Thermal and Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Oily Extracts of Microalgae: Production of Biokerosene

Three different microalgae species, Desmodesmus sp., Nannochloropsis oculata and Halamphora coffeaeformis were grown under controlled conditions. The resulting dry biomass was characterized by TG-DTA (thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis) extracted with three solvents having polarities. extracts gross mass yields varied from 2% using n-hexane to 23% (or 74% when subtracting the volatiles ashes) methanolchloroform whatever species. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of all suggested presence fatty esters acids. pyrolyzed at 600 °C, a micro pyrolizer coupled gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), without γ-alumina as catalyst. Hydrocarbons concentrations respectively 92% in better case 46% worst case. C9-C15 fraction these hydrocarbons, potentially useful for biokerosene formulation, object detailed analysis. In this fraction, nitrogenous products had always lower than 0.1%. main hydrocarbons produced linear 1-alkenes pyrolysis whereas γ-alumina, also alkenes isomers alkanes, together cyclic aromatic compounds observed but proportions. can be considered precursor or direct “drop in” fuel kerosene petroleum fraction.