The pyrolysis of lipid-extracted residue of Tribonema minus in a fixed-bed reactor

•The lipid-extracted residue of T. minus was firstly used as the pyrolysis feedstock.•The lipid-extracted residue of T. minus has lower pyrolysis temperature than lignocellulosic material.•The maximum liquid product yield (29.82 wt.%) was achieved at 450 °C with 50 ml min−1 nitrogen flow rate.•The liquid product obtained from residue of T. minus contained more alkane/alkene than that from lignocellulose biomass.

The pyrolysis of lipid-extracted residue of Tribonema minus has been performed in a fixed-bed reactor. In this paper the influence of nitrogen flow rate and pyrolysis temperature on products yields and composition were investigated. The maximum liquid yield of 29.82 wt.% was obtained at 450 °C with 50 ml min−1 nitrogen flow rate. The major compounds of liquid product from microalgae were carbonyls, hydrocarbons and nitrogenous compounds with a high proportion of oxygen. CO2 and CO were the main compositions of gas and their contents changed with pyrolysis temperature. The comparison of product yields and properties was made among lipid-extracted residue of T. minus, reeds and woody chips pyrolyzed under similar conditions. The liquid product from microalgal residue contained more alkane/alkene and less aromatics than that from lignocellulose biomass.