Dept of BT

Overveiw

Acharya stands as a beacon of excellence in higher education, boasting a

legacy of academic distinction since its establishment in 1990. We offer a
transformative educational experience, fostering holistic development,
nurturing innovation and providing world-class facilities to ensure an enriching
journey for our students.

Dept of BT
 11 Institutions, Infinite Possibilities

We provide 100+ programs across 50 academic streams.

Dept of BT
 Liquid Biofuels

Biodiesel:
Derived from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled greases.
Used as a renewable alternative to petroleum diesel.
Common feedstocks: soybean oil, palm oil, rapeseed oil, and waste cooking oils.
Bioethanol:
Produced through the fermentation of sugars or starches from crops like corn, sugarcane,
and wheat.
Used as a blending agent with gasoline to reduce emissions (e.g., E10, E85).

Gaseous Biofuels

Dept of BT Syngas (Synthesis Gas):

A mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H₂), produced through the
gasification of biomass.
Can be used for electricity generation, as a fuel for internal combustion engines, or as a
precursor for liquid fuels.
Biogas:
Primarily composed of methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).
Generated through anaerobic digestion of organic matter such as agricultural waste,
manure, or food waste.
Commonly used for heating, electricity generation, or as a vehicle fuel after purification
(biomethane).
 Solid Biofuels

Charcoal:
Produced by pyrolysis (heating biomass in the absence of oxygen).
Used as a fuel for cooking, heating, and in metallurgical processes.
Biochar:
A carbon-rich solid material created by the pyrolysis of biomass.
Primarily used as a soil amendment to enhance fertility, sequester carbon, and improve
water retention in soil.

Dept of BT
 Biomass conversion: Physical conversion, Dewatering, drying, size reduction, steam
explosion, densification, pelleting, chipping, oil extraction

Biomass conversion involves various physical processes to prepare raw biomass for energy
production, industrial applications, or further chemical and biological processing. These steps
are essential for improving efficiency, storage, handling, and the overall yield of the final
products.
Key Physical Conversion Processes
1. Dewatering

Purpose: Reduces the moisture content of biomass to improve its energy density and storage
life.
Methods:
Dept of BT Mechanical pressing or centrifugation for wet biomass (e.g., algae, agricultural
residues).
Filtration for liquid-rich biomass materials.
2. Drying

Purpose: Lowers moisture content further to optimize combustion, gasification, or other

thermal processes.
Methods:
Air drying (natural or forced).
Kiln or rotary dryers for industrial-scale drying.
Infrared or microwave drying for specific applications.
 3. Size Reduction

Purpose: Converts biomass into smaller, uniform pieces to enhance process efficiency (e.g.,
combustion, densification).
Methods:
Grinding, milling, or crushing for fine particle production.
Chipping for larger, consistent pieces (common for wood).
Shredding for coarse size reduction (e.g., for agricultural residues).

4. Steam Explosion

Purpose: Pre-treats biomass by breaking down complex structures like lignin and
hemicellulose, making cellulose more accessible for enzymatic or microbial conversion.
Dept of BT Process:
High-pressure steam penetrates the biomass.
Rapid depressurization causes the material to "explode," disrupting its structure.

5. Densification

Purpose: Increases the bulk density of biomass for efficient transportation, handling, and
storage.
Products:
Pellets
Briquettes
 6. Pelleting
Purpose: Compresses biomass into uniform, high-density pellets.
Applications: Used as a renewable fuel in stoves, boilers, and industrial heating systems.
Process: Biomass is ground, dried, and compressed under high pressure with or without binders.

7. Chipping
Purpose: Cuts biomass (especially woody materials) into smaller, manageable pieces for further
processing or direct use in boilers and gasifiers.
Applications: Commonly used in the pulp and paper industry and for feedstock preparation.

8. Oil Extraction
Purpose: Extracts oils from biomass sources such as seeds, nuts, and algae for biodiesel production
or other uses.
Dept of BT
 Methods:
Mechanical pressing.
Solvent extraction (e.g., hexane).
Supercritical fluid extraction for high efficiency.

Applications of Physical Conversion

Biofuel Production: Feedstock preparation for biodiesel, bioethanol, or biogas.

Thermal Applications: Efficient combustion or gasification.
Material Processing: Bio-based materials such as particleboard or bioplastics.
Agriculture: Value-added biomass residues for soil amendments or animal feed.

Dept of BT
 Innovative bioenergy plants: biomass to synthetic natural gas; biomass to liquid biofuels
through Fisher Tropsch; absorption enhanced reforming.

Innovative bioenergy plants integrate advanced technologies to efficiently convert biomass into
renewable fuels such as synthetic natural gas (SNG), liquid biofuels (e.g., via Fischer-Tropsch
synthesis), and hydrogen through methods like absorption-enhanced reforming. These
approaches aim to optimize resource use, reduce emissions, and contribute to sustainable energy
systems.

