Hydrothermal Reactions of Biomolecules Relevant for Microalgae Liquefaction
Open accessAbstract
Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of microalgae, a process that uses water at high temperature and high pressure to make a renewable crude bio-oil, is receiving increased attention. Understanding the governing reaction pathways for the biomolecules in the microalgae cell could lead to improved conversion processes. This review collects information pertinent to the behavior of microalgae biomolecules (e.g., proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, chlorophyll) and their hydrothermal decomposition products (e.g., amino acids, sugars, fatty acids) in high temperature water (HTW). We report on studies involving individual compounds and their mixtures. The mixture systems are particularly important as they move closer to mimicking the true chemistry of HTL of microalgae by providing opportunities for interactions between different molecules that would be present during HTL. Throughout this review, we highlight gaps in the understanding of different chemical reactions that may take place during HTL of microalgae.
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Under prolonged BRT, metals in CRD wood biomass can alter reaction pathways, increase gas production, and induce secondary char formation during pyrolysis.
“These metals interact with biomass carbon and under prolonged BRT could alter reaction pathways, increase gas production, and induce secondary char formation during pyrolysis [80].”
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- Authors
- Changi, S. M., Faeth, J. L., Mo, N., & Savage, P. E.
- Affiliations
- Eli Lilly (United States) (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Venue
- Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2015-11-20
- Volume
- 54
- Issue
- 47
- Pages
- 11733-11758
- ISSN
- 0888-5885 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5045
- OpenAlex
- W2325734472
- Cited by
- 175
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 8
- FWCI
- 5.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (CBET-1133439, DGE-1256260, EFRI-0937992)
- Division of Graduate Education (DGE 1256260)
- Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET-1133439)
- Division of Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI-0937992)
- College of Engineering, University of Michigan (NA)
- Michigan Corporate Relations Network (NA)
- Valicor Renewables LLC (NA)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Subcritical and Supercritical Water Processes
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Keywords
- hydrothermal liquefaction, microalgae, hydrothermal decomposition, biomolecules, proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, chlorophyll, amino acids, sugar, fatty acids, reaction pathways, bio-oil, high-temperature water
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