Agricultural Biomass Research Articles

Biopolymers to composite adsorbents for sulfate removal: From conventional to sustainable systems.

Biopolymers to composite adsorbents for sulfate removal: From conventional to sustainable systems.

Sustainable enhancement of biochar and biochar composite properties through temperature-controlled pyrolysis of agricultural biomass and marble waste.

Sustainable enhancement of biochar and biochar composite properties through temperature-controlled pyrolysis of agricultural biomass and marble waste.

Utilizing calcined agricultural biomass for the geopolymer stabilization of demolition wastes

Utilizing calcined agricultural biomass for the geopolymer stabilization of demolition wastes

Provincial assessment of agricultural biomass residues for renewable energy in Italy

Provincial assessment of agricultural biomass residues for renewable energy in Italy

Depolymerization and demethylation of lignin for sustainable coloration and functionalization of silk fabric.

Depolymerization and demethylation of lignin for sustainable coloration and functionalization of silk fabric.

Optimization of agricultural biomass Supply: Dual reduction of cost and carbon emissions based on multi-objective arithmetic optimization algorithm

Optimization of agricultural biomass Supply: Dual reduction of cost and carbon emissions based on multi-objective arithmetic optimization algorithm

Corrigendum to “Thermochemical and physical characterization of agricultural biomass for sustainable energy in Bangladesh” Energy Rep. 12 (2024) 5758–5768

Corrigendum to “Thermochemical and physical characterization of agricultural biomass for sustainable energy in Bangladesh” Energy Rep. 12 (2024) 5758–5768

Self-Assembly Fabrication of Agricultural Biomass with Sewage Sludge Toward Dual Heteroatoms Doped Supercapacitor

Self-Assembly Fabrication of Agricultural Biomass with Sewage Sludge Toward Dual Heteroatoms Doped Supercapacitor

UTILIZATION OF CORN BIOMASS WASTEFOR ADSORPTION OF METAL IONS: ASUGESTAIBLE APPROACH FOR WATER DECONTAMINATIO

Adsorption is a flexible and effective technique that is used to remove pollutants from contaminated water. Agricultural waste and biomass have drawn interest among the many materials being investigated for this purpose because of their efficacy, sustainability, and accessibility. After rice and wheat, corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most extensively grown crops worldwide. Corn generates a lot of agricultural waste in addition to its important uses as food, animal feed, and a raw material for industry. Despite being frequently seen as a byproduct, this trash is a valuable resource because of its quantity and distinct chemical makeup. Both raw and processed maize biomass has significant potential as an adsorbent for eliminating toxic materials from water. In order to improve adsorption characteristic, corn waste can be converted into a material with improved adsorption capacities through chemically modification, carbonization, and composite forms. Each of these forms has unique benefits. It has been demonstrated that these adsorbents are efficient at removal of different pollutants from contaminated water, especially metal ions. Furthermore, use maize biomass to treat water is consistent with green chemistry and the circular economy, which support environmentally friendly and sustainable waste management methods. The many adsorbent forms made from maize biomass are thoroughly examined in this review, with an emphasis on their adsorption mechanisms, including chemisorption, surface adsorption, and ion exchange. Additionally, the report highlights the expanding relevance of corn waste and offers future research options while discussing the most recent findings in the sector.

N-S Co-Doped WC Nanoparticles Show High Catalytic Activity in Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

In the “dual carbon” objective, the preparation of non-precious metal catalysts with low cost and high activity is essential for the study of hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs). This study employed biomass pomelo peel powder as the carbon source and ammonium metatungstate (AMT) as the tungsten source and, through a facile one-step method in molten salt, fabricated a biomass carbon-based nanocatalyst featuring carbon flakes adorned with tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticles. Dicyandiamide and cysteine were introduced as nitrogen and sulfur sources, respectively, to explore the impacts of N-S elemental doping on the structure, composition, and HER performance of the WC/C catalyst. The experimental results showed that N-S doping changed the electronic structure of WC and increased the electrochemically active surface area, resulting in a significant increase in the HER activity of WC/C@N-S catalysts. The WC/C@N-S catalyst was evaluated with hydrogen evolution performance in a 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 solution. When the cathodic current density reached 10 mA/cm2, the overpotential was 158 mV, and the Tafel slope was 68 mV/dec, underscoring its excellent HER performance. The outcomes offer novel insights into the high-value utilization of agricultural biomass resources, and pave the way for the development of cost-effective, innovative hydrogen evolution catalysts.

