Development of next-generation technologies to produce clean and renewable transportation fuels

毫无疑问，减少海运和航空等运输部门的温室气体(GHG)排放在向更清洁和更繁荣的经济转型中发挥着关键作用。一个有希望的解决方案是从各种类型的高含水率生物质(例如海藻、蓝藻、农业食品废弃物和污水污泥)中开发清洁和可再生的燃料。然而，目前开发的湿法生物质生物燃料生产技术存在能耗高、产品产量和质量低、对动力学和机理缺乏深入了解等问题。因此，拟议研究计划的最终目标是开发新的、节能的转化技术，以高含水率的生物质生产清洁交通燃料，这种生物质可以替代或与石油基燃料混合。为了实现这一目标，第一个提出的研究主题将集中在开发微波加热(MW)辅助的水热液化(HTL)用于湿生物质生产生物油。基本原理包括(I)生物质与微波之间的相互作用和(Ii)微波高温合成的动力学和机理。第二个拟议的研究主题将是使用超临界流体(SCF)将生物油提升为交通燃料。将对超临界流体的催化活性、稳定性和可还原性进行研究，并了解超临界流体的动力学和潜在的反应途径。第三个拟议的研究主题将是利用MW-HTL和超临界流体技术对“湿生物质转化为运输燃料”的技术经济可行性进行评估。作为研究计划的结果而开发的技术不仅有助于减少对化石燃料的依赖，而且还可以很容易地在石化行业扩大和利用，这可以加强加拿大作为清洁技术和可再生能源领域全球领导者的地位。此外，这项研究计划将提供一个宝贵的培训机会，为本科生和研究生未来的职业生涯做准备。总体而言，拟议的研究计划将作为加拿大社会减少温室气体排放的基础，从而实现到2050年实现零排放的目标。

Undoubtedly, the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector like marine and aviation plays a critical role in the transition into a cleaner and more prosperous economy. One promising solution is to develop clean and renewable fuels from various types of high water-containing biomass (e.g., seaweed, cyanobacterial, agri-food waste, and sewage sludge). Whereas, the current biofuels production technologies developed for wet biomass suffer from high energy consumption, low product yield and quality, and lacking a deep understanding of kinetics and mechanisms. Thus, the ultimate goal of the proposed research program is to develop novel and energy-efficient conversion technologies for producing clean transportation fuels from high water-containing biomass, which can either substitute or blend with petroleum-based fuels. To achieve this objective, the first proposed research theme will focus on the development of microwave heating (MW)-assisted hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) for bio-oil production from wet biomass. The fundamentals including (i) the interaction between biomass and microwave and (ii) kinetics and mechanisms of MW-HTL will be elucidated. The second proposed research theme will be the use of supercritical fluid (SCF) to upgrade bio-oil into transportation fuels. The investigation of catalytic activity, stability, and reducibility in SCF will be carried out, along with the understanding of the kinetics and underlying reaction pathways of SCF. The third proposed research theme will be the evaluation of the techno-economic feasibility of "wet biomass to transportation fuels" by MW-HTL followed by SCF. The technologies that will be developed as a result of the research program can not only be helpful for reducing the reliance on fossil fuels but can also be easily expanded and utilized in the petrochemical industry, which can strengthen Canada's position as a global leader in the clean technology and renewable energy sectors. Furthermore, this research program will provide an invaluable training opportunity to prepare undergraduate and graduate students for their future careers. Overall, the proposed research program will serve as the foundation for Canadian society to reduce GHG emissions and consequently reach the target of zero emission by 2050.