Supercritical water gasification of microalga Nannochloropsis over supported Ni and Ru catalysts

Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of a marine microalga Nannochloropsis was performed in the presence and the absence of supported Ru and Ni catalysts at 385 °C and 26 MPa using a batch reactor. The product gas of the non-catalytic reaction mainly comprised of CO2 while that of catalytic reaction produced CH4, CO2, H2 and some C2-C4 compounds. The addition of catalysts enhanced the decomposition and conversion (water-gas shift and methanation) reactions, consequently increasing the total gasification efficiency up to 92% for 60 min reaction time. Between the supported Ru and Ni catalysts, Ru resulted in higher gasification efficiency than Ni. Catalyst deactivation during SCWG of Nannochloropsis was also examined.