FURI | Spring 2023

Investigating HTL Decomposition of Microplastics in Soil

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Fossil fuels are the most common source for energy. However, fossil fuels are not sustainable. As such, the purpose of this research is to develop an alternative fuel source that can be derived from sustainable materials. Sewage sludge can undergo hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) to produce crude oil, char, and a gas phase. The biofuel can then be further analyzed to determine several parameters, including the efficiency, the energy content of the biofuel, and the most effective operating conditions of HTL.

Student researcher

Abel Zambrano Ortega

Chemical engineering

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Graduation date: Spring 2024