High-Performance Plasma-Enabled Biorefining of Microalgae to Value-Added Products

Area of Science:

• Biomass conversion
• Catalysis
• Plasma technology

Background:

• Efficient conversion of renewable biomass into valuable products is crucial.
• Existing methods often require significant time and energy inputs.
• Microalgae represent a promising, abundant renewable biomass source.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate plasma catalytic liquefaction (PCL) for rapid microalgae conversion.
• To evaluate the impact of catalyst choice on liquefaction efficiency and product yield.
• To explore potential applications for the resulting solid residue.

Main Methods:

• Microalgae were subjected to plasma catalytic liquefaction (PCL) under mild conditions.
• Acid and basic catalysts were employed to assess their effect on the process.
• Product analysis and characterization of the solid residue were performed.

Main Results:

• An acid catalyst achieved a liquid yield of 73.95 wt% in just 3 minutes.
• A basic catalyst yielded 69.80 wt% in 7 minutes, indicating superior performance of the acid catalyst.
• Enhanced PCL performance is attributed to plasma-induced temperature increases and reactive species generation.
• The solid residue was successfully upgraded into a carbon material suitable for supercapacitors.

Conclusions:

• Plasma catalytic liquefaction offers a time- and energy-efficient method for microalgae conversion.
• Acid catalysts significantly enhance liquefaction efficiency and product yield.
• The process provides a pathway for comprehensive biomass utilization, including valuable solid residue applications.