Algal polycultures enhance coproduct recycling from hydrothermal liquefaction.

Bioresour Technol

School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, 440 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.

Published: January 2017

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study explored whether growing different algae species together (polycultures) could help them withstand toxic byproducts (ACP) from converting algae into fuel.
  • Polycultures thrived even at higher ACP concentrations (up to 10%), while single species (monocultures) struggled or died at 2%.
  • By using polycultures, researchers found a 25% increase in growth rate and a 53% boost in biomass production, indicating that a diverse cultivation strategy could reduce fertilizer use and enhance algae production.

Article Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if polycultures of algae could enhance tolerance to aqueous-phase coproduct (ACP) from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of algal biomass to produce biocrude. The growth of algal monocultures and polycultures was characterized across a range ACP concentrations and sources. All of the monocultures were either killed or inhibited by 2% ACP, but polycultures of the same species were viable at up to 10%. The addition of ACP increased the growth rate (up to 25%) and biomass production (53%) of polycultures, several of which were more productive in ACP than any monoculture was in the presence or absence of ACP. These results suggest that a cultivation process that applies biodiversity to nutrient recycling could produce more algae with less fertilizer consumption.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.11.105DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

hydrothermal liquefaction
8
acp
6
algal polycultures
4
polycultures enhance
4
enhance coproduct
4
coproduct recycling
4
recycling hydrothermal
4
liquefaction aim
4
aim study
4
study determine
4

Similar Publications

Exploring the catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction of Namibian encroacher bush.

Sci Rep

January 2025

Process and Energy Department, University of Technology of Delft, Leeghwaterstraat 39, 2628 CB, Delft, The Netherlands.

An urgent ecological issue is the threat posed by invasive species, which are becoming more widespread especially in Africa. These encroachments damage ecosystems, pose a threat to biodiversity, and outcompete local plants and animals. This article focuses on converting Acacia Mellifera from Namibia, commonly known as encroacher bush (EB) into high-quality drop-in intermediates for the chemical and transport industry via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Technoeconomic evaluation of integrating hydrothermal liquefaction in wastewater treatment plants.

Bioresour Technol

December 2024

Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Hangøvej 2, Aarhus 8200, Denmark; WATEC - Center for Water Technology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 120, Aarhus 8000, Denmark. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzes the economic feasibility of producing biocrude through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) at decentralized plants linked to wastewater treatment facilities.
  • The base case is based on a Danish WWTP serving 150,000 population equivalents, with results showing operational expenses as the largest cost factor.
  • Biocrude production is estimated at 94 kg/h with a minimum selling price ranging from 0.9 to 1.8 €/kg, depending on the plant size, while factors such as biocrude yield and labor costs significantly impact pricing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Analysis on Degradation Mechanism and Product Recycle of Ex-service Wind Turbine Blades by Hydrothermal Liquefaction.

ACS Omega

November 2024

Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P. R. China.

The recycling of ex-service wind turbine blades (EWTBs) presents a significant challenge for the future. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) has emerged as a promising approach for the recovery of resins and glass fibers (GFs) from EWTBs. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the separation mechanisms and product characteristics under the catalytic effect of an acidic medium during the HTL tests.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Organosolv-derived lipids from hemicellulose and cellulose, and pre-extracted tannins as additives upon hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of spruce bark lignins to bio-oil.

BMC Biotechnol

November 2024

Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, SE-971 87, Sweden.

Article Synopsis
  • The study explores using spruce bark, a largely untapped resource, to produce bio-oil, a renewable energy source, as a response to rising global temperatures and petroleum waste issues.
  • It utilizes a process called hydrothermal liquefaction, enhancing bio-oil quality by extracting polysaccharides and converting them into lipids with the help of specific microorganisms.
  • Results showed that pre-extracting tannins and modifying the heating rates in the production process improved the energy content and yield of the bio-oil while reducing its oxygen content.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Renewable Fuels and Chemical Recycling of Plastics via Hydrothermal Liquefaction.

Acc Chem Res

December 2024

Penn State University, Chemical Engineering Department, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.

Article Synopsis
  • Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a process that converts various biomass types into renewable bio-oil through reactions in hot, compressed water, producing additional gas and solid products.
  • The process retains a substantial amount of chemical energy, recovering around 70-80% of it in an oil that weighs only 20-50% of the original biomass, though the bio-oil often requires further upgrading to be usable as fuel.
  • HTL can also convert different plastics into oil, achieving high yields with certain types while being less effective with others, indicating its potential for recycling and valorizing post-consumer plastic waste.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!