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SunCHem: an integrated process for the hydrothermal production of methane from microalgae and CO2 mitigation

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Abstract

We describe a potential novel process (SunCHem) for the production of bio-methane via hydrothermal gasification of microalgae, envisioned as a closed-loop system, where the nutrients, water, and CO2 produced are recycled. The influence on the growth of microalgae of nickel, a trace contaminant that might accumulate upon effluent recycling, was investigated. For all microalgae tested, the growth was adversely affected by the nickel present (1, 5, and 10 ppm). At 25 ppm Ni, complete inhibition of cell division occurred. Successful hydrothermal gasification of the microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum to a methane-rich gas with high carbon gasification efficiency (68–74%) and C1–C3 hydrocarbon yields of 0.2 gC1–C3/gDM (DM, dry matter) was demonstrated. The biomass-released sulfur was shown to adversely affect Ru/C catalyst performance. Liquefaction of P. tricornutum at short residence times around 360°C was possible without coke formation.

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Acknowledgments

This project is financially supported by VELUX STIFTUNG (project Nr. 405). Technical and analytical support by Jean-David Teuscher, Simona Regenspurg (EPFL), Martin Schubert, Albert Schuler, Johann Regler (PSI) and fruitful discussions with Pilar Junier (EPFL) are greatly acknowledged. The authors are particularly grateful to Samuel Stucki, the initiator of this project, for his continuous support and encouragement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) ENAC-ISTE, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Anca G. Haiduc, Sébastien Suquet, Rizlan Bernier-Latmani & Christian Ludwig

  2. General Energy Research Department, Laboratory for Energy and Materials Cycles, Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), 5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland

    Martin Brandenberger, Frédéric Vogel & Christian Ludwig

Authors
  1. Anca G. Haiduc
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  2. Martin Brandenberger
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  3. Sébastien Suquet
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  4. Frédéric Vogel
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  5. Rizlan Bernier-Latmani
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  6. Christian Ludwig
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Correspondence to Anca G. Haiduc.

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Paper presented at the 3rd Congress of the International Society for Applied Phycology, Galway.

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Haiduc, A.G., Brandenberger, M., Suquet, S. et al. SunCHem: an integrated process for the hydrothermal production of methane from microalgae and CO2 mitigation. J Appl Phycol 21, 529–541 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-009-9403-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-009-9403-3

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