Use of Microalgae Biomass to Synthesize Marketable Products: 3. Production of Motor Fuels from Microalgae Biomass Using Catalytic Approaches

Abstract

The review addresses the main approaches used in the thermochemical and catalytic conversion of microalgae biomass (hydrothermal liquefaction, gasification, transesterification, pyrolysis) to produce biofuels. The key conditions that determine the reaction product yield using bio-oil production catalysts and approaches to bio-oil refining are discussed. It is shown that the use of bifunctional acid–base catalysts is most relevant for transesterification processes. The gasification and pyrolysis processes are used less frequently, because the former is accompanied by the formation of CO₂, and the latter is characterized by the formation of a large amount of oxidized compounds that deteriorate the quality of bio-oil.