Hydrothermal liquefaction of four brown macro-algae commonly found on the UK coasts: An energetic analysis of the process and comparison with bio-chemical conversion methods

TY - JOUR

T1 - Hydrothermal liquefaction of four brown macro-algae commonly found on the UK coasts

T2 - An energetic analysis of the process and comparison with bio-chemical conversion methods

AU - Anastasakis, K.

AU - Ross, A. B.

PY - 2015/1/1

Y1 - 2015/1/1

N2 - Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of four brown macro-algae was used to produce bio-crude and bio-char in an energy favorable way. Bio-crude yields between 9.8 wt% and 17.8 wt% (daf) with HHVs between 32 and 34 MJ/kg and bio-char yields between 10.9 wt% and 18.6 wt% (db) with HHVs between 15.7 and 26.2 MJ/kg were produced. A modification of the energy consumption ratio (ECR) index was attempted in order to include in the formula the calculation of the specific heat capacity of the feedstock used, as well as the increase of the specific heat capacity of water with temperature. A comparison in terms of energy output was made between the products from HTL and products from bio-chemical conversion of macro-algae such as anaerobic digestion (AD) and fermentation. The results indicate that HTL has higher energy output than fermentation and analogue of that from anaerobic digestion (7.91 MJ/kgseaweed and 8.25 MJ/kgseaweed from HTL and AD respectively).

AB - Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of four brown macro-algae was used to produce bio-crude and bio-char in an energy favorable way. Bio-crude yields between 9.8 wt% and 17.8 wt% (daf) with HHVs between 32 and 34 MJ/kg and bio-char yields between 10.9 wt% and 18.6 wt% (db) with HHVs between 15.7 and 26.2 MJ/kg were produced. A modification of the energy consumption ratio (ECR) index was attempted in order to include in the formula the calculation of the specific heat capacity of the feedstock used, as well as the increase of the specific heat capacity of water with temperature. A comparison in terms of energy output was made between the products from HTL and products from bio-chemical conversion of macro-algae such as anaerobic digestion (AD) and fermentation. The results indicate that HTL has higher energy output than fermentation and analogue of that from anaerobic digestion (7.91 MJ/kgseaweed and 8.25 MJ/kgseaweed from HTL and AD respectively).

KW - Energy balance

KW - Hydrothermal

KW - Liquefaction

KW - Macro-algae

KW - Seaweed

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84907545999&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.fuel.2014.09.006

DO - 10.1016/j.fuel.2014.09.006

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84907545999

SN - 0016-2361

VL - 139

SP - 546

EP - 553

JO - Fuel

JF - Fuel

ER -