Biomass Sources Research Articles

A Review on the Removal of Heavy Metals from Water by Phosphorus-Enriched Biochar

In recent years, the utilization of phosphorus-enriched biochar (PBC) has attracted significant attention due to its exceptional stability and surface reactivity. This review systematically summarizes the advancements in research related to the application of PBC as an adsorbent for remediating water contaminated with heavy metals. Initially, the precursors utilized in the production of PBC, encompassing biomass and phosphorus sources, are introduced. Subsequently, the distinct physicochemical properties and adsorption characteristics resulting from phosphorus doping on the biochar surface through various carbonization processes and parameters are elucidated. Additionally, the diverse adsorption mechanisms employed by PBC in removing heavy metals from water are analyzed. Lastly, future research prospects and associated challenges concerning PBC are presented. This paper aims to furnish comprehensive background information for the practical implementation of PBC in the purification of heavy metal-contaminated water environments.

Chicken egg white as a “greener” biomass source for the rapid synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots

Most of the methodologies reported to fabricate fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) are not fully sustainable. Here, we report the “green” optimization of our base catalysis method; by using chicken egg white powder, we obtained CDs with a 25.6% fluorescence quantum yield in a one-step synthesis that completes in 6 h and do not require any purification. This improved methodology is faster, cheaper and has a better mass and solvents economy, so it is way “greener”. The effect of three hydroxides was studied and z-potential, UV–Vis, fluorescence and FTIR spectroscopies, and TEM were used as characterization techniques.

Leucaena interspecific hybrid 'KX4-Hawaii' as a source of agricultural biomass in a water-scarce small island developing state.

Leucaena leucocephala is a useful multipurpose tree species for agroforestry systems, but traditional seeded cultivars often become weedy and invasive. A seedless hybrid cultivar, 'KX4-Hawaii', offers a potential solution to this problem. However, relevant agronomic information and information on the performance of 'KX4-Hawaii' under varying growth conditions is required. The goal of this research was to evaluate 'KX4-Hawaii' as a source of agricultural biomass in Barbados, a small island developing state with limited arable land. 'KX4-Hawaii' air layers were imported into Barbados to create stock trees. Air layering was used to create propagation material and a field study was established with a 'KX4-Hawaii' hedgerow planted as a field border. Three plant spacings (50, 75, and 100 cm) were evaluated and data on the growth and biomass yields of the trees were collected at 4-month intervals. Precipitation data were used to investigate climatic effects on 'KX4-Hawaii' productivity. 'KX4-Hawaii' was successfully propagated via air layers and could be planted directly in the field with irrigation. All recorded growth and biomass yields were correlated with precipitation. However, the woody (lignified stems and branches) biomass was more responsive to precipitation than the green (leaves and green tender stems) biomass and made up a large fraction of the total biomass produced. 'KX4-Hawaii' was productive even under drought conditions and biomass yields per meter of hedgerow increased with closer spacings. Of the tested spacing treatments, 75 cm was optimum for a 4-month pruning interval under the conditions seen in Barbados as it produced similar yields to the 50 cm spacing treatment but would require less propagation material.

Genetic diversity based on multivariate techniques in elephant grass genotypes for bioenergy.

The use of biomass for energy production constitutes a promising strategy that warrants the search for new sources of biomass. Elephant grass has been gaining notoriety due to its high dry matter yield and rapid growth. The present study was carried out to quantify the genetic divergence of nine elephant grass half-sib families in order to identify genotypes with greater genetic divergence and productive potential for hybridization, using the hierarchical clustering methodology based on principal components. Half-sib families were generated using genotypes from the Active Germplasm Bank of Elephant Grass. The experiment was laid out in a randomized-block design with nine half-sib families, three replicates, and eight plants per plot. A total of 216 genotypes of elephant grass were evaluated. Principal component (PC), biplot, and hierarchical clustering analyses for diversity estimation were conducted using R software. The first two PCs of biplot analysis accounted for 64% of the cumulative variation. Dry matter yield was the most important trait for genotype discrimination (0.89), followed by plant height (0.67) and stem diameter (0.61) in PC1. In this analysis, the distances between accessions were considered and there were no family links, which indicates the existence of wide variability within the evaluated families, since genotypes belonging to the same family were not grouped together, but rather distributed into different groups. Crosses between genotypes of group three and genotypes of groups one and two are recommended for the development of high-yielding genotypes when aiming at energy production.

