.7wt% oxygen. GC-MS analysis indicated that pyrroles, indoles, amides and fatty acids were the most abundant bio-crude compounds. HTL of WWT HRAP biomass resulted, also, in production of 10.5-26wt% water-soluble compounds (containing up to 293mg/L ammonia), 1.0-9.3wt% gas and 44.8-85.5wt% solid residue (12.2-18.1kJ/g). The aqueous phase has a great potential to be used as an ammonia source for further algal cultivation and the solid residue could be used as a process fuel source.
Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: ameh820@aucklanduni.ac.nz.
Abbas
A
Mehrabadi
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd. (NIWA), PO Box 11-115, Hamilton 3200, New Zealand. Electronic address: Rupert.Craggs@niwa.co.nz.
Rupert
R
Craggs
Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: m.farid@auckland.ac.nz.
Mohammed M
MM
Farid
D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000254:growth & development; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007211:Indoles / Q000032:analysis; D058086:Microalgae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D061005:Ponds; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000032:analysis; D012995:Solubility; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry
D056804:Biofuels; D005227:Fatty Acids; D006859:Hydrogen; D007211:Indoles; D009584:Nitrogen; D011758:Pyrroles; D062065:Wastewater
Bio-crude; High rate algal pond; Hydrothermal liquefaction; Microalgae