Evaluating the Effects of Reactor Type on Pyrolysis of Nannochloropsis Oculata on Bio-Oil and Bio-Char Products, and Bio-Oil Upgrading Using Catalysts

Abstract

Pyrolysis products from microalgae using two types of reactors, a batch and an auger, will be investigated and compared at a temperature of 500oC. Also, the bio-oil will be upgraded through hydrotreatment to be used as a substitution of petroleum fuels. The pyrolysis products of bio-char, bio-oil, and combustible gases will be analyzed. The ultimate analysis will also completed and it shows the HHV (Higher heating value) of the bio-oil from a batch reactor. Chemical compositions of bio-oils using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) will be categorized which indicates a potential of bio-oil as a substitute for crude petroleum oil. HHV of bio-char will also evaluated and it is anticipated to contain considerable energy and to be used for additional energy sources or other applications. Then, the produced bio-oil from a batch reactor will be upgraded in a catalytic reactor. A hydrotreatment process will be applied that uses catalysts with hydrogenation and deoxygenation, which reduces the oxygen contents of bio-oil. The initial oxygen content in algae bio-oil will be reduced with catalysts while the carbon and hydrogen contents will be increased. The O/C ratio of bio-oil will be obtained and it will be compared to the O/C ratio of petroleum products (less than 0.06). The pyrolysis results using the microalgae feedstock (N.oculata) will show that the products are potentially valuable sources of fuels and chemicals.