1. Biomass to Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG)

Overview:
Converts biomass into SNG, primarily methane (CH₄), which can substitute for natural gas in
Dept of BT existing infrastructure.
Key Process:
Gasification:
Biomass is converted into syngas (a mix of CO, H₂, CO₂, and CH₄) at high temperatures.
Methanation:
Syngas is catalytically processed to form methane: CO+3H2→CH4+H2O

Gas Purification:
Removes impurities (e.g., tar, CO₂) to produce pipeline-quality SNG.
 Applications:
Power generation, heating, and as a transport fuel (e.g., compressed natural gas).
Innovations:
Integration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) to achieve carbon-negative processes.
Improved gasification technologies to handle diverse feedstocks.

2. Biomass to Liquid Biofuels through Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Synthesis

Overview:
Converts syngas from biomass into liquid hydrocarbons, including diesel, jet fuel, and gasoline.
Key Process:
Gasification:
Biomass is gasified to produce syngas.
Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis:
Dept of BT Catalytic reaction converts syngas into hydrocarbons:
(2n+1)H2+nCO→CnH2n+2+nH2O
The chain length and product composition depend on catalysts and process conditions.
Product Upgrading:
Hydrocarbons are refined into desired biofuels.
Applications:
Drop-in fuels compatible with existing vehicles and infrastructure.
Innovations:
Use of advanced FT catalysts for higher efficiency and selectivity.
Integration with renewable hydrogen production to enhance syngas quality.
 3. Absorption-Enhanced Reforming (AER)
Overview:
A process to produce high-purity hydrogen or syngas from biomass with integrated CO₂ capture.
Key Process:
Biomass Reforming:
Biomass is reformed in the presence of steam to produce syngas.
In-situ CO₂ Capture:
An absorbent (e.g., calcium oxide) captures CO₂ during the reaction, shifting equilibrium to
maximize hydrogen production: CO2+CaO→CaCO3

Regeneration:
The absorbent is regenerated by heating, releasing concentrated CO₂ for storage or utilization.
Dept of BT
Applications:
Hydrogen for fuel cells or industrial processes.
Syngas for FT synthesis or other chemical processes.
Innovations:
High-temperature sorbents for more efficient CO₂ capture.
Coupled processes to combine gasification and reforming in a single step.
 Advantages of Innovative Bioenergy Plants

Carbon Neutral/Negative:
Biomass absorbs CO₂ during growth, and advanced processes can capture emissions for
storage.
Energy Diversification:
Produces a variety of fuels (gaseous, liquid, or hydrogen).
Infrastructure Compatibility:
SNG and FT biofuels can integrate with existing energy systems.

Challenges
High capital and operational costs.
Feedstock variability and supply chain logistics.
Dept of BT Need for further technology development to scale efficiency.
 Hydrothermal processes: carbonization, liquefaction, gasification.

Hydrothermal processes are thermochemical methods that convert wet biomass into valuable
products like biochar, bio-oil, or syngas under high-pressure and moderate-to-high-temperature
conditions in the presence of water. These processes are particularly effective for feedstocks with
high moisture content, such as algae, agricultural residues, and sewage sludge, eliminating the need
for energy-intensive drying.

1. Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC)

Overview:
Converts wet biomass into a carbon-rich solid product called hydrochar under mild temperature
(180–250°C) and high pressure (2–10 MPa).

Dept of BT Process:
Biomass is mixed with water and heated in a sealed reactor.
Water acts as a reaction medium and catalyst, promoting dehydration and decarboxylation
reactions.
Solid hydrochar is separated from the liquid phase.

Products:
Hydrochar: Used as a solid fuel, soil amendment, or precursor for activated carbon.
Liquid Phase: Contains dissolved organics that can be processed into biochemicals or used for
anaerobic digestion.
 Hydrothermal processes: carbonization, liquefaction, gasification.

Dept of BT
 Hydrothermal processes: carbonization, liquefaction, gasification.

Applications:
Solid biofuel for heating and power.
Carbon sequestration via soil incorporation.
Advantages:
Low energy requirement compared to conventional drying.
Utilizes wet feedstocks effectively.

2. Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL)

Overview:
Produces liquid bio-oil from wet biomass under moderate temperatures (250–350°C) and high
pressure (10–25 MPa).
Dept of BT
Process:
Biomass is processed in water at subcritical conditions.
Water breaks down polymers (e.g., cellulose, lignin) into smaller molecules through
depolymerization, hydrolysis, and decarboxylation.
Products are separated into bio-oil, aqueous phase, gas, and solids.
 Hydrothermal processes: carbonization, liquefaction, gasification.

