Ref.: 06-005

Renewable Hydrocarbons from Chlorella sp. Microalgae as Sustainable Strategy for CO2 Mitigation through Catalytic Pyrolysis

Apresentador: Renata Martins Braga

Autores (Instituição): Oliveira, G.P.(UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE); Junior, J.O.(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte); Alvez, J.F.(Universidade Federal da Paraíba); Marques, J.d.(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte); Oliveira, K.F.(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte); Melo, D.M.(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte); Braga, R.M.(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte);

Resumo:
Flash catalytic pyrolysis of biomass from Chlorella sp. microalgae cultivated with a simulated industrial flue gas was investigated to generate a bio-oil with improved characteristics. Flash pyrolysis proceeded at 500 °C in an analytical micro-pyrolyzer coupled to a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) instrument. The pyrolysis vapors were directed to a catalytic bed at 500°C, housing attapulgite under a 1/5 biomass-to-catalyst ratio, to evaluate its efficacy for producing a hydrocarbon-rich bio-oil. The low-cost catalyst (attapulgite) promoted the deoxygenation of condensable pyrolysis products from Chlorella sp. biomass, resulting in improved aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations compared to thermal pyrolysis. The low-cost catalyst exhibited high selectivity towards gasoline-equivalent hydrocarbons, increasing its concentration by more than two-fold. The hydrocarbon-rich volatiles obtained can be useful in different segments of the chemical industry and can also be used as aromatic fuel additives for formulating low-carbon biofuels.