Off-gas 10% of total Carbon AHTL Oil 72% of total Carbon (77% algal carbon recovery) Natural Gas 3.5% of total Carbon in Water & Solids Recycle to Ponds 8% of total Carbon as dissolved CO2 (9% of algal carbon) Reformer & Heater Exhaust 23% of total Carbon (Includes 21% of algal carbon) Natural Gas Drier & Exhaust 3.5% of total Carbon in

Wet algae slurries can be converted into an upgradeable biocrude by hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). High levels of carbon conversion to gravity separable biocrude product were accomplished at relatively low temperature (350°C) in a continuous-flow, pressurized (sub-critical liquid water) environment (20 MPa). As opposed to earlier work in batch reactors reported by others, direct oil recovery was achieved without the use of a solvent and biomass trace components were removed by processing steps so that they did not cause process difficulties. High conversions were obtained even with high slurry concentrations of up to 35 wt.% of dry solids. Catalytic hydrotreating was effectively applied for hydrodeoxygenation, hydrodenitrogenation, and hydrodesulfurization of the biocrude to form liquid hydrocarbon fuel. Catalytic hydrothermal gasification was effectively applied for HTL byproduct water cleanup and fuel gas production from water soluble organics, allowing the water to be considered for recycle of nutrients to the algae growth ponds. As a result, high conversion of algae to liquid hydrocarbon and gas products was found with low levels of organic contamination in the byproduct water. All three process steps were accomplished in bench-scale, continuous-flow reactor systems such that design data for process scale-up was generated.

The carbonation of CaO is an attractive method for removing CO2 from hot gas mixtures. However, regeneration and reuse of a CaO-based sorbent causes a gradual decline in absorption capacity, which ultimately limits the life of the material. Various methods have been proposed for increasing the life cycle performance of a CaO-based sorbent. Two of these methods were selected for further investigation. One method incorporates an "inert" material in the sorbent, while a second method stabilizes the sorbent through controlled sintering. Promising results were achieved with both methods when they were applied separately to a sorbent derived from a natural limestone. In one case MgO was finely dispersed within the sorbent, where it served as an "inert" material in the sense that it did not absorb CO2. A concentration of approximately 20 wt % appeared to be nearly optimal. In a second case the sorbent was stabilized by calcining the material at 1100°Cfor 5 h. Although neither method produced a completely stable material, the stability of the sorbents was improved sufficiently so that by the end of a 1200-cycle test the absorption capacity of either of the treated sorbents was 45% greater than that of an untreated sorbent and the rate of decline was very small. The carbonation of CaO is an attractive method for removing CO 2 from hot gas mixtures. However, regeneration and reuse of a CaO-based sorbent causes a gradual decline in absorption capacity, which ultimately limits the life of the material. Various methods have been proposed for increasing the life cycle performance of a CaO-based sorbent. Two of these methods were selected for further investigation. One method incorporates an "inert" material in the sorbent, while a second method stabilizes the sorbent through controlled sintering. Promising results were achieved with both methods when they were applied separately to a sorbent derived from a natural limestone. In one case MgO was finely dispersed within the sorbent, where it served as an "inert" material in the sense that it did not absorb CO 2 . A concentration of approximately 20 wt % appeared to be nearly optimal. In a second case the sorbent was stabilized by calcining the material at 1100°C for 5 h. Although neither method produced a completely stable material, the stability of the sorbents was improved sufficiently so that by the end of a 1200-cycle test the absorption capacity of either of the treated sorbents was 45% greater than that of an untreated sorbent and the rate of decline was very small.

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