Oily Products from Pyrolytic Processing Of Microalgae: An Overview

Study on microalgae massive cultivation production dates back to the ‘70s, when the crude oil shortage following the first oil shock caused a sudden steep rise of the real price of crude, and alternative pathways for the production of fossil fuel substitutes were investigated. Compared to conventional energy crops, microalgae exhibit significant potential advantages as a feedstock for the production of biofuels, because typically produces more oil, consume less space and could be grown on land unsuitable for agriculture. The feasibility of producing liquid biofuels and gases from thermochemical or biochemical conversion of microalgae has been demonstrated for a range of species. In this study, a preliminary review of the current and past technology for the pyrolytic processing of microalgae biomass is presented. Data and process technology from literature are critically analyzed and compared toward the more established process technology for pyrolysis of lignocellulosic material. Despite the amount of data, energy­related literature still lacks of detail on the biological aspect algal cell growth conditions. These aspects play a significant role in determining the economical and environmental sustainability of the process, especially in terms of energy and growth media input. The still open areas of research are highlighted in the paper.