Algal Biomass to Hydrogen: A Circular Approach for Sustainable Hydrogen Production Via Eco-friendly Supercritical Water Technology

该项目的目的是通过在超临界水（SCW）介质中气化微藻来提高富氢气体的生产过程。一般来说，藻类生物量含有20-30%的碳水化合物，10-20%的脂质和40-60%的蛋白质。藻类组成馏分的比例影响催化剂（K2CO3或NaOH）和气化产物的效果。该项目将研究在超临界水气化（SCWG）催化连续过程中藻类生物质水热转化为富h2气体。选定的湿微藻（MA）菌株通过现代方法（在伯明翰大学开发的光生物反应器中增强光传输）生长，以提供藻类生物质原料。该项目旨在解决以下问题：-催化剂的组成（单组分和多组分催化剂）对气流中H2 %的影响。- SCWG原料部分氧化对提高工艺效率的影响。-通过计算机模拟研究能源回收/再利用方案，以提高SCWG气化的能源正能量（关键交付成果）。-调查产品的分离和回收任何有利于藻类生长的成分，从而实现循环（关键交付）。标准将是产品纯度、数量、废物最小化（走向循环经济）、能源整合和经济可行性。这个博士课程的目的是建立达到上述标准的最佳途径。本项目的主要成果包括：-实验室规模的连续水化水气化样机。-污水连续气化工艺的详细设计，涵盖影响最大H2产量和回收率的各个方面。-完全设计，能源集成连续工艺，效率最高，浪费最少。-至少发表2篇科学论文，并在至少2次相关国际会议上发表论文。

The project's aim is to enhance the process of production of hydrogen-rich gas, by gasification of microalgae in supercritical water (SCW) medium. In general, algal biomass contains 20-30% carbohydrate, 10-20% lipid, and 40-60% protein. The ratio of the algae's composition fractions influences the effect of catalysts (K2CO3 or NaOH) and gasification products. The project will investigate hydrothermal conversion of algal biomass to H2-rich gas in a catalytic continuous process of supercritical water gasification (SCWG). Selected strains of wet microalgae (MA) are grown by modern methods (in a photo-bioreactor boosted light delivery, developed at University of Birmingham) to provide algal biomass feedstock. The project seeks to address the following: -The impact of catalysts' composition (single and multi-component catalysts) on the H2 % in the gas stream. -The influence of SCWG partial oxidation of feedstock on enhancing the process efficiency. -Investigation of energy recovery/reuse scenarios via computer simulation, to increase the energy positivity of SCWG gasification (critical deliverable). -Investigation of the products' separation and recycling of any components beneficial to algal growth, hence implementing circularity (critical deliverable). The criteria would be product purity, quantity, waste minimisation (towards circular economy), energy integration and economic feasibility. The aim of this PhD programme is to establish the best route to achieve the above-mentioned criteria.The main deliverables of the project are: -Fully operating laboratory-scale continuous SCW gasification prototype. -Detailed design of continuous SCW gasification process, covering all aspects that influence maximum H2 production and recovery. -Fully designed, energy integrated continuous process with maximum efficiency and minimal waste.-At least 2 scientific publications and presentation of work in at least 2 relevant international conferences.