Products:
Bio-oil: A renewable crude oil that can be upgraded into fuels like diesel or gasoline.
Aqueous Phase: Contains organic compounds for further processing or recovery.
Gas: Mostly CO₂ and small amounts of CH₄, H₂, and CO.
Solid Residue: Often used as biochar or disposed of.
Applications:
Production of renewable transport fuels.
Feedstock for petrochemical industries.
Advantages:
High energy density of bio-oil.
Efficient utilization of wet biomass.
Dept of BT
3. Hydrothermal Gasification (HTG)
Overview:
Converts biomass into syngas (H₂, CH₄, CO, and CO₂) under high temperatures (350–700°C) and
high pressures (22–50 MPa).
Process:
Biomass and water are processed at supercritical conditions, where water acts as a solvent and
reactant.
Reactions (e.g., steam reforming, water-gas shift) break down biomass into gases.
Catalysts can enhance reaction efficiency and selectivity.
 Hydrothermal processes: carbonization, liquefaction, gasification.

Products:

Syngas: Used for power generation, as a chemical feedstock, or upgraded to synthetic natural gas.
Liquid Residue: May contain valuable nutrients or organics.
Solid Residue: Typically minimal.

Applications:
Hydrogen production for fuel cells.
Synthesis of fuels and chemicals from syngas.

Advantages:
Dept of BT High gas yield and efficiency.
Eliminates the need for drying biomass.
Can process challenging feedstocks like manure or sewage.
 Algal biofuels: Growth/harvest rates, transesterification.

Algal biofuels offer a sustainable and renewable alternative to fossil fuels, with algae serving as a
highly efficient feedstock due to their fast growth rates, high lipid content, and ability to grow on
non-arable land. Here’s a detailed breakdown focusing on growth/harvest rates and
transesterification:

1. Growth and Harvest Rates of Algae

Growth Rates:

Algae Productivity:
Microalgae have a high photosynthetic efficiency, converting sunlight and CO₂ into biomass.
Dept of BT Growth rates depend on factors such as light, nutrients, temperature, pH, and CO₂ availability.
Specific Productivity:
Microalgae: Can produce 20–50 g/m²/day of biomass in optimized conditions.
Macroalgae (e.g., seaweed): Growth rates vary but can exceed 60–100 tons dry
weight/ha/year in some systems.

Doubling Time:
Many microalgae species can double their biomass in 1–3 days, making them faster than
terrestrial crops like soybeans or corn.
 Algal biofuels: Growth/harvest rates, transesterification.

Lipid Content:
Algae can have lipid contents ranging from 20–60% of dry weight, depending on the strain
and growth conditions.

Harvest Rates:
Algal biomass is harvested regularly, with cycles as short as a few days for microalgae in
photobioreactors or raceway ponds.
Harvest intervals for macroalgae vary based on species and farming systems but can occur
seasonally.

Harvesting Methods:
Dept of BT Flocculation:
Adding chemicals (e.g., alum, ferric chloride) or adjusting pH to aggregate algae for easier
collection.
Centrifugation:
Efficient but energy-intensive; separates biomass from the culture medium.
Filtration:
Uses screens or membranes to remove algae from water.
Sedimentation:
Algae settle naturally over time, aided by gravity or chemical flocculants.
 Algal biofuels: Growth/harvest rates, transesterification.

2. Transesterification in Algal Biofuel Production

Overview:
Transesterification is the process of converting lipids (oils) extracted from algae into biodiesel.
Lipids are reacted with alcohol (usually methanol or ethanol) and a catalyst (acidic, basic, or
enzymatic) to produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and glycerol.

Steps in Transesterification:
Lipid Extraction:
Lipids are extracted from harvested algal biomass using solvents (e.g., hexane,
chloroform-methanol mixtures) or mechanical methods like pressing.
Dept of BT Wet extraction methods are also being developed to avoid energy-intensive drying.
Reaction Setup:
Lipids are mixed with an alcohol and a catalyst (e.g., sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or
sulfuric acid).
Common reaction conditions:
Temperature: 50–70°C.
Reaction Time: 1–2 hours.
Alcohol to Lipid Ratio: 3:1 to 6:1 molar ratio (varies based on process optimization).
Product Separation:
After the reaction, the mixture separates into biodiesel (FAME) and glycerol.
The biodiesel is purified by washing and drying.
 Reaction Chemistry:
General Reaction:

Triglyceride (lipid)+3 Alcohol → 3 Biodiesel (FAME)+Glycerol

High-quality biodiesel that meets ASTM and EN standards.
Transesterification is well-established and scalable.

Challenges:
High water and nutrient demand for algae cultivation.
Lipid extraction and transesterification processes can be costly and energy-intensive.
By-product (glycerol) must be managed or utilized effectively.

Dept of BT