Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Microalgae in a Continuous Reactor for Bio Crude Oil Production

The progress in scientific knowledge and heightened environmental consciousness has led to investigations into renewable and sustainable sources of energy. Among these sources, biofuels produced from biomass have gained significant attention as a viable substitute for fossil fuels. When comparing the two conversion processes employed in biofuel production, thermochemical and biochemical, the former option is considered more favorable. Thermochemical conversion processes include direct combustion, pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal liquefaction, with the latter being particularly attractive due to its high production efficiency and seamless integration with existing infrastructure. The hydrothermal liquefaction process is a single-step procedure that does not require energy to dry materials and involves adding water to regulate efficacy. This process produces solid and liquid fuels that are not soluble in water, as well as varying quantities of gas. While most studies have used batch reactors, a continuous flow process must be implemented to achieve commercial viability since the amount of product generated is relatively small. Creating sustainability in technology requires progress and innovation in this field