Efficient Ethanol Research Articles

The d-p orbital hybridization engineered RhPb bimetallene for efficient ethanol electrooxidation

The d-p orbital hybridization engineered RhPb bimetallene for efficient ethanol electrooxidation

Template-directed synthesis of one-dimensional hexagonal PdTe nanowires for efficient ethanol electrooxidation.

A template-directed synthesis of one-dimensional hexagonal PdTe nanowires using Te nanowires as a template through a two-step hydrothermal process is developed, which exhibit excellent mass activity of 4.4 A mgPd-1 for ethanol electrooxidation in an alkaline medium. This work enriches the controlled synthesis of one-dimensional noble metal chalcogenide nanomaterials.

Synthesis of alumina/ferric oxide nanofibers and application to catalysts for ethanol dehydration reaction by adding palladium oxide

AbstractAlumina/ferric oxide (Al₂O₃/Fe₂O₃) composite nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning followed by heat treatment. Structural characterization revealed mesoporous morphology with high porosity and surface area and uniform dispersion of catalytically active Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. Catalytic evaluation for ethanol dehydration demonstrated superior performance for nanofibers containing 5 wt% Fe₂O₃, attributed to their unique structural features. Further enhancement was achieved by incorporating palladium oxide (PdO), resulting in improved catalytic activity, particularly in ethylene productivity. Surface acid properties were altered with PdO addition, suggesting a role of Lewis acid sites in augmenting catalytic performance. The developed PdO/Al₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ nanofibers exhibit stable performance over multiple cycles, offering promising prospects for efficient ethanol dehydration catalysts.

OH Regulator of Amorphous CrOx on Defect-Rich Ultrafine Pd Nanowires Boosts Electrocatalytic Ethanol Oxidation.

Reasonable construction of high activity and selectivity electrocatalysts is crucial to achieve efficient ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). However, the oxidation of ethanol tends to produce CO species that poison the active centers of the EOR electrocatalysts. Herein, a unique amorphous CrOx-protected defect-rich ultrafine Pd nanowires (CrOx-Pd NWs) is developed. On the one hand, the CrOx layer can act as a protective layer to maintain the structure of the nanowire. On the other hand, it can play the role of OH regulator to optimize the adsorption energy barrier of intermediate species in Pd nanowire, thereby enhancing the ability of the catalyst to resist CO poisoning. The CrOx-Pd NWs exhibit excellent EOR performance with 3.64 times higher mass activity and 50mV lower CO electro-oxidation potential than commercial Pd black. The results show that the CrOx layer promotes the dissociation of H2O into OHads, while the CrOx transfers electrons to neighboring Pd atoms optimizing the electronic configuration of Pd, thus selectively oxidizing ethanol to acetate and preventing the formation of toxic *CO. This work provides an effective strategy for the synthesis of nanowire materials with oxide/metal interfaces and offers new ideas for the design of catalysts that can efficiently drive EOR.

Evaluation of a phenolic-tolerant Wickerhamomyces anomalus strain for efficient ethanol production based on omics analysis

Lignocellulosic biomass is a highly economically viable substrate for ethanol fermentation, but the presence of phenolic compounds (PCs) in lignocellulosic hydrolysates severely hinders the growth of ethanologenic strains. This study aims to investigate the ethanol fermentation capabilities and PC tolerance of the newly isolated Wickerhamomyces anomalus CAP5. The strain demonstrated remarkable ethanol production, achieving 87.1 g/L with a yield of 0.47 g/g, exceeding 90 % of the theoretical maximum. To elucidate the mechanisms responsible for this high ethanol yield, comprehensive genome and transcriptome analyses were performed. These analyses identified key metabolic pathways, including acetate reabsorption and an incomplete glycerol synthesis pathway, as crucial factors contributing to the strain's superior performance. Moreover, W. anomalus CAP5 demonstrated notable resistance to PCs, particularly phenolic acids. In fermenting with coffee husk hydrolysate (CHH), which is rich in PCs, W. anomalus CAP5 achieved noteworthy ethanol production of 60.5 g/L, marking a record for ethanol production from CHH. Hence, W. anomalus CAP5 emerges as a promising strain for effective ethanol production from lignocellulosic hydrolysates enriched with PCs.

