This paper is on assessing yield and properties of distillate derived from biocrude, and blend stream
of biocrude and conventional petroleum. Biocrude was produced from hydrothermal liquefaction of a halophytic
microalga
Tetraselmis
sp. at 350
oC, 5min with 16w/v% solids content. The resultant biocrude was coprocessed with
petroleum using fractional distillation. The result of the study shows that similar yield and quality distillate were
obtained from petroleum and blended stream. Distillate fraction obtained from the blend had similar properties such as
higher heating values (HHV), H/C atomic ratio and elemental composition to those of petroleum crude. The energy
density of biocrude-distillate significantly improved from 72.4MJ/kg to 86.9MJ/kg with about 97% reduction in oxygen
content. Recovery of gasoline fractions with normal boiling point range of 190
oC to 290
oC were found higher in
petroleum and blend compared to biocrude. This finding is important as coprocessing blend of biocrude and petroleum
would address the issues with heteroatoms, which could be of great economic importance. However further studies are
necessary on distillate fractions, in order to assure compatibility with petroleum derived fuels.
