Novel Conversion Process to Make Algae Fuels a Reality
Research team under Johannes A. Lercher of Technische Universität München has introduced a new catalytic process that allows the effective conversion of biopetroleum from microalgae into diesel fuels.
Traditional methods for refining oil from microalgae suffer from various disadvantages. The resulting fuel either has too high an oxygen content and poor flow at low temperatures, or a sulfur-containing catalyst may contaminate the product. However, other catalysts are still not efficient enough. The Munich scientists now propose a new process, for which they have developed a novel catalyst, nickel on a porous support made of zeolite HBeta. They have used this to achieve the conversion of raw, untreated algae oil under mild conditions (260°C, 40 bar hydrogen pressure).
According to Lercher, the products are diesel-range saturated hydrocarbons that are suitable for use as high-grade fuels for vehicles.
