Direct hydrodeoxygenation of algal lipids extracted from Chlorella alga

: Nguyen HSH, Maki-Arvela P, Akhmetzyanova U, Tisler Z, Hachemi I, Rudnas A, Smeds A, Eranen K, Aho A, Kumar N, Hemming J, Peurla M, Murzin DY

Publisher: WILEY

: 2017

: Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology

: JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

: J CHEM TECHNOL BIOT

: 92

: 4

: 741

: 748

: 8

: 0268-2575

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.5158

BACKGROUND: Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of Chlorella algal oil extracted with supercritical hexane and stearic acid as a model compound was investigated over several supported Ni and Mo2N-MoO2 catalysts in a semibatch reactor at 300 degrees C under 30 bar in the presence of hydrogen.RESULTS: The results showed that all catalysts were very active in HDO of stearic acid. With crude algal oil, a maximum conversion of lipids of 35% was found with an acidic Ni-HY-80 zeolite catalyst after 360 min. The main products in algal oil HDO were fatty acids; whereas maximally only 7% hydrocarbons were formed with Ni-HY-80. The main hydrocarbon products were formed via decarbonylation, as the hydrogenation/dehydration route was suppressed.CONCLUSIONS: Hydrodeoxygenation of crude Chlorella algal oil was demonstrated over nickel supported on beta zeolite and with a molybdenum oxide-nitride catalyst. Strong catalyst deactivation occurred for the former catalyst, whereas the latter retained its activity. (C) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry