Upgrading of Algae Bio-oil Cassidy Laird

Dr. Sushil Adhikari

Importance of biofuels Define upgrading

Removal of heteroatoms Improve fuel properties

Existing problems/bottlenecks Many throughout biofuel process Cost looking at upgrading process details

shorter time, different catalyst, etc.

Background

Image taken from: http://schoolworkhelper.net/biofuels-effect-on-social-economic-political-environmental/

Main objective Examine aspects of upgrading the biocrude

Specific objectives Changing the length of time spent in reactor

Effects on product Mixed catalyst

Possibly improve refinement

Research Objectives

Reduce catalyst

Upgrade

biocrude

Analysis

Collect samples (duplicates) of each length of time

Separate and collect the products Analyze the liquid, solid and gas portions

Methods

GasH2S (GC)

GC

SolidWeight

SEM/EDS

BET Analysis

Liquid

Calorimetry

Total Acid Number

Water content

Simulated

Distillation

Analysis

Results

2 hr 1 hr0.055

0.060

0.065

0.070

0.075

0.080

Water Content

Run

Wat

er C

onte

nt (

%)

2 hr 1 hr86

88

90

92

94

96

98

100

Product Yield of Refined Oil

Run

Yie

ld (

%)

Results

2 hr 1 hr1.35

1.4

1.45

1.5

1.55

1.6

1.65

1.7

Hydrogen Sulfide content

Run

Conc

entr

atio

n H

2S (

ppm

)

Residue – product, metal or sulfur

SEM image – Ni catalyst with residue from hydrotreatment

Results

Baselines taken from: http://cta.ornl.gov/bedb/appendix_a/Lower_and_Higher_Heating_Values_of_Gas_Liquid_and_Solid_Fuels.pdf

2 hr 1 hr40.0

41.0

42.0

43.0

44.0

45.0

46.0

47.0

48.0

Higher Heating Value - Energy Measure

Run

HH

V (

MJ/

kg)

Natural Gas

US Diesel

Conventional Gasoline

July 27 - July 30• Wrap up

experiments and complete poster

July 20 - July 24• Runs with Ni-

Co, Analysis, and begin poster

July 13 – July 17• Runs with Ni,

Analysis

July 6 - July 10• 4 hour runs

with Nickel, Analysis

Time Schedule

Questions