Valorizing Hydrothermal liquefaction aqueous phase via nanofiltration: Enhancing biocrude production from algal biomass

Costa, Tiago; Schideman, Lance; Rajagopalan, Nandakishore; Zhang, Yuanhui

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132456

Valorizing Hydrothermal liquefaction aqueous phase via nanofiltration: Enhancing biocrude production from algal biomass

Journal Article · Sat Mar 29 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Bioresource Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132456· OSTI ID:3025771

^[1]; ^[1]; Rajagopalan, Nandakishore ^[1]; Zhang, Yuanhui ^[1]

Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)

The hydrothermal liquefaction aqueous phase (HTL-AP), a nutrient- and carbon-rich waste byproduct of the HTL process, can be recirculated to enhance biocrude production efficiency. To avoid dilution of the HTL feedstock and reduced fuel quality associated with recirculating untreated HTL-AP, this study investigated nanofiltration to concentrate organic compounds and separate nutrients from HTL-AP of three algal biomass sources: an algal wastewater treatment system and two from harmful algal blooms in lakes. Up to 99% of the organics were recovered in the concentrated HTL-AP (retentate), and significant increases in both permeate flux and permeation of nitrogenous compounds were achieved by increasing HTL-AP temperature to 45 °C and pH to 11. Recirculating the concentrated HTL-AP increased biocrude yield by 70%-116% and reduced biocrude nitrogen content by up to 12%. The carbon and energy capture in the biocrude also increased by 66% and 68%, respectively.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008905

Other Award/Contract Number:: W9132T-21-2-0009

OSTI ID:: 3025771

Journal Information:: Bioresource Technology, Journal Name: Bioresource Technology Vol. 428; ISSN 0960-8524

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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