(625am) Sequential Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Galdieria Sulphuraria Algal Biomass to Enhance Biocrude Oil Yield

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) helps the macromolecules present in the algal biomass to hydrolyze at lower temperatures (100-200^oC) and converts into biocrude oil at higher temperatures (250-350^oC). Sequential hydrothermal liquefaction of Galdieria sulphuraria was conducted to extract valuable proteins and carbohydrates at 180^oC and to convert the rest into biocrude oil at 300^oC. This process enhanced the biocrude oil yield at higher temperature and helped to extract valuable by products at lower temperatures. Direct HTL was also performed to compare the biocrude oil yield obtained via sequential HTL. Experimental parameters studied in this work were reaction temperature (180-300^oC), 10% biomass loading, and 30 min. reaction time. The yields of biocrude oil, bio-char, water soluble compounds and gaseous products were calculated based on the experimental results. The high heating values (HHV) of biocrude oil and bio-char were determined with a bomb calorimeter. The biocrude oils and water soluble organics were Analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and calorimetrically.