Characterization of hydrothermal liquefaction biocrude oils produced from primary sludge, swine manure and algal feedstocks

Derek R. Vardon, John Scott, B. K. Sharma, Guo Yu, Zhichao Wang, Lance Schideman, Yuanhui Zhang, Timothy J. Strathmann

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

Hydrothermal liquefaction is a promising technology biofuel production from high-moisture biomass processed in wastewater treatment facilities. This study explores the conversion of primary sludge, swine manure, and algal feedstocks representative of municipal, agricultural, and next-generation wastewater biomass resources. Hydrothermal process conditions were varied to determine the dependence of biocrude oil yield and chemical composition on operating temperature (260-300°C) and feedstock selection. Advanced chemical characterization techniques were used to analyze the resulting biocrude oil and included high temperature simulated distillation (HT-SimDist), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The biocrude oil yield, bulk properties (e.g., elemental analysis, heating value) and physico-chemical characteristics (e.g., boiling point distribution, molecular weight distribution, functional group allocation, molecular constituents) were highly dependent on feedstock selection and highlight the promise of microalgae as a feedstock for wastewater remediation and bioenergy production.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalACS National Meeting Book of Abstracts
StatePublished - 2011
Event241st ACS National Meeting and Exposition - Anaheim, CA, United States
Duration: Mar 27 2011Mar 31 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Characterization of hydrothermal liquefaction biocrude oils produced from primary sludge, swine manure and algal feedstocks'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this