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Thermogravimetric study and evolved gas analysis of new microalga using TGA-GC-MS

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Abstract

The growing concerns over the environmental challenges emanating from the use of fossil fuels continue to generate interest in finding competitive and sustainable alternatives. This study presents physicochemical characteristics, thermal decomposition profile and kinetics of a new Botryococcus sp. of microalga isolated from Endau-Rompin, Malaysia. The proximate and ultimate analyses were carried out using standard analytical techniques. Thermogravimetric study was conducted in nitrogen atmosphere using a thermogravimetric analyser coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. The result revealed that the feedstock has high volatile matter (86.74 wt%) and calorific value of 17.18 MJ/kg. The thermal decomposition of the alga sample proceeded via dehydration, decomposition of extractives, hemicellulose, other carbohydrates and lipid evaporation. The kinetics of the alga sample evaluated using a distributed activation energy model showed that the model sufficiently described the pyrolysis of the feedstock with activation energy of 52.72–159.16 kJ/mol. The chemical composition of the evolved gas revealed high content of hydrocarbons, products of carbohydrate and protein decomposition. This suggests that the alga sample is a good candidate for production of valuable precursors for biofuel processing and production of biochemicals.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Crops for the Future (CFF) and the University of Nottingham under the grant BioP1-005.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Material Engineering, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Isah Yakub Mohammed & Yousif Abdalla Abakr

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B. 0248, Bauchi, Nigeria

    Isah Yakub Mohammed

  3. Department of Technology and Heritage, Faculty of Science, Technology and Human Development, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, Parit Raja, 86400, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

    Zubainatu Abba, Hazel Monica Matias-Peralta & Siti Fatimah Zahrah Mohammad Fuzi

Authors
  1. Isah Yakub Mohammed
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  2. Zubainatu Abba
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  3. Hazel Monica Matias-Peralta
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  4. Yousif Abdalla Abakr
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  5. Siti Fatimah Zahrah Mohammad Fuzi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Isah Yakub Mohammed.

Additional information

Standards used

1. BS EN 15407, 2011. Solid recovered fuels—methods for the determination of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and nitrogen (N) content. British Standards Institution, London, UK.

2. BS EN 15148, 2009. Solid Biofuels. Determination of the Content of Volatile Matter. British Standards Institution, London, UK

3. BS EN 14775, 2009. Solid Biofuels. Determination of Ash Content. British Standards Institution, London, UK

4. BS EN 14918, 2009. Solid Biofuels. Determination of Calorific Value. British Standards Institution, London, UK

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Mohammed, I.Y., Abba, Z., Matias-Peralta, H.M. et al. Thermogravimetric study and evolved gas analysis of new microalga using TGA-GC-MS. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 8, 669–678 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-018-0314-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-018-0314-x

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