Gasification of Nannochloropsis sp. in sub/supercritical water with NaOH, KOH, Pd/C and Ru/C was investigated.
The results showed the yields of H2 and CH4 were dramatically improved by NaOH, KOH, Ru/C and Pd/C.
Gasification of Ethylbenzene indicated those catalysts can enhance gasification of recalcitrant intermediate products
which led to an efficient gasification of algae. It s also found that the presence in algae of sulfur could present
challenges for gasification of algae with Ru. As cleavages of aromatic ring were observed with NaOH and KOH, we
speculated hydroxide could form OH radicals and OH addition to aromatic ring causes the ring-opening.