Issue 24, 2015

Thermochemical conversion of low-lipid microalgae for the production of liquid fuels: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

The development of renewable biomass energy sources has attracted attention because of the potential for a sustainable fuel with a low carbon intensity. Microalgae are considered as a third generation biofuel, and have a notable advantage over other biomass in that they do not compete with food or cropland resources. The conversion of algal biomass into liquid fuels provides a long-term sustainable option for fuels production, which can be achieved in an environmentally compatible manner. Among the microalgal conversion methods, thermochemical conversion, which can make full use of all components in the algae, is viewed as one of the best conversion methods, especially for low-lipid microalgae. This article reviews recent developments in the field of algal biomass conversion into liquid fuels, with particular attention focused on the thermochemical conversion of low-lipid microalgae. We start with a brief introduction of microalgae and its biochemical components. After an overview of the main strategies involved in algal biomass conversion, we focus on the thermochemical conversion of algae, including pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction and compare the two methods in detail. In addition, the catalytic upgrading of algae-derived crude bio-oil was also examined. An assessment is made of the challenges and opportunities of a commercial-scale microalgae-to-fuels process in light of mitigating technical, environmental, and logistical issues.

Graphical abstract: Thermochemical conversion of low-lipid microalgae for the production of liquid fuels: challenges and opportunities

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
29 okt 2014
Accepted
29 yan 2015
First published
02 fev 2015

RSC Adv., 2015,5, 18673-18701

Thermochemical conversion of low-lipid microalgae for the production of liquid fuels: challenges and opportunities

Y. Chen, Y. Wu, D. Hua, C. Li, M. P. Harold, J. Wang and M. Yang, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 18673 DOI: 10.1039/C4RA13359E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements