Microwave-assisted co-pyrolysis of chlorella vulgaris and polypropylene: Characteristic and product distribution analyses

Abstract

The co-pyrolysis characteristics and product yield of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) and polypropylene (PP) under different mixing ratios (10:0, 8:2, 6:4, 5:5, 4:6, 2:8 and 0:10) were studied by microwave oven. Then the effects of different graphite (GP) additions (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) on the optimum mixing ratio of CV and PP were investigated. The composition of bio-oil was analyzed by GC-MS. The results indicated that the C8P2 (CV/PP = 8:2) group had the best pyrolysis characteristics. The maximum weight loss rate (R_m) and average weight loss rate (R_v) of the C8P2 with 30% GP addition achieved the peak value. In the absence of GP, compared with C10P0 group, the contents of nitrogen compounds in bio-oil of the C8P2 group decreased by 21.58%. After adding GP to the C8P2 group, the nitrogen compounds in bio-oil of 30% GP group was 1.93% lower than that in 0% GP group.

Keywords: Bio-oil; Chlorella vulgaris; Graphite; Microwave co-pyrolysis; Polypropylene.