Six footprints to monitor the bioeconomy into a safe and just future

Environmental footprints should play a key role in monitoring the bioeconomy. They can capture environmental pressures and impacts of biomass production and extraction, as well as provide comparable per capita values disclosing how biomass use is distributed globally. As such, footprints could help ensure a sustainable transition and implementation of the bioeconomy. To develop national bioeconomy monitoring systems, we suggest six specific indicators and revise the state-of-art as regards their methodological development, as well as assess their applicability and feasibility for contributing to a systemic monitoring. Drawing on several years of collaborations between researchers from the different footprint domains, we introduce an integrated modelling approach to link global trade models for national footprint accounting with spatially specific impact assessments of terrestrial biomass production. The integrated approach captures all six indicators as it combines pressure indicators (forest- and agricultural biomass, agricultural land use and greenhouse gas emissions) and spatially specific impact indicators (water scarcity and biodiversity). This comprehensive and manageable set of footprint indicators addresses the main sustainability challenges of the bioeconomy developments.

Process Engineering for Sustainable Bioplastic Production Using Bacillus cereus ARD-03 and Agricultural Biomass

Process Engineering for Sustainable Bioplastic Production Using Bacillus cereus ARD-03 and Agricultural Biomass

Functional properties of biorefined lignin microfillers for enhancing biodegradable materials

AbstractThe growing demand for sustainable bioproducts in industrial applications highlights the need to utilize agricultural biomass for sustainability. This study developed green biocomposites by incorporating lignin particles (LPs), extracted from the black liquor of palm shell waste, into a poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) matrix reinforced with nonwoven kenaf bast fiber mats. The reinforced biocompatible PHBV polymer was further strengthened by adding LPs at concentrations of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%. The biocomposites were fabricated using hot compression molding and were evaluated systematically for water‐barrier, mechanical, morphological, functional, and thermal properties. A single‐factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical analysis. The results demonstrated a 28% increase in tensile strength and a 15% increase in flexural strength at 5 wt% LP loading. Water absorption was reduced by 23% at the highest filler concentration, indicating enhanced water‐barrier properties. Improved interfacial bonding between LPs and the PHBV/kenaf fiber matrix was confirmed through morphological analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the presence of strong interactions between the components. However, thermal stability decreased slightly with LP incorporation, and mechanical performance declined at 7 wt% due to particle agglomeration. Overall, optimal performance was achieved at 5 wt% LP loading, highlighting the potential of PHBV/kenaf/LP biocomposites as sustainable materials for environmentally friendly applications, particularly in packaging, addressing critical environmental and human health concerns.

Wet torrefaction of Indonesian agricultural waste biomass: product evaluation and analysis of slagging-fouling potential

