MICROALGAESAF - Biofuels production through microalgae biomass pyrolysis and bio-oil upgrading

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This project aims to develop sustainable catalysts to produce biofuels for aviation and transportation from microalgae biomass by upgrading the bio-oil obtained from pyrolysis using hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) and to assess the environmental impact of the entire process. Lipid-derived biofuels have a higher energy density than other biofuels and could more easily provide renewable energy equivalent to conventional gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Pyrolysis and bio-oil upgrading are promising processes to produce biofuels from microalgal biomass that are commutable with current engines. Novel catalytic processes will be tested using: (1) biochar that acts as energy susceptor in microwave-assisted pyrolysis to increase the bio-oil fraction and (2) molybdates as low cost alternatives to PGM HDO catalysts to convert oxygenated compounds in bio-oil to hydrocarbons in the presence of hydrogen. Aviation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, hence the need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable fuels to meet net-zero targets by 2030. To support the study of new technologies with quantitative data on a larger scale, life cycle assessment (LCA) will be conducted. This project will be carried out at Cardiff University with Dr. Jonathan K. Bartley as supervisor, who is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Chemistry in the Cardiff Catalysis Institute (CCI), School of Chemistry. Aiming to become an independent researcher, the candidate has set three objectives as a fellow: (1) practical skills training, (2) improving supervision skills, and (3) applying for grant funding. To reach the first goal, the researcher will have access to a variety of equipment training at CCI, to learn new techniques and develop skills in the field of heterogeneous catalysis. In addition, the candidate will attend a LCA course to later provide a workshop. Lastly, the researcher will be encouraged to support and co-supervise students and plans to apply for R&I funding by Horizon Europe.