LAUSR

This paper investigates the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) for quantitative analysis of bio-crudes from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of biomass. HTL is a versatile process rendering virtually all biomasses suitable for conversion into bio-crude and side-streams. However, continuous processes require rapid analytical methods applicable to highly diverse bio-crudes. Bio-crudes were obtained from two different continuous HTL reactors (lab scale and pilot scale) and in some cases with recirculation of water. The bio-crudes originated from a diverse range of feedstocks including lignocellulosics (pine, Miscanthus), microalgae (Spirulina, Chlorella vulgaris), and residues (sludge, dried distiller grains with solubles). Quantitative analysis of water content, total acid number, and total content of phenolics was performed using FT-IR. Principal component analysis indicated a potential correlation between quantitative measurements and FT-IR. Partial least-squares regression was used to ...