Biofuels from Algae: Chapter 7. Production of Biofuels from Algal Biomass by Fast Pyrolysis

Biofuel production from microalgae has been gaining importance in recent years as an alternative (nonpolluting) fuel source, but the industry faces economic challenges. In this context, a feasible technology of bio-oil production from microalgal biomass through fast pyrolysis is presented in this chapter. A microalga was cultivated in a cheap ethanol-wastewater-based medium, harvested, dried, and subjected to fast pyrolysis, the conditions of which were controlled to generate high yield of bio-oil. Bio-oil yield was 17.4% (m/m), with lower heating value (LHV) of 8,071kcal/kg. Volumetric energetic density was then calculated as 9,927.33kcal/L. Besides bio-oil, coal (10.8% m/m), acid extract (32.3% m/m), and gases (39.5% m/m) were produced. This technology combined low cost and simplicity of operation, turning fast pyrolysis of microalgae into a potential alternative in the free-carbon-emission fuel production process.