Characterization of Leucaena leucocephala (Petai Belalang) as an Energy Crop for Power Generation Application

Currently, empty fruit bunch (EFB) is the main biomass source to fuel biomass power plant and as co-firing fuel with coal at the existing coal-fired power plants in Malaysia. However, these power plants frequently face insufficient EFB supply, which may contribute to load losses. Energy crops a new source of biomass, are introduced to replace or substitute the shortage of biomass supply. Planting energy crops worldwide ensures a sufficient and cleaner fuel supply for power generation. Positive characteristics of the energy crop are including calorific value, carbon contents and density. Higher value of these parameters indicating the good quality of the energy crop. While, the negative characteristics of energy crop are including moisture content and ash content. Higher value of these two parameters indicating lower quality of energy crop. One of the studied energy crops was Leucaena leucocephala (Petai Belalang), which showed better quality than EFB, based on calorific value, moisture content, ash content and density. It is naturally grown, typically near rivers in Peninsular Malaysia. Furthermore, it can be easily planted and matures in about six months for harvesting.

Possibility of utilizing waste activated sludge as a renewable energy source

This paper gives results of a study of biofuel granules made from a waste activated sludge of wastewater treatment. A novel method to enhance waste activated sludge dewaterability with untreated and calcined water treatment sludge of thermal power plants is proposed, and the potential reuse of dewatered sludge as biofuel is evaluated. The water treatment sludge destroyed membrane, resulting in the release of intracellular water by converting bound water into free water, thus enhancing sludge dewaterability. Biofuel granules can be used for technological needs, electricity generation and in heating and hot water supply systems at industrial and domestic facilities. Biofuel granule is a renewable energy that can substituted low grade coal from biomass sources.

Investigating the room- and cryo-milling impact in lignocellulosic biomass and its consequence over pyrolysis and oxidative treatments

The lignocellulosic biomass recalcitrance is the uppermost factor for the utilization of this renewable resource. The development of new pre-treatments, addressed to enhance performance in lignocellulosic biomass conversion into biofuels, fine chemicals, and as potential sources of building blocks for materials, must be focus in two main areas: effectiveness (cost-effective and chemical effective) and green chemistry. In this research, a set of different biomass sources (farmer, harvested wild trees and secondary products) were studied to evaluate the high efficiency of the non-liquid nitrogen (LN) and LN-treated biomass samples’ planetary ball milling performance. The samples have been characterized by particle size distribution, thermogravimetric, FT-IR, statistical chemometric and chemical oxidation analysis. The results have shown a high level on the rupture of the crystallinity and depolymerization degrees of the cellulose and the lignin, for both, non-LN and LN-treated samples. The thermogravimetric analysis showed a clear diminishing in temperature degradation, and a larger amount of biomass degraded at lower temperature, as well as, a high chemical oxidation degree than not milled samples. Finally, the LN-treated samples even exhibited a lower degradation temperature, a larger amount of biomass degraded at lower temperature and a higher oxidation degree, than those non-LN milled.

Nanochitin for sustainable and advanced manufacturing.

Presently, the rapid depletion of resources and drastic climate change highlight the importance of sustainable development. In this case, nanochitin derived from chitin, the second most abundant renewable polymer in the world, possesses numerous advantages, including toughness, easy processability and biodegradability. Furthermore, it exhibits better dispersibility in various solvents and higher reactivity than chitin owing to its increased surface area to volume ratio. Additionally, it is the only natural polysaccharide that contains nitrogen. Therefore, it is valuable to further develop this innovative technology. This review summarizes the recent developments in nanochitin and specifically identifies sustainable strategies for its preparation. Additionally, the different biomass sources that can be exploited for the extraction of nanochitin are highlighted. More importantly, the life cycle assessment of nanochitin preparation is discussed, followed by its applications in advanced manufacturing and perspectives on the valorization of chitin waste.

Preparation of Granular Organic Iodine and Selenium Complex Fertilizer Based on Biochar for Biofortification of Parsley.

