Experimental Investigation of Bioalgae and Lignocellulosic Biomass Co-pyrolysis for Bioproduct Development

• Grant number: 24/20782-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 03, 2025
• End date: June 29, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Thermal Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Ingrid Lopes Motta
• Grantee: Guilherme Iureschi
• Supervisor: Jonathan Keith Bartley
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica (FEM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Cardiff University, Wales
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/05208-3 - Development of biomass fast pyrolysis simulation to obtain bio-oil aiming at biofuel production, BP.IC

Abstract

Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts biomass into valuable chemicals and biofuels through thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen. Given its potential for net-zero carbon emissions, pyrolysis is a promising process in the energy sector to mitigate global warming effects caused by greenhouse gases, such as CO2. Depending on the process parameters (e.g., temperature, pressure, and feedstock), pyrolysis tends to generate gaseous, liquid, or solid products, each with different applications. For instance, the gas and liquid (bio-oil) products may be upgraded through well-known reactions to obtain biofuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel. In contrast, the applications of the solid products (biochar) are still under study and some of its known destinations include activated carbon, carbon black, pelletized fuel, and soil fertilizer. Some of the most promising feedstocks are lignocellulosic biomass and algae, with the former yielding products with high energy density and the latter requiring low energy input to be pyrolyzed. Therefore, combining both in a process known as co-pyrolysis presents a promising opportunity for future bioenergy production. In this context, the primary goal of this project is to explore various biomass combinations (namely: algae, eucalyptus, sugarcane residues) as feedstocks for the co-pyrolysis process, along with the characterization of the resulting biochar, aiming to identify possible downstream applications based on its properties. The experimental results obtained abroad may be used to validate the pyrolysis simulation, under development in the main project. In addition, this BEPE project aims to provide the student with the experience of operating a fixed-bed pyrolysis reactor at the Cardiff Catalysis Institute, under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Bartley, researcher at Cardiff University, Wales. Therefore, the experience abroad aims to complement not only the simulation studies conducted in Brazil, but also the undergraduate student training in his academic field.