Catalyst and microenvironment design for more efficient ethanol electrosynthesis

Catalyst and microenvironment design for more efficient ethanol electrosynthesis

ZnSnO3 micro-polyhedrons with oxygen defects derived from rubidium incorporation for enhanced ethanol detection

Detecting ethanol in ambient air is of great significance in protection of ecological environment, human health and social economy. Herein, a strategy is adopted to substantially improve the gas sensing performance of the ZnSnO3 micro-polyhedrons through rubidium (Rb) doping. In this study, a series of ZnSnO3 micro-polyhedrons with different amounts of Rb doping were successfully synthesized through a typical hydrothermal procedure and air sintering. The sensor based on 2 mol% Rb-doped ZnSnO3 exhibits high response value (108) and rapid response/recover speed (20/8 s) to 100 ppm ethanol at 260 °C, as well as outstanding repeatability and stability. Combining theoretical calculations and various characterization techniques, the improved sensing property of the 2 mol% Rb-doped ZnSnO3 to ethanol gas can be ascribed to the large specific surface area and the abundant surface defects induced by Rb incorporation. We believe that this study opens up a new perspective for developing efficient and high-performance ethanol gas sensor.

Enhanced ethanol response, selectivity, and stability of ZIF-67-derived ZnO/Co3O4 bimetallic oxide composites

This study aims to develop an efficient, stable, highly humidity-resistant, and selective ethanol sensing material. In this study, ZIF-67-derived ZnO/Co3O4 bimetallic oxide composite materials were synthesized via a co-precipitation method followed by a one-pot hydrothermal reaction. Different mass ratios (10 %, 30 %, 50 %) of ZIF-67-Derived ZnO/Co3O4 composite materials were obtained by varying the mass of Co3O4. The ethanol sensing performance of these composite materials were investigated. Results demonstrated that the ZnO/Co3O4-ZIF30 % sensor exhibited a response value of 42.3 for 50 ppm ethanol at 240 °C, with response and recovery times of 50 s and 200 s, respectively. Furthermore, the ZnO/Co3O4-ZIF30 % sensor showed almost no change in response value as humidity increased from 30 % RH to 80 % RH, indicating remarkably high humidity resistance. Additionally, ZnO/Co3O4-ZIF30 % exhibited high selectivity for ethanol. Consequently, the ZnO/Co3O4-ZIF30 % material demonstrated superior ethanol sensing performance. Finally, the multiple gas sensing mechanisms of ZIF-67-derived ZnO/Co3O4 composites were carefully investigated. In conclusion, the ZnO/Co3O4-ZIF30 % material demonstrated outstanding ethanol sensing performance, indicating its significant potential for practical applications.

Ethanol synthesis via catalytic CO2 hydrogenation over multi-elemental KFeCuZn/ZrO2 catalyst.

Technological enablers that use CO2 as a feedstock to create value-added chemicals, including ethanol, have gained widespread appeal. They offer a potential solution to climate change and promote the development of a circular economy. However, the conversion of CO2 to ethanol poses significant challenges, not only because CO2 is a thermodynamically stable and chemically inert molecule but also because of the complexity of the reaction routes and uncontrollability of C-C coupling. In this study, we developed an efficient catalyst, K-Fe-Cu-Zn/ZrO2 (KFeCuZn/ZrO2), which enhances the EtOH space time yield (STYEtOH) to 5.4 mmol gcat -1 h-1, under optimized conditions (360 °C, 4 MPa, and 12 L gcat -1 h-1). Furthermore, we investigated the roles of each constituent element using in situ/operando spectroscopy such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). These results demonstrate that all components are necessary for efficient ethanol synthesis.

