Microwave pyrolysis of Laminaria digitata to produce unique seaweed-derived bio-oils

Kostas, Emily T.; Williams, Orla S.A.; Duran-Jimenez, Gabriela; Tapper, Andrew J.; Cooper, Mick; Meehan, Richard; Robinson, John P.

Abstract

Microwave pyrolysis has become an attractive form of processing technology to generate bio-oil, bio-char and syngas from different biomass feedstocks. In this study, microwave pyrolysis was performed on the UK native seaweed Laminaria digitata and its extract residue from a bio-refinery process. Pyrolysis of these two feedstocks was successfully achieved without the requirement of microwave susceptors, as pelletizing the biomass was sufficient to allow microwave pyrolysis to occur. It was found that average energy requirements as low as 1.84–2.83 kJ g−1 were required to pyrolyse 55–70% of both feedstocks and bio-oil yields of 5–8% and 10–14% for native and extraction residue L. digitata were produced, respectively. Maximum microwave pyrolysis processing times were in the order of 200 s. The bio-oil generated from both feedstocks contained no phenolic based compounds, but a greater number of nitrogen-containing compounds and compounds derived from macroalgal polysaccharides. Yields of certain compounds differed in bio-oils generated from the two L. digitata feedstocks, however it was observed that specific energy did not have a direct influence on bio-oil compound yield. Furthermore, the identification of a particular nitrogen-containing compound L-Proline, 1-methyl-5-oxo-, methylester is thought to be a unique product of microwave pyrolysis when carbon-based additives are avoided.

Citation

Kostas, E. T., Williams, O. S., Duran-Jimenez, G., Tapper, A. J., Cooper, M., Meehan, R., & Robinson, J. P. (2019). Microwave pyrolysis of Laminaria digitata to produce unique seaweed-derived bio-oils. Biomass and Bioenergy, 125, 41-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2019.04.006

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 4, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Apr 15, 2019
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Deposit Date: Apr 30, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 16, 2020
• Journal: Biomass and Bioenergy
• Print ISSN: 0961-9534
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-2909
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 125
• Pages: 41-49
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2019.04.006
• Keywords: Agronomy and Crop Science; Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment; Waste Management and Disposal; Forestry
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1859587
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0961953419301217
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Microwave pyrolysis of Laminaria digitata to produce unique seaweed-derived bio-oils; Journal Title: Biomass and Bioenergy; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2019.04.006; Content Type: article; Copyright: Crown Copyright © 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Contract Date: May 13, 2019