(640f) Study of Effect of Reaction Conditions on the Hydrothermal Liquefaction Reaction Followed By Steam Reforming of the Liquefaction Liquid

Concerns are raised due to the excessive use of fossil fuels. The drastic depletion of the natural resources has urged a need to find an alternative for energy production. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is found to be the suitable process available to tackle the wet feed stock conversion to fuel energy. Reduction of the drying steps reduces the feed preparation cost which gives HTL a substantial advantage over other thermochemical routes. The use of water as a solvent for breakdown of the biomass in the presence of high temperatures is termed as hydrothermal liquefaction. High moisture, sub and supercritical water conditions enables the process to breakdown the structure and yield gas, aqueous and solid phase. This abstract highlight the effect of reaction temperature and feed composition on the seaweed conversion and yield of various phases. The effect of reaction temperature was observed at a constant seaweed: water ratio of 1:10 with an increase of 40ËšC from the starting temperatures of 180ËšC and a fixed reaction time of 2 hours. The reaction was performed at 4 different operating temperature conditions i.e., 180ËšC, 220ËšC, 260ËšC and 300ËšC. Heating rate varied during the experiment from 1.3, 0.7, 1.1 and 1.1 ËšC/min respectively. Maximum conversion of seaweed, 91.7 % was obtained at a temperature of 300ËšC. The effect of seaweed to water ratio was later observed at 300ËšC. The ratio was varied, and experiment was run at 4 different seaweed: water at 1:5, 1:7 and 1:10 at a reaction temperature of 300ËšC with a constant reaction time of 2 hours and a varying heating rate of 0.8, 0.8 and 1.1ËšC/min respectively. The highest conversion of 91% was observed at seaweed: water of 1:10 at a temperature of 300ËšC. Steam Reforming of the liquefaction liquid obtained at a seaweed: water of 1:10 at a reaction temperature of 300 ËšC for 2 hours was carried out a temperature range of 600 ËšC to 800 ËšC. Effect of reaction temperature on hydrogen yield and carbon gases conversion was observed at a temperature of 600 ËšC, 700 ËšC and 800 ËšC. Comparison for the product gas composition was observed at the reaction temperatures. It was observed during the experiments that with increasing feed ratio, the liquid color was changed from dark brown to brown. Reaction temperature had more effect on the conversion rather than the feed ratio on the liquefaction reaction. Hydrogen yield was increased with an increase in the temperature and was observed to be highest at a temperature of 800 ËšC.

Acknowledgment: This research was respectfully supported by Engineering Development Research Center (EDRC) funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE). (No. N0000990)