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Seasonal impacts on the production of algae biomass require blending with other feedstocks such as wood to maintain consistent annual conversion capacity. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has developed a long-term storage strategy for algae biomass using ensiling, or anaerobic wet storage, that was tested for blends of algae and wood to stabilize the feedstock supply for processing to fuels. Additionally, blending biomass (algae and wood) leverages existing biomass storage approaches commonly used by the feed and forage industry. Earlier research also has demonstrated positive results that indicate ensiling is more effective and economical in normalizing biomass feedstock supply prior tomore » conversions such as HTL (hydrothermal liquefaction) than preserving biomass by drying. By assessing impacts beginning with upstream logistic operations and proceeding through each conversion step, this work focuses on conversion of ensiled and blended biomass to fungible liquid transportation fuel blendstocks. This is accomplished by conversion of the blended biomass (62% Chlorella sp. blended with 38% loblolly pine forest product residues [FPR]) to bio-crude through HTL and subsequent upgrading through HT (hydrotreating) with a commercial refinery catalyst analogous to a refinery process to produce hydrocarbon fuel. In this work, results indicate that carbon retention and quality are preserved in both the bio-crude and upgraded fuel from the ensiled blend, indicating the potential of this approach for managing seasonal variations in algae biomass productivity.« less

We consider catalytic hydroprocessing of pyrolysis oils from biomass which produces hydrocarbons for liquid fuel production. This process requires removal of oxygen and cracking of the heavier molecular weight bio-oil constituents into smaller fragments at high temperatures and pressures under hydrogen. Here, we present in this paper the characterization of a group of five distillate fractions from each of two types of hydroprocessed oils from oak pyrolysis oil: a low oxygen content (LOC, 1.8% O, wet basis) oil and a medium oxygen content (MOC, 6.4% O, wet basis) oil. The LOC oil was generated using a sulfided hydrotreating system consistingmore » of RuS/C and xMoS/Al₂O₃ while the MOC was produced using non-sulfided catalysts, Ru/C and Pd/C. Elemental analysis and ¹³C NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) results suggest that the distillate fractions from both oils become more aromatic/unsaturated as they become heavier. Carbonyl and carboxylic groups were found in the MOC light fractions, while phenols were present in the heavier fractions for both MOC and LOC. Paraffin, iso-paraffin, olefin, naphthene, aromatic (PIONA) analysis of the light LOC fraction shows a predominance of paraffins with a minor amount of olefins. Sulfur analysis showed the comparative concentration of sulfur in the different fractions as well as the surprising similarity in content in some sulfided and non-sulfided fractions. Our results can be used to direct future research on refinery integration and production of value-added product from specific upgraded oil streams.« less