Liquefaction, cracking and hydrogenation of microalgae biomass resources to CO2 negative advanced biofuels: Mechanisms, reaction microkinetics and modelling

Deoxygenation of triglycerides is one the crucial pathways for production oxygen-free hydrocarbons and biofuels that are fully compatible with conventional internal combustion engines. The one-step liquefaction hydrotreatment Chlorella sorokiniana microalgae was investigated in a three-phase slurry reactor. diesel-like successfully accomplished over sulfide form NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst under hydrogen atmosphere. present work contains comprehensive investigation temperature pressure influence on final product composition. highest yield C18 C16 (26.1% 10.7%, respectively) reached by increasing reaction to 350 °C 50 bar, while at milder conditions (200 20 bar) products appeared only trace concentrations. In order obtain an accurate kinetic model, mechanism first needed be determined based experimentally obtained intermediates. A simplified pathway liquefaction, hydrogenolysis, hydrodeoxygenation, decarboxylation decarbonylation. model comprises mass transfer phenomena involved process, from gas liquid phase, adsorption, desorption surface kinetics. lowest rate constant calculated conversion (k0 = 1.93 × 10−6 min−1), indicating slow liquefaction.