Dataset for "Hydrothermal conversion of lipid-extracted microalgae hydrolysate in the presence of isopropanol and steel furnace residues"

Microalgae have a high potential as a feedstock for the production of biofuels, either indirectly, through the extraction of lipids, which can be transformed into biodiesel, or directly via whole cell conversion using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). Both approaches have disadvantages, due to the high cost of cultivating microalgae with sufficient lipid content (>40%), while the whole cell conversion produces low quality oils, which require significant further upgrading. This work investigated the possibility of realising the benefits of both processes, by studying the liquefaction reaction of a lipid-extracted algae hydrolysate. Included in this dataset are the Excel spreadsheets containing the raw data presented in the linked publication and detailing the mass balances, the metal analysis and the characterisation of the products

Design and operation of an inexpensive, laboratory-scale, continuous hydrothermal liquefaction reactor for the conversion of microalgae produced during wastewater treatment

Recently, much research has been published on the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of microalgae to form bio-crude, which can be further upgraded into sustainable 3rd generation biofuels. However, most of these studies have been conducted in batch reactors, which are not fully applicable to large-scale industrial production. In this investigation an inexpensive laboratory scale continuous flow system was designed and tested for the liquefaction of microalgae produced during wastewater treatment. The system was operated at a range of temperatures (300 °C – 340 °C) and flow rates (3 – 7 ml min-1), with the feed being delivered using high pressure N2 rather than a mechanical pump. The design incorporated the in-situ collection of solids through a double tube design. The algae was processed at 5 wt% and the results were compared to those from a batch reactor operated at equivalent conditions. By combining high heating rates with extended reaction times, the continuous system was able to yield significantly enhanced bio-crude yields compared to the batch system. This demonstrates the need for inexpensive continuous processing in the lab, to aid in scale up decision making

Dataset for "Elevated production of the aromatic fragrance molecule, 2-phenylethanol, using Metschnikowia pulcherrima through both de novo and ex novo conversion in batch and continuous modes"

2-phenylethanol (2PE) is a fragrance molecule predominantly used in perfumes and the food industry. It can be made from petrochemicals inexpensively, however, this is unsuitable for most food applications. Currently, the main method of production for the bio-derived compound is to extract the trace amounts found in rose petals, which is extremely costly. Potentially fermentation could provide an inexpensive, naturally sourced, alternative. In this investigation, 2PE was produced from the yeast Metschnikowia pulcherrima, optimised in flasks before scaling to 2L batch and continuous operation. 2PE can be produced in high titres under de novo process conditions with up to 1,500 mg/L achieved in a 2L stirred bioreactor. This is the highest reported de novo titre to date, and achieved through high sugar loadings coupled with low nitrogen conditions. The process successfully ran in continuous mode also, with a concentration of 650 mg/L of 2PE being maintained. The 2PE production was further increased by the ex-novo conversion of phenylalanine and semi-continuous solid phase extraction from the supernatant. Under optimal conditions 14,000 mg/L of 2PE was produced. The work presented here offers a novel route to naturally sourced 2PE through a scalable fermentation with a robust yeast highly suited to industrial biotechnology. In this dataset the underlying data is presented including calibration curves. Files are named according to the figure that they are related to in the original paper

Dataset for "A synergistic use of microalgae and macroalgae for heavy metal bioremediation and bioenergy production through hydrothermal liquefaction"

This is the data set related to the paper of the same title. In this investigation a novel synergistic approach for the bioremediation of metal-contaminated water and bioenergy production was developed. Two microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina), and two macroalgae, Ulva lactuca and Sargassum muticum, were used as passive bioremediation agents for the metals Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II). The metals were added singularly and in combination. The metal contaminated biomass was then processed through hydrothermal liquefaction to yield four phases: a bio-crude oil, an aqueous phase, solid residue and gas. Within this data set is the raw data for metal absorption and for the metal distribution in the various phases of the reactio

Branched ketone biofuels as blending agents for Jet-A1 aviation kerosene

The data for the fuel properties is given here. Each tab in the excel sheet gives a different fuel property. The same product codes as in the main manuscript are used

Design and operation of an inexpensive, laboratory-scale, continuous hydrothermal liquefaction reactor for the conversion of microalgae produced during wastewater treatment

