Co-liquefaction of Tunçbilek lignite with algae (spirulina species): Effect of process parameters and characterization of chars and oils

Abstract

Nowadays, to reduce the cost of coal liquefaction and to produce a new liquid fuel alternative to petroleum, it is considered a more convenient method to liquefy coal and biomass together instead of solely coal liquefaction. Liquefaction experiments were carried out by changing the solvent/solid ratio of 1/1–5/1, reaction temperature 320–400 °C, reaction time 30–90 min, and algae/lignite ratio in the range of 1/1–5/1. As a result of this study, the most suitable process parameters obtained by considering total conversion are; solvent/solid ratio 3/1, reaction time 60 min, algae/lignite ratio 4/1, and reaction temperature 380 °C. Under these conditions, the highest total conversion is approximately 80% and 77% in catalytic and non-catalytic conditions, respectively. Under non-catalytic conditions of co-liquefaction experiments due to the GC-MS results, cyclopentane (raw material of motor oil), pentadecane, 2-methyl-naphthalene, octa-ethylene glycol, ethylene oxide heptamer are the main products of optimum parameters aforementioned for oil. They are mainly used in fuel technology and used in the chemical industry as raw materials mean low-cost production as well.

Keywords

• Tunçbilek lignite
• Algae
• Process parameters optimization
• Co-processing
• Products characterization
• Oil+gas yields