This study investigates the potential of biochar derived from various biomass sources: apricot kernel (AK), pine sawdust (PS), rice husk (RH), wheat straw (WS), and reed stem (RS) to enhance the yield, nutritional quality, and environmental sustainability of parsley crops. Comprehensive characterization through SEM, EDAX, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, and FTIR analyses identified AK biochar as the most suitable for further enrichment due to its superior specific surface area (512.3 m2/g) and iodine number (51.23 mg/g). EDAX analysis revealed that AK biochar exhibited the highest carbon content (92.1%), while RH biochar contained the highest silicon content (46%), indicating different potential applications. FTIR analysis identified key functional groups, such as carbonyl (1740 cm⁻1) and hydroxyl (3430 cm⁻1) groups, which contribute to the biochar's reactivity and potential effectiveness in various applications. The effects of selenium (Na2SeO4), iodine (KI), their combination (Na2SeO4 + KI), and BISF (biochar-enriched iodine and selenium fertilizer) on parsley growth, antioxidant properties, and nutrient accumulation were evaluated. The results demonstrated that joint applications of iodide and selenate led to a 3.1-fold increase in iodine content (up to 16.8 mg/kg d.w.) and a 1.2-fold increase in selenium accumulation (up to 2482.1 μg/kg d.w.) in parsley compared to separate treatments. Additionally, BISF treatment significantly improved key biometric parameters, with leaf weight increasing by 1.6 times (up to 326.5 g) compared to the control, and antioxidant content-ascorbic acid, polyphenols, and antioxidant activity-showing increases of 1.56, 1.27, and 1.50 times, respectively. This study underscores the effectiveness of selenium- and iodine-enriched biochar in enhancing parsley crop yield and nutritional quality while also demonstrating the multifunctional role of biochar in environmental remediation.

Fuzzy Logic-Based Energy Management in Smart Grids for Renewable Integration

This study presents a novel Fuzzy Logic-Based Energy Management model that aims to optimize the incorporation of renewable energy sources into smart grids. The research used simulated data to evaluate the model’s performance in important metrics, revealing significant improvements in the consumption of renewable energy, stability of the grid, dependability of energy storage, and overall efficiency of the system. The Fuzzy Logic Controller adjusts energy distribution in response to current inputs, leading to a significant 20% improvement in the usage of renewable energy. The capacity to adapt is crucial in dealing with the inherent fluctuation of solar, wind, and biomass sources. The approach greatly improves grid stability, as shown by a 15% decrease in grid frequency variations, highlighting its efficacy in assuring a more regulated and steady electricity supply. Furthermore, the dependability of energy storage systems exhibits a notable 25% enhancement in the state of charge, suggesting optimal cycles of charging and discharging. This increased dependability enhances the stability of the energy supply during times of high demand and variations in the power system. The Fuzzy Logic-Based Energy Management model exhibits a significant 22% improvement in total system efficiency when compared to conventional management systems. This indicator encompasses the model’s combined effect on the usage of renewable energy, the stability of the power grid, and the optimization of energy storage. Comparative analyses conducted against traditional control strategies, such as proportional-integralderivative controllers, consistently demonstrate the superiority of the fuzzy logic approach. This approach results in a 10% decrease in grid frequency deviations, a 15% enhancement in energy storage state of charge, and a 12% boost in overall system efficiency. The resilience of the Fuzzy Logic Controller is highlighted by sensitivity analysis, since it demonstrates consistent performance even when parameters vary significantly. The model’s practical usefulness and adherence to ethical principles are further confirmed by validation using real-world data from operational smart grid installations. This study provides valuable insights, establishing the Fuzzy Logic-Based Energy Management model as an innovative method for addressing the difficulties associated with integrating renewable energy into smart grids. This model promotes a more sustainable and efficient energy environment for the future.

Shaping Sustainable Bioplastics: Illuminating Chlorella sp. Growth with Light Variations and NPK Levels

