hydrocarbon gases resulting from pyrolysis of the marine nanoplanktonic alga Emiliania huxleyi

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A renewable energy source — hydrocarbon gases resulting from pyrolysis of the marine nanoplanktonic alga Emiliania huxleyi
Journal - Journal of Applied Phycology
Publisher - Springer Netherlands
Issue - Volume 11, Number 2 / April, 1999
SpringerLink Date - Tuesday, November 02, 2004

By: Qingyu Wu1 , Junbiao Dai1, Yoshihiro Shiraiwa2, Guoying Sheng3 and Jiamo Fu3
(1) , Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China, (2) , Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 3058572, Japan, (3) Institute of Guangzhou Geochemistry, Academia Sinica, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China

Abstract

The marine coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi, grown in the laboratory was subjected to vacuum pyrolysis at various temperatures from 100 to 500 °C. The highest yield of pyrolytic gases (183 mL g−1 dry cells) was obtained at 400 °C. The amount of total hydrocarbon gas produced at 400 °C was 129 mL, about 10 times higher than at 300 °C. CH4 was the major component at the high gas-production stage (400–500 °C). The great increase in hydrocarbon gases at 400 °C was accompanied by a marked decrease in liquid saturates and aromatics. The results indicate that the liquid hydrocarbons (oil) produced by pyrolysis at lower temperature is a direct source for the formation of the hydrocarbon gases. Due to its large potential for the production of biomass and hydrocarbons with low energy input, E. huxleyi is suggested as one of candidates for the production of renewable fuels.

Key words - Emiliania huxleyi - hydrocarbon gases - renewable energy - pyrolysis - temperature effect

This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.

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