Abstract
Pyrolysis-gas chromatographic mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) was used to determine the yield and chemical composition of the pyrolysis products of Schizochytrium limacinum. The pyrolysis was carried out by varying the temperature from 300 °C to 800 °C. It was found that the main decomposition temperature of Schizochytrium limacinum was 428.16 °C, at which up to 66.5% of the mass was lost. A further 18.7% mass loss then occurred in a relatively slow pace until 760.2 °C due to complete decomposition of the ash content of Schizochytrium limacinum. The pyrolysis of Schizochytrium limacinum at 700 °C produced the maximum yield (67.7%) of pyrolysis products compared to 61.2% at 400 °C. While pollutants released at 700 °C (12.3%) was much higher than that of 400 °C (2.1%). Higher temperature will lead to more pollutant (nitrogen compounds and PAHs) release, which is harmful to the environment. Considering the reasonably high yield and minimum release of pollutants, a lower pyrolysis temperature (400 °C) was found to be optimum for producing biofuel from Schizochytrium limacinum.
Highlights
Microalgae cannot be utilized in their natural form as an energy product because this natural biomass requires a certain degree of conversion or modification [1]
Gaseous products obtained after pyrolysis of biomass can be analyzed by means of thermogravimetric analysis-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR), which provides a real-time weight loss data [13,14,15,16]. Both soluble organic compounds in liquid and solid pyrolysis products can be conveniently determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography (GC)
The elemental composition of high carbon content and relatively low nitrogen content suggests that this particular microalgae has great potential in energy production
Summary
Microalgae cannot be utilized in their natural form as an energy product because this natural biomass requires a certain degree of conversion or modification [1]. Most of the microalgae is converted into and released as useful energy products during pyrolysis process. Gaseous products obtained after pyrolysis of biomass can be analyzed by means of thermogravimetric analysis-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR), which provides a real-time weight (mass) loss data [13,14,15,16]. Both soluble organic compounds in liquid and solid pyrolysis products can be conveniently determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography (GC). It was expected that it could provide an optimum pyrolysis temperature, at which an optimum yield of pyrolysis product obtained at considerably low risk of releasing harmful pollutants
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