Development of efficient method and system design of biodiesel production from microalgae with hydrothermal liquefaction and nutrients recycle

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26289302
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Catalyst/Resource chemical process
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Fushimi Chihiro 東京農工大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (50451886)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 寺田 昭彦 東京農工大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (30434327)
• Research Collaborator: HARPER Willie Air Force Institute of Technology, Associate Professor ; KAKIMURA Mai 元 東京農工大学, 大学院工学府 ; UMEDA Akihito 元 東京農工大学, 大学院工学府 ; TOMITA Ryo 元 東京農工大学, 大学院工学府 ; TACHIBANA Chiemi 東京農工大学, 大学院工学府 ; USAMI Ryo 東京農工大学, 大学院工学府
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: バイオマス / バイオディーゼル / 藻類 / 水熱液化 / 栄養素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To reduce total biodiesel fuel (BDF) production to less than 200 yen/L-BDF, the reduction of raceway pond construction cost from 25 to 5 Myen/ha, recycling 90% of nutrients by hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) are required. The power of paddle wheel and dewatering have to be reduced 1/10 compared with the present technology. We calculated energy consumption and cost by introducing energy-saving technology in solvent extraction process. We found 0.5wt% of activated carbon significantly enhances total nitrogen recovery in the aqueous phase in hydrothermal liquefaction. Phosphorus can be removed from waste water by using anaerobic and aerobic activated sludge for relatively long time. FAME yields from HTL oil were significantly higher than those from solvent-extracted oil under all investigated reaction conditions. Thus, we investigated the reactivity of solid residue from HTL of microalgae in oxidizing atmosphere by using a thermobalance reactor.

Free Research Field

化学エネルギー工学