Abstract The agricultural waste biomass holds potential as a valuable resource, capable of being converted into high-grade solid fuel for energy production. Despite the ample availability of rice straw and palm oil empty fruit bunch stock, challenges persist with biomass feedstock, such as low calorific values and high slagging-fouling potency. The wet torrefaction process, known as hydrothermal torrefaction, enhances agricultural waste biomass into solid fuel comparable to lignite and sub-bituminous coal. The study investigates the slagging-fouling potential of raw agriculture biomass waste and wet torrefaction-treated variants, evaluating sample characteristics through proximate, ultimate, and calorific value analyses. This study also investigates the potential of the wet torrefaction process as a pre-treatment in multi-process conversion. The moisture content of the wet torrefaction biomass decreased slightly, and the calorific value of the wet torrefaction biomass samples was higher than that of the raw biomass. The result of rice straw wet torrefaction at 240°C was a gross calorific value of 16.29 MJ/kg, equivalent to lignite A, with slagging potential decreased from 0.021 (low) to 0.011 (low), and the fouling potential from 0.921 (medium) to 0.322 (low). The result of palm oil empty fruit bunches, wet torrefaction at 240°C achieved the highest gross calorific value of 20.38 MJ/kg, equivalent to sub-bituminous C coal, with slagging potential reduced from 0.076 (low) to 0.031 (low) and fouling potential reduced from 74.84 (high) to 20.27 (medium). Wet torrefaction shows potential as a pre-treatment for multi-process conversion. Future studies should consider sequential torrefaction (wet and dry methods) that could leverage the advantages of each, reducing slagging and fouling potential while increasing the calorific value.

One-pot catalytic isolation of cellulose nanocrystals from agricultural biomass - Oat hull, wheat straw, and flax straw: Physicochemical characterization.

One-pot catalytic isolation of cellulose nanocrystals from agricultural biomass - Oat hull, wheat straw, and flax straw: Physicochemical characterization.

Biodegradable, water-resistant, smart cellulose-based drinking straws from agricultural biomass with detection of adulterants in beverages.

Biodegradable, water-resistant, smart cellulose-based drinking straws from agricultural biomass with detection of adulterants in beverages.

Lignin-polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate(PBAT)-starch@urea bilayer nanohybrid biocomposite enable superior controlled slow-released fertilizer with good water-retention.

Lignin-polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate(PBAT)-starch@urea bilayer nanohybrid biocomposite enable superior controlled slow-released fertilizer with good water-retention.

Eco-friendly aqueous binder derived from waste ramie for high-performance Li-S battery

Eco-friendly aqueous binder derived from waste ramie for high-performance Li-S battery

A novel GH11 β-1,4-xylanase from Fusarium verticillioides: Its eukaryotic expression, biochemical characterization and synergistic effect with cellulase on lignocellulosic biomass degradation.

A novel GH11 β-1,4-xylanase from Fusarium verticillioides: Its eukaryotic expression, biochemical characterization and synergistic effect with cellulase on lignocellulosic biomass degradation.

Modeling and optimization of methanol production from Ghanaian biomass wastes using Aspen Plus

This study explores the possibility of producing methanol from Ghanaian agricultural waste biomass, such as rice husk, sawdust, and cocoa pod husk, by employing Aspen Plus simulation and response surface methodology (RSM) as optimization methods. The process is modeled in Aspen Plus using the RPlug reactor model to simulate the reaction kinetics and optimize production factors. Among these, the major factors investigated included the steam-to-biomass ratio (SBR), the gasification temperature, and the reactor temperature for the purpose of optimizing methanol production through response surface methodology. According to this study, the ideal process parameters of SBR at 0.6039, gasification temperature set to 1000 °C, and reactor temperature maintained at 296.97 °C result in a methanol rate of 14,731 kg/h, corresponding to 78% yield. The simulation was validated against experimental data, revealing its high accuracy, with an R² value of 91.53%, and affirming the practical viability of the model. The economic assessment showed methanol production costs reaching USD 200 per tonne, whereas import prices remained at USD 850 per tonne, which demonstrates the clear financial benefits of local production. The proposed production method generates annual net profits of USD 2.23 million and establishes an investment return of 30%. This study demonstrates that agricultural waste can serve as an eco-friendly methanol production material while helping Ghana improve waste management and achieve energy independence and environmental sustainability. These discoveries lay the groundwork for large-scale methanol production in Ghana, utilizing local biomass resources to enhance the country’s renewable energy strategy, decrease its reliance on imported fuels, and support a circular economy. However, there are still challenges, like fluctuations in biomass characteristics, the high energy consumption of the gasification process, and the integration of a cost-effective catalyst in the methanol reactor. Exploring catalytic enhancements and integrating optimization strategies in future work could further enhance process efficiency.