The Application of Catalytic Processes on the Production of Algae-Based Biofuels: A Review

Over the last decades, microalgal biomass has gained a significant role in the development of different high-end (nutraceuticals, colorants, food supplements, and pharmaceuticals) and low-end products (biodiesel, bioethanol, and biogas) due to its rapid growth and high carbon-fixing efficiency. Therefore, microalgae are considered a useful and sustainable resource to attain energy security while reducing our current reliance on fossil fuels. From the technologies available for obtaining biofuels using microalgae biomass, thermochemical processes (pyrolysis, Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL), gasification) have proven to be processed with higher viability, because they use all biomass. However, due to the complex structure of the biomass (lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins), the obtained biofuels from direct thermochemical conversion have large amounts of heteroatoms (oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur). As a solution, catalyst-based processes have emerged as a sustainable solution for the increase in biocrude production. This paper’s objective is to present a comprehensive review of recent developments on the catalyst-mediated conversion of algal biomass. Special attention will be given to operating conditions, strains evaluated, and challenges for the optimal yield of algal-based biofuels through pyrolysis and HTL.

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The Application of Catalytic Processes on the Production of Algae-based Biofuels: A Review

10.20944/preprints202008.0469.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Antonio Zuorro ◽

Janet B. García-Martínez ◽

Andrés F. Barajas-Solano

Keyword(s):

Fossil Fuels ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Thermochemical Conversion ◽

Chemical Components ◽

High Carbon ◽

Microalgal Biomass ◽

Microalgae Biomass ◽

End Products ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Thermochemical Processes

Over the last decades, microalgal biomass has gained a significant role in the development of different high-end (nutraceuticals, colorants, food supplements, and pharmaceuticals) and low-end products (biodiesel, bioethanol, and biogas) due to rapid growth and high carbon fixing efficiency. Therefore, microalgae are considered a useful and sustainable resource to attain energy security while reducing our current reliance on fossil fuels. From the technologies available for obtaining biofuels using microalgae biomass, thermochemical processes (pyrolysis, HTL, gasification) have proven to be processed with higher viability, because they use all biomass. However, the biocrudes obtained from direct thermochemical conversion have substantial quantities of heteroatoms (oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur) due to the complexity of the biomass's content of chemical components (lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins). As a solution, catalyst-based processes have emerged as a sustainable solution for the increase in biocrude production. This paper's objective is to present a comprehensive review of recent developments on catalyst mediated conversion of algal biomass. Special attention will be given to operating conditions, strains evaluated, and challenges for the optimal yield of algal-based biofuels through pyrolysis and HTL.

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The Application of Catalytic Processes on the Production of Algae-Based Biofuels: A Review

10.20944/preprints202009.0674.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Antonio Zuorro ◽

Janet B. García-Martínez ◽

Andrés F. Barajas-Solano

Keyword(s):

Algal Biomass ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Thermochemical Conversion ◽

High Carbon ◽

Microalgal Biomass ◽

Microalgae Biomass ◽

End Products ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Thermochemical Processes

Over the last decades, microalgal biomass has gained a significant role in the development of different high-end (nutraceuticals, colorants, food supplements, and pharmaceuticals) and low-end products (biodiesel, bioethanol, and biogas) due to rapid growth and high carbon fixing efficiency. Therefore, microalgae are considered a useful and sustainable resource to attain energy security while reducing our current reliance on fossil fuels. From the technologies available for obtaining biofuels using microalgae biomass, thermochemical processes (pyrolysis, HTL, gasification) have proven to be processed with higher viability, because they use all biomass. However, because of the complexity of the biomass (lipids, carbohydrates , and proteins), the obtained biofuels from direct thermochemical conversion have large amounts of heteroatoms (oxygen, nitrogen , and sulfur). As a solution, catalyst-based processes have emerged as a sustainable solution for the increase in biocrude production. This paper's objective is to present a comprehensive review of recent developments on catalyst mediated conversion of algal biomass. Special attention will be given to operating conditions, strains evaluated, and challenges for the optimal yield of algal-based biofuels through pyrolysis and HTL.

