Co-hydrothermal Liquefaction of Phumdi and Paragrass an Aquatic Biomass: Characterization of Bio-oil, Aqueous Fraction and Solid Residue

Abstract

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of wet aquatic biomasses namely, Paragrass (PG) and Phumdi (PH) and a mixture of PG-PH were examined. Different reaction parameters such as temperature (260–300 ◦C) and solvents (water, ethanol, and methanol) were screened to optimize the products distribution. Maximum bio-oil yield (13.82 wt%) was observed for PG under water solvent. In case of mixture of biomass (PG-PH), maximum bio-oil yield (11.66 wt%) was observed with ethanol solvent. In case of PH biomass, maximum conversion of 98.4 wt% was found with water solvent at 300 ◦C. Individual liquefaction of PH and PG biomass majorly produced ester compounds (49.21 and 52.58%, respectively) in the presence of ethanol as solvent. Co-liquefaction bio-oil consisted of phenolic compounds (67.49%) with ethanol as solvent followed by 50.84% in water and 49.59% in methanol. In water solvent, PH biomass showed higher carbon conversion efficiency (69.8%). The PG-PH hydrothermal liquefaction derived aqueous fraction showed significantly higher (57000 mg/L) organic carbon. Obvious difference in the product yields and compounds formed during liquefaction reaction is ascribed to the distinct effect of solvents and temperatures on biomass macromolecular breakdown.