Tailored PEO synthesis and in-situ ATR-FTIR study of PtSnO2/Nb coral-like structures for application in ethanol electrooxidation

Coupling the electrooxidation of organic compounds (EOO) with hydrogen evolution can be a sustainable way for green hydrogen production, and therefore it’s of great interest to the development of suitable electrocatalysts for efficient EOO. In this study, we present the successful solvothermal synthesis of a Pt-based electrocatalyst for an ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR), using a coral-like structure as substrate which was prepared by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on a metallic niobium. Chemical analysis revealed the predominance of SnO2 in the PEO structure, while Pt doping demonstrated selectivity on the surface of the electrocatalyst. Cyclic voltammograms indicate a high electrochemically active surface area (122.45 m² gPt−1), with an onset potential of 0.27 V vs. SHE. In-situ spectroelectrochemical analysis confirm the efficient ethanol electrooxidation with remarkable selectivity in C-C bond cleavage. The prepared electrocatalyst stands out as a promising contribution to advances in green hydrogen production by coupling EOR with hydrogen evolution.

Upcycling CO2 into succinic acid via electrochemical and engineered Escherichia coli

Converting CO2 into value-added chemicals still remains a grand challenge. Succinic acid has long been considered as one of the top building block chemicals. This study reported efficiently upcycling CO2 into succinic acid by combining between electrochemical and engineered Escherichia coli. In this process, the Cu-organic framework catalyst was synthesized for electrocatalytic CO2-to-ethanol conversion with high Faradaic efficiency (FE, 84.7 %) and relative purity (RP, 95 wt%). Subsequently, an engineered E. coli with efficiently assimilating CO2-derived ethanol to produce succinic acid was constructed by combining computational design and metabolic engineering, and the succinic acid titer reached 53.8 mM with the yield of 0.41 mol/mol, which is 82 % of the theoretical yield. This study effort to link the two processes of efficient ethanol synthesis by electrocatalytic CO2 and succinic acid production from CO2-derived ethanol, paving a way for the production of succinic acid and other value-added chemicals by converting CO2 into ethanol.

Key role of K+ and Ca2+ in high-yield ethanol production by S. Cerevisiae from concentrated sugarcane molasses

BackgroundSaccharomyces cerevisiae is an important microorganism in ethanol synthesis, and with sugarcane molasses as the feedstock, ethanol is being synthesized sustainably to meet growing demands. However, high-concentration ethanol fermentation based on high-concentration sugarcane molasses—which is needed for reduced energy consumption of ethanol distillation at industrial scale—is yet to be achieved.ResultsIn the present study, to identify the main limiting factors of this process, adaptive laboratory evolution and high-throughput screening (Py-Fe3+) based on ARTP (atmospheric and room-temperature plasma) mutagenesis were applied. We identified high osmotic pressure, high temperature, high alcohol levels, and high concentrations of K+, Ca2+, K+ and Ca2+ (K+&Ca2+), and sugarcane molasses as the main limiting factors. The robust S. cerevisiae strains of NGT-F1, NGW-F1, NGC-F1, NGK+, NGCa2+ NGK+&Ca2+-F1, and NGTM-F1 exhibited high tolerance to the respective limiting factor and exhibited increased yield. Subsequently, ethanol synthesis, cell morphology, comparative genomics, and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were performed in a molasses broth containing 250 g/L total fermentable sugars (TFS). Additionally, S. cerevisiae NGTM-F1 was used with 250 g/L (TFS) sugarcane molasses to synthesize ethanol in a 5-L fermenter, giving a yield of 111.65 g/L, the conversion of sugar to alcohol reached 95.53%. It is the highest level of physical mutagenesis yield at present.ConclusionOur results showed that K+ and Ca2+ ions primarily limited the efficient production of ethanol. Then, subsequent comparative transcriptomic GO and pathway analyses showed that the co-presence of K+ and Ca2+ exerted the most prominent limitation on efficient ethanol production. The results of this study might prove useful by promoting the development and utilization of green fuel bio-manufactured from molasses.

Acetic acid- and furfural-based adaptive evolution of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains for improving stress tolerance and lignocellulosic ethanol production

