Liquid Biofuels from Wet Algae Paste via Novel Two-Step Processes

主要研究者：菲利普E萨维奇建议编号：1133439智力优点光合微藻作为生物催化剂，将二氧化碳（CO2）转化为富含脂质的生物质，可作为生物柴油生产的原料，具有相当大的前景。 将微藻大规模转化为生物柴油的主要障碍是需要干燥藻类并提取油组分。 拟议的研究将开发科学和工程知识，通过两步过程将藻类生物质直接转化为生物柴油，而无需干燥或提取。 第一步是温和的水热碳化处理，将细胞内脂质水解成脂肪酸，并将其聚结成易于过滤的固体。 第二步是通过非催化和催化方法合成生物柴油，包括用超临界乙醇对湿水解固体中的脂质进行非催化酯化，或用亚临界乙醇对湿水解固体中的脂质进行金属三氟甲磺酸盐催化酯化。 将阐明每个步骤的反应途径和动力学，以评估工艺变量（温度、浓度、时间等）影响生物柴油产品产量。更广泛的影响拟议的活动旨在为学生提供教育机会，在拟议的研究范围内。 本科生，特别是妇女和代表性不足的少数民族，将通过玛丽安萨拉帕克学者计划和夏季研究机会计划在密歇根大学进行藻类生物柴油的研究与博士生谁将作为该项目的一部分进行培训合作招募。 可再生能源概念将被纳入密歇根大学工程学院提供的大二可持续工程课程。

PI: Phillip E SavageProposal Number: 1133439Intellectual MeritPhotosynthetic microalgae have considerable promise as biological catalyst for the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into lipid-rich biomass which can serve as a feedstock for biodiesel production. A major barrier for converting microalgae to biodiesel on a large scale is the need to dry the algae and extract the oil components. The proposed research will develop the scientific and engineering knowledge to convert algal biomass directly to biodiesel in its natural wet state through a two step process without the need for drying or extraction. The first step is a mild hydrothermal carbonization treatment that hydrolyzes the intracellular lipids into fatty acids and coalesces them into easy-to-filter solids. The second step is biodiesel synthesis through noncatalytic and catalytic approaches, including the uncatalyzed esterification of the lipids in the wet hydrolysis solids with supercritical ethanol, or the metal-triflate-catalyzed esterification of the lipids in the wet hydrolysis solids with subcritical ethanol. The reaction pathways and kinetics of each step will be elucidated to assess how the process variables (temperature, concentrations, time, etc.) influence the biodiesel product yields.Broader ImpactsThe proposed activities are designed to provide educational opportunities for students within the context of the proposed research. Undergraduate students, particularly women and underrepresented minorities, will be recruited through the Marian Sarah Parker Scholars Program and Summer Research Opportunity Program at the University of Michigan to conduct research on algal biodiesel in collaboration with the PhD student who will be trained as part of this project. Renewable energy concepts will be incorporated into a sophomore level Sustainable Engineering course offered though the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan.