A comparative study of bio-oils from pyrolysis of microalgae and oil seed waste in a fluidized bed

•Pyrolysis of Scenedesmus and Jatropha waste was compared under similar condition.•Microalgae bio-oil was featured by higher H/C and O/C molar ratios compared to JSC.•Microalgae bio-oil has high fractions of aliphatics, FAAE, alcohols and nitriles.•Microalgae showed potentials for alternative feedstock for green fuel and chemicals. The pyrolysis of Scenedesmus sp. and Jatropha seedshell cake (JSC) was investigated under similar operating condition in a fluidized bed reactor for comparison of pyrolytic behaviors from different species of lipids-containing biomass. Microalgae showed a narrower main peak in differential thermogravimetric curve compared to JSC due to different constituents. Pyrolysis liquid yields were similar; liquid’s oil proportion of microalgae is higher than JSC. Microalgae bio-oil was characterized by similar carbon and hydrogen contents and higher H/C and O/C molar ratios compared to JSC due to compositional difference. The pyrolytic oils from microalgae and JSC contained more oxygen and nitrogen and less sulfur than petroleum and palm oils. The pyrolytic oils showed high yields of fatty oxygenates and nitrogenous compounds. The microalgae bio-oil features in high concentrations of aliphatic compounds, fatty acid alkyl ester, alcohols and nitriles. Microalgae showed potentials for alternative feedstock for green diesel, and commodity and valuable chemicals.