this study delved into the exploration of a biodegradable alternative to synthetic plastics through the production of biodegradable bioplastics derived from microalgae. The investigation suggests that utilizing <i>Chlorella </i>sp. as a viable source for sustainable biomass in bioplastic creation holds promise due to the convenience of microalgae cultivation and its rapid growth rate. However, the large-scale cultivation of microalgae requires a considerable amount of nutrients, posing challenges to its economic viability. To address this hurdle, it becomes imperative to prioritize the enhancement of growth parameters for microalgae development. This study endeavors to identify the optimal NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) concentration and light spectrum for <i>Chlorella </i>sp. using a cost-effective NPK fertilizer medium. Various combinations of light spectra and NPK levels were examined to optimize growth conditions. Cultures of <i>Chlorella</i> sp. were subjected to red (660 nm), blue (460 nm), and white light (380 ~ 760 nm) which acted as experimental control over a span of 10 days. Among these, blue light yielded the highest optical density at 0.687, while red light exhibited the lowest optical density at 0.349. The findings underscore that the quantity of NPK fertilizer employed as a growth medium correlate directly with the observed cellular growth in <i>Chlorella</i> sp. cultures. The study also encompassed tensile strength and biodegradability assessments to characterize the resulting bioplastics. Tensile tests disclosed that bioplastics synthesized with sorbitol displayed a lower tensile strength of 0.106 MPa, in contrast to bioplastics containing both sorbitol and chitosan, which demonstrated a tensile strength of 0.167 MPa. In conclusion, both the appropriate light wavelengths and NPK nutrients emerge as pivotal factors influencing photosynthesis and the growth of photoautotrophic microalgae. The overarching objective of this research was achieved by successfully producing bioplastics using microalgae biomass residue cultivated under optimized parameters.

Forecasting Electricity Generation from a Renewable and Low‐Carbon Matrix Using the Stochastic Volatility Process

The need to replace nonrenewable sources is a global challenge, especially for emerging countries with financial constraints to invest in energy transition. In Brazil, electrical generation is predominantly renewable, since the hydraulic source is responsible for more than half of the domestic electricity supply. Other alternative sources, such as biomass, solar, and wind, complement the renewable portion of the Brazilian electrical matrix. However, periods of drought and climate disturbances threaten the stability of the electrical system and increase dependence on thermal generation. Based on the global movement to intensify the use of renewable sources, which are volatile and influenced by climate variations, the objective of this research is to predict electricity generation using the Heston model. This model, originally applied to predict option prices, assumes nonconstant volatility and has the ability to estimate the average value including the stochastic volatility process. The database is made up of monthly values of the volume of electrical energy generation from biomass, coal, fuel oil, hydraulic, industrial waste, natural gas, nuclear, solar, and wind sources. Compared to the Black‐Scholes model, the chosen method proved to be superior in predicting the generation from coal, hydropower, and solar energy, according to the MAE, MAPE, and RMSE statistics. We conclude that a financial model can be effectively applied to the energy sector and the Heston model can be a useful instrument to assist in the planning and management of the national electrical system. One suggestion for the Brazilian case is to encourage the use of alternative energies and low‐carbon sources, such as solar, wind, and natural gas, providing greater energy security and a more reliable electrical system.

Thermoelectric Modules: Applications and Opportunities in Building Environments for Sustainable Energy Generation: From Biomass, Municipal Waste, and Other Sources

Thermoelectric Modules: Applications and Opportunities in Building Environments for Sustainable Energy Generation: From Biomass, Municipal Waste, and Other Sources

The Impact of RED III Directive on the Use of Renewable Fuels in Transport on the Example of Estonia

Abstract Over the past two decades, there has been an increasing use of biofuels worldwide, especially in Europe. The main objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), from transportation. The regulation of fuels produced from biomass and other renewable sources at the EU level is primarily governed by the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). As of today, RED III directive has come into effect, significantly altering the EU fuel market by 2030. The main change involves an increase in the share of renewable fuels in transport and the non-use of first-generation fuels. Since all EU member states are obliged to comply with the RED III directive, it is essential to assess the current status of each member state in meeting the requirements for transport fuels. Therefore, the aim of this article is to analyse the impact of the RED III directive on the use of renewable fuels in the transport sector. Specifically, it provides an overview of various RED directives’ requirements, analyses the shares of renewable fuels in fossil diesel in Estonia under different RED III compliance scenarios, and presents an overview of the situation regarding the use of renewable fuels in Estonia. The article is based on a literature review, and fuel share calculations are based on RED III directive calculation methodologies. The results of the study indicate that if the requirement for the share of renewable energy used in transport is 29 %, using only HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) to achieve this goal would require replacing 30.3 % of diesel with HVO. In cases where there is a requirement to reduce the greenhouse gas emission intensity of fuels in the transport sector by at least 14.5 % by 2030, the volumetric share of HVO fuel must meet certain criteria based on the raw material. For example, fuel produced from residues must contain a minimal amount of biocomponents. In this context, biologically derived oil is initially used, such as in food preparation. Subsequently, after its use in food preparation, it is processed into fuel. The article also addresses cases where biogas is introduced as a renewable component in replacing diesel.