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Challenges of Downstream Processing for the Production of Biodiesel from Microalgae

U Porto Journal of Engineering ◽

10.24840/2183-6493_003.001_0005 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 50-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vânia Novais Pôjo

Keyword(s):

Fossil Fuels ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Downstream Processing ◽

Review Article ◽

Production Costs ◽

Biodiesel Production ◽

Microalgal Biomass ◽

Promising Alternative ◽

Microalgae Biomass ◽

Research Initiatives

The continuous reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable, due to the depletion of global reserves and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their use. Therefore, there are vigorous research initiatives intended to develop renewable alternatives. Microalgae are a promising alternative for biodiesel production and have received increasing attention during the last few decades. However, is not yet sufficiently cost-effective to compete with petroleum-based conventional fuels. This happens essentially because of downstream processing – harvesting microalgae biomass and extraction of lipids are two of the most expensive processes from the overall process. Harvesting, drying, cell disruption, oil extraction and transesterification (into biodiesel) are highlighted processes in this review article. The techniques associated with each process present advantages and handicaps that are here discussed. Improvements that will directly affect the final production costs of microalgal biomass-based biofuels are also proposed.

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Biofuels Production from Biomass by Thermochemical Conversion Technologies

International Journal of Chemical Engineering ◽

10.1155/2012/542426 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

M. Verma ◽

S. Godbout ◽

S. K. Brar ◽

O. Solomatnikova ◽

S. P. Lemay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fossil Fuels ◽

Social Acceptance ◽

Energy Resource ◽

Raw Material ◽

Relative Advantage ◽

Thermochemical Conversion ◽

Agricultural Biomass ◽

Energy Demands ◽

Thermochemical Processes ◽

Physical And Chemical

Agricultural biomass as an energy resource has several environmental and economical advantages and has potential to substantially contribute to present days’ fuel demands. Currently, thermochemical processes for agricultural biomass to energy transformation seem promising and feasible. The relative advantage of thermochemical conversion over others is due to higher productivity and compatibility with existing infrastructure facilities. However, the majority of these processes are still under development phase and trying to secure a market share due to various challenges, right from suitable infrastructure, raw material, technical limitations, government policies, and social acceptance. The knowledge at hand suggests that biomass can become a sustainable and major contributor to the current energy demands, if research and development are encouraged in the field of thermochemical conversion for various agricultural biomass types. This paper intends to explore the physical and chemical characteristics of biofuel substitutes of fossil fuels, potential biomass sources, and process parameters for thermochemical conversion.

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Exergy analysis of conventional and hydrothermal liquefaction–esterification processes of microalgae for biodiesel production

Open Chemistry ◽

10.1515/chem-2020-0132 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 874-881

Author(s):

Laras Prasakti ◽

Sangga Hadi Pratama ◽

Ardian Fauzi ◽

Yano Surya Pradana ◽

Arief Budiman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Exergy Analysis ◽

Lipid Extraction ◽

Hydrothermal Liquefaction ◽

Raw Material ◽

Biodiesel Production ◽

Exergy Loss ◽

Thermochemical Conversion ◽

Third Generation ◽

Land Utilization

AbstractAs fossil fuels were depleting at an alarming rate, the development of renewable energy has become necessary. One of the promising renewable energy to be used is biodiesel. The interest in using third-generation feedstock, which is microalgae, is rapidly growing. The use of third-generation biodiesel feedstock will be more beneficial as it does not compete with food crop use and land utilization. The advantageous characteristic which sets microalgae apart from other biomass sources is that microalgae have high biomass yield. Conventionally, microalgae biodiesel is produced by lipid extraction followed by transesterification. In this study, combination process between hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and esterification is explored. The HTL process is one of the biomass thermochemical conversion methods to produce liquid fuel. In this study, the HTL process will be coupled with esterification, which takes fatty acid from HTL as raw material for producing biodiesel. Both the processes will be studied by simulating with Aspen Plus and thermodynamic analysis in terms of energy and exergy. Based on the simulation process, it was reported that both processes demand similar energy consumption. However, exergy analysis shows that total exergy loss of conventional exergy loss is greater than the HTL-esterification process.