Acetic acid and furfural are known as prevalent inhibitors deriving from pretreatment during lignocellulosic ethanol production. They negatively impact cell growth, glucose uptake and ethanol biosynthesis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. Development of industrial S. cerevisiae strains with high tolerance towards these inhibitors is thus critical for efficient lignocellulosic ethanol production. In this study, the acetic acid or furfural tolerance of different S. cerevisiae strains could be significantly enhanced after adaptive evolution via serial cultivation for 40 generations under stress conditions. The acetic acid-based adaptive strain SPSC01-TA9 produced 30.5 g·L–1 ethanol with a yield of 0.46 g·g–1 in the presence of 9 g·L–1 acetic acid, while the acetic acid/furfural-based adaptive strain SPSC01-TAF94 produced more ethanol of 36.2 g·L–1 with increased yield up to 0. 49 g·g–1 in the presence of both 9 g·L–1 acetic acid and 4 g·L–1 furfural. Significant improvements were also observed during non-detoxified corn stover hydrolysate culture by SPSC01-TAF94, which achieved ethanol production and yield of 29.1 g·L–1 and 0.49 g·g–1, respectively, the growth and fermentation efficiency of acetic acid/furfural-based adaptive strain in hydrolysate was 95% higher than those of wildtype strains, indicating the acetic acid- and furfural-based adaptive evolution strategy could be an effective approach for improving lignocellulosic ethanol production. The adapted strains developed in this study with enhanced tolerance against acetic acid and furfural could be potentially contribute to economically feasible and sustainable lignocellulosic biorefinery.

Chiral-induced synthesis of chiral covalent organic frameworks core-shell microspheres for HPLC enantioseparation.

Twochiral covalent organic frameworks (CCOFs) core-shell microspheres based on achiral organic precursors by chiral-induced synthesis strategy for HPLC enantioseparationare reported for the first time. Using n-hexane/isopropanol as mobile phase, various kinds of racemates were selected as analytes and separated on the CCOF-TpPa-1@SiO2 and CCOF-TpBD@SiO2-packed columns with a low column backpressure (3 ~ 9bar). The fabricated two CCOFs@SiO2 chiral columns exhibited good separation performance towards various racemates with high column efficiency (e.g., 19,500 plates m-1 for (4-fluorophenyl)ethanol and 18,900 plates m-1 for 1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanol) and good reproducibility. Some effects have been investigated such as the analyte mass and column temperature on the HPLC enantioseparation. Moreover, the chiral separation results of the CCOF-TpPa-1@SiO2 chiral column and the commercialized Chiralpak AD-H column show a good complementarity. This study demonstrates that the usage of chiral-induced synthesis strategy for preparing CCOFs core-shell microspheres as a novel stationary phase has a good application potential in HPLC.

Laser Irradiation Synthesis of AuPd Alloy with Decreased Alloying Degree for Efficient Ethanol Oxidation Reaction.

The preparation of electrocatalysts with high performance for the ethanol oxidation reaction is vital for the large-scale commercialization of direct ethanol fuel cells. Here, we successfully synthesized a high-performance electrocatalyst of a AuPd alloy with a decreased alloying degree via pulsed laser irradiation in liquids. As indicated by the experimental results, the photochemical effect-induced surficial deposition of Pd atoms, combined with the photothermal effect-induced interdiffusion of Au and Pd atoms, resulted in the formation of AuPd alloys with a decreased alloying degree. Structural characterization reveals that L-AuPd exhibits a lower degree of alloying compared to C-AuPd prepared via the conventional co-reduction method. This distinct structure endows L-AuPd with outstanding catalytic activity and stability in EOR, achieving mass and specific activities as high as 16.01 A mgPd-1 and 20.69 mA cm-2, 9.1 and 5.2 times than that of the commercial Pd/C respectively. Furthermore, L-AuPd retains 90.1% of its initial mass activity after 300 cycles. This work offers guidance for laser-assisted fabrication of efficient Pd-based catalysts in EOR.

Electron Beam on Fermentation Medium as an Alternative Disinfection Method for Ethanol Distilleries: A Comprehensive Review

Corn and sugarcane are the primary feedstocks for ethanol production, but microbial contamination hinders yeast fermentation efficiency. Current control methods include antibiotics and sulfuric acid, but they have limitations, resulting in dependence on external inputs and the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This review examines electron beam technology as an industrial-scale disinfection solution for both corn- and sugarcane-based ethanol production, highlighting its advantages, limitations and opportunities for adoption in Brazil. A critical evaluation highlights the importance of optimal operating conditions for scalability, cost effectiveness and sustainable implementation. Through a practical example, we demonstrate the effectiveness of electron beam treatment in improving fermentation efficiency and reducing contamination-related losses. Notably, the ionizing radiation from this process does not affect wort sugar content or generate radioactive residues. While acknowledging the potentially high energy input requirements, cogeneration in sugarcane mills can address this, making it a viable option; however, further technical and economic evaluation should be made. In addition, electron beam technology is a promising approach for the production of high-value products such as neutral alcohol, amino acids, animal feed and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, this comprehensive review provides valuable insights for researchers, industry stakeholders and policymakers to promote sustainable and efficient ethanol production practices.

