Sukarni Sukarni, Mas Aldi Putra, Poppy Puspitasari, Avita Ayu Permanasari, Samsudin Anis, Anwar Johari
Microalgae Arthrospira platensis (AP) is a unicellula algae with the highest potential as new renewable energy compared to other alternative energy sources. Microalgae biomass can be converted into several valuable energy using different processes. One of the thermochemical conversion processes is combustion. This paper presented the combustion characteristics of Arthrospira platensis-activated carbon (AP/AC) mixture at a mass ratio of 10:1 using the thermogravimetric analysis apparatus. The results were compared to the parent material. The experiment was carried out at a heating rate of 10℃/min with an oxygen flow rate of 100 ml/min and a temperature range of 25-1000 °C. The results showed that thermal degradation of the sample has occurred in three stages, with the main degradation and combustion taking place in the second stage, which was divided into two-phase processes. At the stage of removing water and releasing light volatile (Stage I), the AP completed the process at 160 °C, whereas AP/AC shifted toward a higher temperature around 162 °C; therefore, AC inhibits the water evaporation and light volatile release at this stage. At Stage II, AC acts as the inhibitor to the carbohydrate and protein degradation and combustion, and conversely, it behaves as the accelerator for the decomposition and combustion of lipids. Finally, Stage III showed residual ash of AP/AC less than the individual sample of AP. © 2025 Author(s).
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jl. Semarang No 5, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Center of Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy (CAMRY), Universitas Negeri Malang, Jl. Semarang No 5, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Agro Energy Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Sekaran Gunungpati Semarang, Jawa Tengah, 50229, Indonesia; Centre of Hydrogen Energy, Institute of Future Energy, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Johor, Johor Bahru, 81310, Malaysia