Valorisation and Thermal Responsiveness of Lignin from Elaesis guineensis

In recent years, advancement in material technology and a better understanding of material propertiescoupled with the quest for bio-compactible materials has driven research towards valorisation of agro-waste like empty palm fruit bunch (EPFB). Elaesis guineensis was a potential source of biomass and was classified as an environmental pollutant and disposal burden. In this study, the valorisation of Elaesis guineensis and its thermal responsiveness as lignin for use as a filler in polymer composites are examined. Lignin from EPFB was extracted via acid hydrolysis, using Di ethyl ether ((C2H5)2O) and HCl as the pretreatment solvent. The thermal stability, crystallinity, heat flow, chemical composition, and functional group of the extracted lignin were studied for treated and untreated EPFB samples using techniques like; Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), X- ray diffrraction (XRD), X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The percent yield of 23% obtained in this work is within the range specified in literature (20.1-23.8%) using sodium hydroxide(NaOH) and calcium hydroxide (Ca (OH)2) for alkali treatment. Results of the FTIR analysis of all samples in reference to the wave numbers of lignin are in good agreement with those stated in the literature. The stretching patterns alsoindicate the presence of compounds like phenols, hydroxides, and methyl groups, which are characteristics of lignin compounds. By comparing with the cellulose standard available in the database of the XRD system, two main peaks were observed from the XRD patterns at 2θ = 22.3 and 2θ = 26.7 representing peak 002 for hemicellulose and 011 for lignin, respectively corresponding to the amorphous region of hemicellulose and lignin while peaks I002 represent the crystalline region of cellulose. From the study, it was inferred that the thermal stability of extracted lignin with a Tg of 400C is higher compared to the samples treated with di ethyl ether and untreated EPFB having a Tg of 200C. The extracted lignin has a maximum decomposition temperature of 400oC, which makes it suitable as a filler in polymer composites.

Pregled proizvodnje biodizela transesterifikacijom esterifikovanog ulja Carica Papaia (CSO)

As a result of global urbanization and modernization, the use of petroleum (fossil fuel) is on the increase and there are growing concerns among stakeholders in the oil and gas industry over the depletion rate of petroleum reserves and its rising cost. The conversion of readily available sources of biomass to produce different types of biofuels to address the future energy crisis is one of the preferred attractive choices. Biodiesel is generally produced by the transesterification reaction of vegetable oils, waste vegetable oil or animal fats in the presence of a suitable catalyst. The choice of biodiesel as a preferred renewable source of energy was based on its biodegradability, non-toxic, lower emissions, sulphur free, low levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their nitrated compounds. This alternative source of energy is environmentally friendly and could be used in the existing diesel engines with little or no modifications. This will reduce the world's dependence on fossil fuels that are non-renewable with the attendant environmental benefits to mankind. However, the use of these edible vegetable oils will put pressure on the food uses of such oil which will result to fuel-food crisis in the future. This impending crisis can be readily averted by exploring non-edible crops/agricultural waste biomass that can be grown or harnessed domestically and capable of producing oils as valuable raw materials for the emerging industry. A free fatty acid (FFA) lower than 3% is necessary to carry out the base catalysed reaction to end. For biodiesel production, the higher the acid value of the oil, the lesser the conversion efficiency hence the need for esterification process. Papaya seed contains 27.3% to 28.3% protein, 28.2% to 30.7% lipids, and 19.1% to 22.6% crude fibers, it is not economically used. The majority of seeds are produced as residues and discarded as agricultural waste during fruit processing, generating environmental issues. Oil is abundant in papaya seeds (13.9% to 40.0%), which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and beneficial phytochemicals as tocopherol, carotene, and phenolics. This provides information on how to reduce pollution and make waste seeds lucrative. As a result, the CPSO is receiving an increasing amount of attention.

Variations in Chlorella lipid content in commercial and in-lab produced biomass

Microalgae appear as a sustainable source of biomass with relevant nutritional qualities. Still, regulatory restrictions currently limit the use of eukaryotic microalgae for human consumption to a short list of species dominated by Chlorella spp. Chlorella biomass contains valuable proteins but also interesting lipids, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ω3 and ω6. The amount of PUFA and the ω6/ω3 ratio vary significantly depending on the species and cultivation trophic mode. While the lipid profils of in-lab produced Chlorella has been widely studied, the variability of lipid content in commercial biomasses is barely described. Here, lipid classes and fatty acid profiles of six commercial biomasses of Chlorella spp. as well as those of lab-produced C. sorokiniana grown in photo-autotrophy and in four mixotrophy conditions were characterized. Results showed significant lipid composition variations between the biomasses, such as the triacylglycerols/glycolipids and ω6/ω3 contents. The ω6/ω3 ratios were lower in photo-autotrophic mode (2.5) while they ranged between 1.3 and 8.9 in commercial biomasses. The free fatty acids level was also variable (1.4% to 17.9% of total lipids). As a consequence, Chlorella lipid content and quality differed significantly, impacting the potential nutritional benefits of the consumption of commercial biomass. Processing and post-processing conditions should therefore be carefully controlled to optimize lipid profiles.

Data Centre Refurbishment with the aim of Energy Saving and Achieving Carbon Net Zero

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) as part of the refurbishment of one of its’s data centres will install water to water heat pumps to use the heat produced by the computing servers to provide heat for the university via a district heating system. This will reduce the use of high carbon intensity natural gas heating boilers, replacing them with electricity which has a lower carbon intensity due to the contribution from wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear and biomass sources of power sources. The QMUL GridPP cluster today provides 15PB of storage and over 20K jobs slots mainly devoted to the ATLAS experiment. The data centre that houses the QMUL GridPP cluster, was originally commissioned in 2004. By 2020 it was in significant need of refurbishment. The original design had a maximum power capacity of 200KW, no hot/cold aisle containment, down flow air conditioning units using refrigerant cooling and no raised floor or ceiling plenum. The main requirements of the refurbishment are: To significantly improve the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon usage of the University; Improve the availability and reliability of the power and cooling; Increase the capacity of the facility to provide for future expansion; Provide a long term home for the GridPP cluster to support the computing needs of the LHC and other new large science experiments (SKA/LSST) into the next decade. After taking into account the future requirements and likely funding allocation, floor space in the data centre and the space available to house the cooling equipment the following design was chosen: A total power capacity of 390KW with redundant feeds to each rack; 39 racks with an average of 10KW of power per rack (flexible up to 20KW); An enclosed hot aisle design with in row cooling units using water cooling; water to water heat pumps connected to the universities district heating system An overview of the project, it’s status and expected benefits in power and carbon saving are presented.

Characterization of sago tree parts from Sentani, Papua, Indonesia for biomass energy utilization

Biomass derived from organic waste in industrial processes is an effective method to mitigate the negative impacts of agricultural waste materials. In Sentani, Papua, one such potential biomass source is sago tree waste. This study characterized the waste from the bark, middle, and inner parts of the sago tree to evaluate its biomass energy potential. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis of the complete sample revealed that oxygen, carbon, and silicon were the primary elements, with carbon content ranging from 30.75 % to 38.87 %. This indicates that all parts of the sago plant have the potential to be used as biomass fuel. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that the inner section of the sago had the lowest moisture content at approximately 13.3 %, followed by the outer part at 42 % and the bark at 55 %. The inner section had the highest lignin content, approximately 37 %, and exhibited the slowest thermal degradation in the differential thermal analysis (DTA) profile. The outer and bark parts of the sago were more reactive in stage II of the DTA profile, suggesting a higher concentration of cellulose and hemicellulose compared to lignin, making them suitable for gasification and pyrolysis. The heating value of sago bark was determined to be 12.85 MJ/kg (adb). These findings underscore the potential of sago waste as a renewable energy source, particularly in remote areas.

Improved voltammetric discrimination of acetaminophen and uric acid in urine using CoO biochar nanocomposite

Elaeagnus angustifolia gum offers a good polysaccharide biomass source for producing porous biochar. The incorporation of CoO cracked nanoplate and the biochar gave a promising application in analysis of clinical urine.