Microalgae are a promising feedstock for renewable fuels and chemicals because of their potentially high growth rate and lipid content. Recent interest in converting the lipid fraction into completely deoxygenated jet- and diesel-range fuels has motivated research and development efforts in catalyst and process development for deoxygenation and isomerization steps for these lipids, but literature data for algal lipid composition with respect to its effects on DO and HI is sparse. In this work, we report detailed characterization of the extracted lipids as well as deoxygenation (DO) and hydroisomerization (HI) of the lipids extracted from mid-stage (high-carbohydrate content) <i>Scenedesmus</i> algae. Over a Pd/C catalyst, nearly complete deoxygenation is achievable, but the DO product causes rapid deactivation of the isomerization catalyst. We will report on several treatments of the algae oil and DO products to discern the source of the deactivation and remove it, ultimately describing a process to convert crude algae oils into a fungible diesel blendstock.

Hydrodeoxygenation and hydroisomerization of algae oils to hydrocarbon fuels

251st National Meeting (2016)

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