Pyrolysis of brown algae (Bifurcaria Bifurcata) in a stainless steel tubular reactor: From a review to a case study

Abstract

This article deals with fast pyrolysis of brown algae, such as Bifurcaria Bifurcata at the range of temperature 300–800 °C in a stainless steel tubular reactor. After a literature review on algae and its importance in renewable sector, a case study was done on pyrolysis of brown algae especially, Bifurcaria Bifurcata. The aim was to experimentally investigate how the temperature, the particle size, the nitrogen flow rate (N2) and the heating rate affect bio-oil, bio-char and gaseous products. These parameters were varied in the ranges of 5–50 °C/min, below 0.2–1 mm and 20–200 mL. min–1, respectively. The maximum bio-oil yield of 41.3wt% was obtained at a pyrolysis temperature of 600 °C, particle size between 0.2–0.5 mm, nitrogen flow rate (N2) of 100 mL. min–1 and heating rate of 5 °C/min. Liquid product obtained under the most suitable and optimal condition was characterized by elemental analysis, 1H-NMR, FT-IR and GC-MS. The analysis of bio-oil showed that bio-oil from Bifurcaria Bifurcata could be a potential source of renewable fuel production and value added chemicals.