Hydrothermal liquefaction phase behavior of microalgae & model compounds in fused silica capillary reactor

ABSTRACT

A fused silica capillary reactor combined with a heating/cooling stage, a microscope and a digital camera were used to investigate phase behavior during the hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae (Dunaliella tertiolecta) and model compounds, including soya protein and glycine, starch, glucose and xylose, stearic acid and palmitic acid. Bubbles were generated at 246°C and disappeared at 360°C upon heating when Dunaliella tertiolecta used as feedstocks. Moreover, liquid products were generated at 300°C upon heating and oily liquid products began to separate out at 250°C upon cooling. The phase behavior of soya protein was similar to that of the Dunaliella tertiolecta. Meanwhile, there only observed the bubbles generation during hydrothermal liquefaction of glycine. Heating the starch, glucose and xylose above 350°C generated black solids from carbonization. Stearic acid and palmitic acid only had the process of melting, dissolution, dispersion and precipitation.

Keywords:

• Fused silica capillary reactor
• hydrothermal liquefaction
• microalgae
• model compounds
• phase behavior

Funding

The study was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21377116).

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21377116).