Thermochemical conversion of microalgal biomass

Bioenergy has the largest share in developing renewable energy, and accounts for approximately 10% of world primary energy demand. Bioenergy has evolved from first-generation biofuels produced from food crops to second-generation biofuels from nonfood crops. Currently, microalgae are receiving a great deal of attention for third-generation biofuel production. This arises from the fact that microalgae grow fast, along with having high carbon-fixing efficiency. In other words, microalgae possess the potential for biofuel production from their mass production and greenhouse gas uptake. Thermochemical conversion technologies, mainly including torrefaction, pyrolysis, liquefaction, and gasification, are effective and the most commonly adopted processes for biofuel production from biomass. The products from these technologies can be in the forms of solid, liquid, and gaseous biofuels for heat and power generation. This chapter presents details of conversion of microalgal biomass into fuels via thermochemical conversion techniques, and details of conversion processes and their products are also outlined.