Chemical properties of biocrude oil from the hydrothermal liquefaction of Spirulina algae, swine manure, and digested anaerobic sludge
Abstract
This study explores the influence of wastewater feedstock composition on hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) biocrude oil properties and physico-chemical characteristics. Spirulina algae, swine manure, and digested sludge were converted under HTL conditions (300°C, 10-12 MPa, and 30 min reaction time). Biocrude yields ranged from 9.4% (digested sludge) to 32.6% (Spirulina). Although similar higher heating values (32.0-34.7 MJ/kg) were estimated for all product oils, more detailed characterization revealed significant differences in biocrude chemistry. Feedstock composition influenced the individual compounds identified as well as the biocrude functional group chemistry. Molecular weights tracked with obdurate carbohydrate content and followed the order of Spirulina<swine manure<digested sludge. A similar trend was observed in boiling point distributions and the long branched aliphatic contents. These findings show the importance of HTL feedstock composition and highlight the need for better understanding of biocrude chemistries when considering bio-oil uses and upgrading requirements.
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The HTL process does not require drying biomass as a pretreatment, saving investments, energy, and time, and produces biocrude as the main product.
“However, the HTL process has been widely studied as it is not necessary to dry the biomass as a pretreatment, saving investments, energy, and time in the operation, and also because it produces the biocrude as the main product [9, 12, 15].”
From Research Progress, Trends, and Future Prospects on Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae for Biocrude Production: A Bibliometric Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as [15]
Brown et al. (2010) [38] and Vardon et al. (2011) [15] are the most-cited American articles published, with 512 and 416 citations respectively.
“Brown et al. (2010) [38] and Vardon et al. (2011) [15], which study focuses on the HTL of Spirulina algae, swine manure, and digested sludge at 300 °C for 30 min, are the most-cited American articles published, with 512 and 416 citations respectively.”
From Research Progress, Trends, and Future Prospects on Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae for Biocrude Production: A Bibliometric Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as [15]
Zhang Y. H.'s most-cited paper was the second American article most-cited in the database.
“Zhang Y. H.’s most-cited paper was also described above as the second American article most-cited in the database [15].”
From Research Progress, Trends, and Future Prospects on Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae for Biocrude Production: A Bibliometric Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as [15]
The first publications from University of Illinois were in 2011 and the maximum annual production was in 2014 with nine contributions.
“The first publications were in 2011 [15, 74] and the maximum annual production was in 2014 with nine contributions.”
From Research Progress, Trends, and Future Prospects on Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae for Biocrude Production: A Bibliometric Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as [15]
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- Authors
- Vardon, D. R., Sharma, B. K., Scott, J., Yu, G., Wang, Z., Schideman, L., Zhang, Y., & Strathmann, T. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Corresponding author
- Vardon, Derek R.
- Venue
- Bioresource Technology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-09
- Volume
- 102
- Issue
- 17
- Pages
- 8295-8303
- ISSN
- 0960-8524 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2076196902
- Cited by
- 662
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 67 · 2020: 68 · 2019: 52 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 53 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 15.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Bioresource Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Catalysis and Hydrodesulfurization Studies
- Keywords
- hydrothermal liquefaction, biocrude, pig manure, anaerobic sludge, higher heating value, molecular weight distribution, boiling point distribution, carbohydrate content, bio-oil upgrading
- MeSH terms
- Anaerobiosis, Animals, Chromatography, Gel, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Sewage, Swine, Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared, Spirulina
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