Effective Utilisation of Halophyte Biomass from Saline Soils for Biorefinering Processes.

Aleksandra Wawro,Szymon Rojewski,Weronika Gieparda,Krzysztof Bujnowicz,Jolanta Batog

doi:10.3390/molecules26175393

Aleksandra Wawro, Szymon Rojewski + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26175393

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Abstract

The salinity of European soil is increasing every year, causing severe economic damage (estimated 1–3 million hectares in the enlarged EU). This study uses the biomass of halophytes—tall fescue (grass) and hemp of the Białobrzeskie variety from saline soils—for bioenergy, second generation biofuels and designing new materials—fillers for polymer composites. In the bioethanol obtaining process, in the first stage, the grass and hemp biomass were pretreated with 1.5% NaOH. Before and after the treatment, the chemical composition was determined and the FTIR spectra and SEM pictures were taken. Then, the process of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) was carried out. The concentration of ethanol for both the grass and hemp biomass was approx. 7 g·L−1 (14 g·100 g−1 of raw material). In addition, trials of obtaining green composites with halophyte biomass using polymers (PP) and biopolymers (PLA) as a matrix were performed. The mechanical properties of the composites (tensile and flexural tests) were determined. It was found that the addition of a compatibilizer improved the adhesion at the interface of PP composites with a hemp filler. In conclusion, the grass and hemp biomass were found to be an interesting and promising source to be used for bioethanol and biocomposites production. The use of annually renewable plant biomass from saline soils for biorefinering processes opens up opportunities for the development of a new value chains and new approaches to sustainable agriculture.

Highlights

The dynamic development of economic activities often causes changes in the environment and human life quality
The biomass crushed on a knife mill with a mesh of 2 mm was treated with alkaline
One of the most popular alkaline reagents used in the treatment of raw plant material is sodium hydroxide

Summary

Introduction

The dynamic development of economic activities often causes changes in the environment and human life quality. 40–50 years with unprecedented demands for energy, food, freshwater and a clean environment. Soil salinisation effects are seen as a major cause of desertification and, are a serious form of soil degradation, endangering the potential use of European soils. The contamination of the environment by the excessive salinity of soils may be induced during coastal flooding, by the intensive agriculture practices or under the pressure of climate changes (aridisation phenomena). Such soils have lower or zero suitability for traditional agriculture production, influencing the decline of regional economics [2]

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