Macroalgae supercritical water gasification combined with nutrient recycling for microalgae cultivation

Ramzi Cherad, J. A. Onwudili, U. Ekpo, P. T. Williams, A. R. Lea-Langton, M. Carmargo-Valero, A. B. Ross*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The composition of syngas and process water from the supercritical water gasification of macroalgae has been investigated. The potential for using the process water as a source of nutrients for microalgae cultivation was assessed. Saccharina latissima, harvested across the four seasons was gasified in a batch reactor at 500°C and 36 MPa to assess the influence of biochemical content and ash on syngas composition. In addition, summer harvests of four different macroalga were gasified with ruthenium catalyst (Ru/Al2O 3). The molar yields of hydrogen and C1-C4 gases from S. latissima increased by 30% in the presence of Ru/Al 2O3 with a maximum gasification efficiency of 92% compared with work without these catalysts. Following a series of dilutions, the process water from catalyzed gasification of S. latissima was used in cultivation trials of Chlorella vulgaris and compared to standard growth media. The results indicate the potential to recover process waters from gasification of macroalgae in nutrient management for microalgae. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 32: 902-909, 2013

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)902-909
Number of pages8
JournalEnvironmental Progress and Sustainable Energy
Volume32
Issue number4
Early online date11 Sept 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2013

Keywords

  • algal bio-refinery
  • hydrothermal gasification
  • macroalgae
  • nutrient recycling
  • seaweeds

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Macroalgae supercritical water gasification combined with nutrient recycling for microalgae cultivation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this