Biofuel production from macrophytes

Abstract

The depletion of natural resources and minerals is leading to slower economic growth in many countries. Sustainable economic development requires rational resource management and waste reduction, as disposal or incineration pollutes fertile soils, the atmosphere, and water bodies. This study aimed to develop methods for obtaining the technology of liquid biofuel (bio-oil) production by hydrothermal revitalization of the biomass of macroalgae and aquatic macrophytes. The thermal properties and caloric content of aquatic plant biomass, specifically Phragmites australis, Scirpus lacustris, Typha angustifolia L., and Sparganium erectum L., were investigated, and the optimal parameters for hydrothermal revitalization of their biomass were identified. The biomass of P. australis and S. lacustris was shown to have optimal thermal properties, having an ash content of 7.6% and 6.6%, respectively, and a maximum mass loss temperature of 351 °C and 345 °C, respectively. The production regimes for liquid biofuel (bio-oil) were established. The properties of fuel derived from P. australis biomass were evaluated, including the content of easily boiling fractions and coke residue. The magnitude of fuel yield from biomass P. australis was found to be correlated with the quality of bio-oil. Thus, obtaining biofuels from aquatic plants is one of the promising areas of plant biomass processing.

Keywords:

• Biofuel
• aquatic plants
• Phragmites australis
• hydrothermal liquefaction
• biomass

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (project FZWM-2024-001).