Recently, much research has been published on the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of microalgae to form bio-crude, which can be further upgraded into sustainable 3rd generation biofuels. However, most of these studies have been conducted in batch reactors, which are not fully applicable to large-scale industrial production. In this investigation an inexpensive laboratory scale continuous flow system was designed and tested for the liquefaction of microalgae produced during wastewater treatment. The system was operated at a range of temperatures (300 °C – 340 °C) and flow rates (3 – 7 ml min-1), with the feed being delivered using high pressure N2 rather than a mechanical pump. The design incorporated the in-situ collection of solids through a double tube design. The algae was processed at 5 wt% and the results were compared to those from a batch reactor operated at equivalent conditions. By combining high heating rates with extended reaction times, the continuous system was able to yield significantly enhanced bio-crude yields compared to the batch system. This demonstrates the need for inexpensive continuous processing in the lab, to aid in scale up decision making

Dataset for "Hydrothermal conversion of lipid-extracted microalgae hydrolysate in the presence of isopropanol and steel furnace residues"

Microalgae have a high potential as a feedstock for the production of biofuels, either indirectly, through the extraction of lipids, which can be transformed into biodiesel, or directly via whole cell conversion using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). Both approaches have disadvantages, due to the high cost of cultivating microalgae with sufficient lipid content (>40%), while the whole cell conversion produces low quality oils, which require significant further upgrading. This work investigated the possibility of realising the benefits of both processes, by studying the liquefaction reaction of a lipid-extracted algae hydrolysate. Included in this dataset are the Excel spreadsheets containing the raw data presented in the linked publication and detailing the mass balances, the metal analysis and the characterisation of the products

Production of lipid from depolymerised lignocellulose using the biocontrol yeast, Rhodotorula minuta: The fatty acid profile remains stable irrespective of environmental conditions

The oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula minuta has been used previously as a biocide agent and for the production of β-carotene. In addition, R. minuta has been shown to produce up to 40% lipids, while demonstrating a faster growth rate than the similar oleaginous yeasts; Lipomyces starkeyii and Rhodotorula glutinis. In this study this promising yeast was evaluated for its potential to produce glyceride lipids under the harsh conditions and complex sugar mixtures produced from depolymerised lignocellulose. The fatty acid profile of R. minuta was not found to change significantly irrespective of the environmental conditions and contained approximately 20% palmitic acid, 5% stearic acid, 60% oleic acid and 15% linolenic acid. R. minuta was found to grow on a range of sugars, and could consume xylose and glucose when both sugars were present, however, R. minuta was found to be highly sensitive to inhibitors, such as furfurals and organic acids, formed under the harsh lignocellulose depolymerisation conditions. Accordingly R. minuta did not grow well on biomass depolymerised with an acid pre-treatment stage. However, R. minuta was cultured successfully on food waste depolymerised with no additional acids, producing up to 19 g /L cell mass with a lipid content of up to 25% of the dry cell weight

Assessing hydrothermal liquefaction for the production of bio-oil and enhanced metal recovery from microalgae cultivated on acid mine drainage: Dataset

Raw data for the paper with the same nam

Cross-metathesis of microbial oils for the production of advanced biofuels and chemicals

A range of microbial oils were cross-metathesized with ethene using Hoveyda-Grubbs 2nd generation catalyst. The products formed from the microbial oils were compared to alternative first and second generation oils. Upon separation, three separate fractions were produced: an alkene hydrocarbon fraction or aviation fuel fraction (AFF), a shorter chain triglyceride fraction that upon transesterification was suitable as a road transport fuel (RTF) and a volatile short-chain alkene fraction (gas phase fraction, GPF). The fuel fractions were purified through distillation and compared to the relevant fuel standards. Though there was variation for the road transport fuel fraction due to the presence of long chain saturates, all the RTF produced fell within the ASTM standard for biodiesel. The AFF was found to be highly suitable for aviation, falling entirely within the DEF-STAN fuel standard. In addition the AFF possessed a higher energy density than Jet A-1 while 1-decene was found to have a higher oxidative stability than jet fuel. Finally, the GPF was found to predominantly contain propene, butene and pentadiene isomers, all of which have application in the polymer industry. With further development, this process could provide the basis for a microbial oil biorefinery for the production of sustainable biofuels and polymer precursors