Optimization of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris for syngas production using central composite design

Gasification has emerged as an effective thermochemical conversion technology for generating syngas products from biomass. Process conditions for optimizing the productivity and quality of syngas during gasification vary with the type and composition of the biomass. With escalating research interest...

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Main Authors: Raheem, A., Wan Azlina, W., Taufiq Yap, Y., Danquah, Michael, Harun, R.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Royal Society of Chemistry 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18417
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author Raheem, A.
Wan Azlina, W.
Taufiq Yap, Y.
Danquah, Michael
Harun, R.
author_facet Raheem, A.
Wan Azlina, W.
Taufiq Yap, Y.
Danquah, Michael
Harun, R.
author_sort Raheem, A.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Gasification has emerged as an effective thermochemical conversion technology for generating syngas products from biomass. Process conditions for optimizing the productivity and quality of syngas during gasification vary with the type and composition of the biomass. With escalating research interests in the development of biofuels from microalgae, resulting from its high biomass productivity, agronomical and environmental bioremediation benefits, the current study investigates the optimization of microalgal gasification for syngas production using high temperature horizontal tubular furnace. Four response variables (H2, CO, CO2, and CH4) were optimized under varying conditions of temperature (500–900 °C), microalgal (Chlorella vulgaris) biomass loading (0.6–2.5 g), heating rate (5–25 °C min−1), and equivalent ratio (ER = 0.1–0.35). The optimization study was carried out using central composite design (CCD). Temperature was the most significant process parameter influencing H2 production, followed by microalgal biomass loading and heating rate. An optimum H2 yield of 41.75 mol% was obtained at a temperature of 703 °C, a microalgal biomass loading of 1.45 g, a heating rate of 22 °C min−1, and an ER of 0.29. Statistical analysis showed that the generated models were sufficiently in agreement with the experimental results. It was concluded that the direct gasification of microalgal biomass in the presence of air has significant potential for the commercial-scale production of syngas products.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-184172017-09-13T13:43:51Z Optimization of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris for syngas production using central composite design Raheem, A. Wan Azlina, W. Taufiq Yap, Y. Danquah, Michael Harun, R. Gasification has emerged as an effective thermochemical conversion technology for generating syngas products from biomass. Process conditions for optimizing the productivity and quality of syngas during gasification vary with the type and composition of the biomass. With escalating research interests in the development of biofuels from microalgae, resulting from its high biomass productivity, agronomical and environmental bioremediation benefits, the current study investigates the optimization of microalgal gasification for syngas production using high temperature horizontal tubular furnace. Four response variables (H2, CO, CO2, and CH4) were optimized under varying conditions of temperature (500–900 °C), microalgal (Chlorella vulgaris) biomass loading (0.6–2.5 g), heating rate (5–25 °C min−1), and equivalent ratio (ER = 0.1–0.35). The optimization study was carried out using central composite design (CCD). Temperature was the most significant process parameter influencing H2 production, followed by microalgal biomass loading and heating rate. An optimum H2 yield of 41.75 mol% was obtained at a temperature of 703 °C, a microalgal biomass loading of 1.45 g, a heating rate of 22 °C min−1, and an ER of 0.29. Statistical analysis showed that the generated models were sufficiently in agreement with the experimental results. It was concluded that the direct gasification of microalgal biomass in the presence of air has significant potential for the commercial-scale production of syngas products. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18417 10.1039/c5ra10503j Royal Society of Chemistry restricted
spellingShingle Raheem, A.
Wan Azlina, W.
Taufiq Yap, Y.
Danquah, Michael
Harun, R.
Optimization of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris for syngas production using central composite design
title Optimization of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris for syngas production using central composite design
title_full Optimization of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris for syngas production using central composite design
title_fullStr Optimization of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris for syngas production using central composite design
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris for syngas production using central composite design
title_short Optimization of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris for syngas production using central composite design
title_sort optimization of the microalgae chlorella vulgaris for syngas production using central composite design
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18417