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Conversion of biomass to biofuels and life cycle assessment: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters ◽

10.1007/s10311-021-01273-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ahmed I. Osman ◽

Neha Mehta ◽

Ahmed M. Elgarahy ◽

Amer Al-Hinai ◽

Ala’a H. Al-Muhtaseb ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle Assessment ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Energy Demand ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Biomass Conversion ◽

Biofuel Production ◽

Process Efficiency ◽

Liquid Fuels ◽

Thermochemical Processes ◽

Lower Temperature

AbstractThe global energy demand is projected to rise by almost 28% by 2040 compared to current levels. Biomass is a promising energy source for producing either solid or liquid fuels. Biofuels are alternatives to fossil fuels to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Nonetheless, policy decisions for biofuels should be based on evidence that biofuels are produced in a sustainable manner. To this end, life cycle assessment (LCA) provides information on environmental impacts associated with biofuel production chains. Here, we review advances in biomass conversion to biofuels and their environmental impact by life cycle assessment. Processes are gasification, combustion, pyrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis routes and fermentation. Thermochemical processes are classified into low temperature, below 300 °C, and high temperature, higher than 300 °C, i.e. gasification, combustion and pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is promising because it operates at a relatively lower temperature of up to 500 °C, compared to gasification, which operates at 800–1300 °C. We focus on 1) the drawbacks and advantages of the thermochemical and biochemical conversion routes of biomass into various fuels and the possibility of integrating these routes for better process efficiency; 2) methodological approaches and key findings from 40 LCA studies on biomass to biofuel conversion pathways published from 2019 to 2021; and 3) bibliometric trends and knowledge gaps in biomass conversion into biofuels using thermochemical and biochemical routes. The integration of hydrothermal and biochemical routes is promising for the circular economy.

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Towards the Hydrogen Economy—A Review of the Parameters That Influence the Efficiency of Alkaline Water Electrolyzers

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14113193 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 3193

Author(s):

Ana L. Santos ◽

Maria-João Cebola ◽

Diogo M. F. Santos

Keyword(s):

Energy Content ◽

Water Electrolysis ◽

High Energy ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Energy Sources ◽

Alkaline Water Electrolysis ◽

Alkaline Water ◽

New Energy ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Cell Components

Environmental issues make the quest for better and cleaner energy sources a priority. Worldwide, researchers and companies are continuously working on this matter, taking one of two approaches: either finding new energy sources or improving the efficiency of existing ones. Hydrogen is a well-known energy carrier due to its high energy content, but a somewhat elusive one for being a gas with low molecular weight. This review examines the current electrolysis processes for obtaining hydrogen, with an emphasis on alkaline water electrolysis. This process is far from being new, but research shows that there is still plenty of room for improvement. The efficiency of an electrolyzer mainly relates to the overpotential and resistances in the cell. This work shows that the path to better electrolyzer efficiency is through the optimization of the cell components and operating conditions. Following a brief introduction to the thermodynamics and kinetics of water electrolysis, the most recent developments on several parameters (e.g., electrocatalysts, electrolyte composition, separator, interelectrode distance) are highlighted.

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Special Issue: Biochemical and Thermochemical Conversion Processes of Lignocellulosic Biomass Fractionated Streams

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9060969 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 969

Author(s):

Anna Trubetskaya ◽

Leonidas Matsakas

Keyword(s):

Lignocellulosic Biomass ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Forest Resources ◽

Thermochemical Conversion ◽

Special Issue ◽

Waste Production

Global consumption of materials such as forest resources, fossil fuels, earth metals and minerals are expected to double in the next 30 years, while annual waste production is estimated to increase by approximately 70% by 2050 [...]

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