Comparative studies of thermochemical liquefaction characteristics of microalgae using different organic solvents

The effect of different organic solvents, such as methanol, ethanol and 1,4-dioxane, on thermochemical liquefaction characteristics of Spirulina (a kind of high-protein microalgae) was systematically studied. The liquefaction experiments were conducted in a 1000 mL autoclave at different temperatures from 573 to 653 K with a fixed solid/liquid ratio. Liquefaction of Spirulina processed in methanol and ethanol favored the conversion rate and bio-oil yield compared with that in 1,4-dioxane solvent. The bio-oil generated in methanol contained higher C and H concentrations but a lower O content, resulting in a higher caloric value (39.83 MJ/kg). The results of FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy) analyses indicated that the compositions of bio-oil products were greatly affected by the type of solvent used for the liquefaction process. The major component of bio-oil produced with methanol was hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (C₁₇H₃₄O₂, 35.53%). However, ethanol favored the formation of hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester (C₁₈H₃₆O₂, 26.27%). When Spirulina were operated with 1,4-dioxane, the bio-oil was dominated by hexadecanenitrile (C₁₆H₃₁N, 22.7%). The presence of methanol and ethanol might promote the formation of esters. Low-boiling-points compounds with phenol ring structure or heterocyclics can be generated when 1,4-dioxane was employed as solvent.