Extracting phycocyanin from spirulina and hydrothermal liquefaction of its residues to produce bio-crude oil

Guan, Shaochen

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/92665 Copy

Description

Title

Extracting phycocyanin from spirulina and hydrothermal liquefaction of its residues to produce bio-crude oil

Author(s)

Guan, Shaochen

Issue Date

2016-07-21

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Zhang, Yuanhui

Committee Member(s)

• Schideman, Lance Charles
• Martins, Marcio Arêdes

Department of Study

Engineering Administration

Discipline

Agricultural & Biological Engr

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Extraction
• Purification
• Spirulina
• Phycocyanin
• Bio-crude oil
• Hydrothermal liquefaction

Abstract

Microalgae is a promising biofuel source with high photosynthetic efficiency, and it often contains high-value substances for nutritional, pharmaceutical and medical applications. In order to improve the economic viability of the spirulina utilization, this study investigated a cost competitive biotechnological process for C-phycocyanin (C-PC) extraction from spirulina platensis. The residual biomass after C-PC extraction was converted into bio-crude oil via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). The HTL bio-crude oil obtained from the original spirulina feedstock and the residual after the C-PC extraction were compared. A rapid and efficient process for extraction and purification of food-level C-PC from spirulina platensis was developed in this study. The process conditions include: 1) freeze the spirulina 3 hours to extract the crude protein; 2) add 80 g/L (w/v) activated carbon to the crude extract; 3) use a vacuum filter with a 0.22 μm pore size membrane to collect the extract; and 4) freeze dry the extract to get the C-PC powder. The yield of the C-PC production is 27% and the cost (exclude labor) for entire process is $26.1/kg. After C-PC extraction, there is still 63% dry biomass left which was used for conversion into bio-crude oil via HTL. The HTL bio-oil products distribution as well as their composition, reaction pathways and energy recovery via HTL were investigated. HTL was conducted at temperatures range from 260˚C to 300˚C at 0.7 MPa N2 initial pressures. The highest bio-crude oil yield of 38 % (based on dry volatile matter) was obtained at 300˚C. The highest higher heating value is 37.1 MJ/kg occurred at 300°C reaction temperature. Elemental analysis revealed that the decarboxylation and denitrification may be dominant from 260˚C to 300°C following repolymerization governing at higher temperature; TG analysis showed that approximately 75.4 % distilled bio-crude products were in the range of 200-550°C. These distillates can be further upgraded for transportation fuels.

Graduation Semester

2016-08

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/92665

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 Shaochen Guan

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