Effects of yeast inoculation methods on caproic acid production and microbial community during anaerobic fermentation of Chinese cabbage waste

To provide a sufficient supply of electron donors for the synthesis of caproic acid, yeast fermentation was employed to increase ethanol production in the anaerobic fermentation of Chinese cabbage waste (CCW). The results showed that the caproic acid yield of CCW with ethanol pre-fermentation was 7750.3 mg COD/L, accounting for 50.2% of the total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs), which was 32.5% higher than that of the CCW without yeast inoculation. The synchronous fermentation of yeast and seed sludge significantly promoted the growth of butyric acid consuming bacterium Bacteroides, resulting in low yields of butyric acid and caproic acid. With yeast inoculation, substrate competition for the efficient ethanol conversion in the early stage of acidogenic fermentation inhibited the hydrolysis and acidfication. Without yeast inoculation, the rapid accumulation of TVFAs severely inhibited the growth of Bacteroidetes. In the reactor with ethanol pre-fermentation, the key microorganism for caproic acid production, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_12, was selectively enriched.

(111) Facet-oriented Cu2Mg Intermetallic Compound with Cu3-Mg Sites for CO2 Electroreduction to Ethanol with Industrial Current Density.

The efficient ethanol electrosynthesis from CO2 is challenging with low selectivity at high CO2 electrolysis rates, due to the competition with H2 and other reduction products. Copper-based bimetallic electrocatalysts are potential candidates for the CO2-to-ethanol conversion, but the secondary metal has mainly been focused on active components (such as Ag, Sn) for CO2 electroreduction, which also promote selectivity of ethylene or other reduction products rather than ethanol. Limited attention has been given to alkali-earth metals due to their inherently active chemical property. Herein, we rationally synthesized a (111) facet-oriented nano Cu2Mg (designated as Cu2Mg(111)) intermetallic compound with high-density ordered Cu3-Mg sites. The in situ Raman spectroscopy and density function theory calculations revealed that the Cu3 - --Mg- + active sites allowed to increase *CO surface coverage, decrease reaction energy for *CO-CO coupling, and stabilize *CHCHOH intermediates, thus promoting the ethanol formation pathway. The Cu2Mg(111) catalyst exhibited a high FEC2H5OH of 76.2±4.8 % at 600 mA⋅cm-2, and a peak value of |jC2H5OH| of 720±34 mA⋅cm-2, almost 4 times of that using conventional Cu2Mg with (311) facets, comparable to the best reported values for the CO2-to-ethanol electroreduction.

(111) Facet‐oriented Cu2Mg Intermetallic Compound with Cu3‐Mg Sites for CO2 Electroreduction to Ethanol with Industrial Current Density

AbstractThe efficient ethanol electrosynthesis from CO2 is challenging with low selectivity at high CO2 electrolysis rates, due to the competition with H2 and other reduction products. Copper‐based bimetallic electrocatalysts are potential candidates for the CO2‐to‐ethanol conversion, but the secondary metal has mainly been focused on active components (such as Ag, Sn) for CO2 electroreduction, which also promote selectivity of ethylene or other reduction products rather than ethanol. Limited attention has been given to alkali‐earth metals due to their inherently active chemical property. Herein, we rationally synthesized a (111) facet‐oriented nano Cu2Mg (designated as Cu2Mg(111)) intermetallic compound with high‐density ordered Cu3‐Mg sites. The in situ Raman spectroscopy and density function theory calculations revealed that the Cu3− −‐Mg− + active sites allowed to increase *CO surface coverage, decrease reaction energy for *CO−CO coupling, and stabilize *CHCHOH intermediates, thus promoting the ethanol formation pathway. The Cu2Mg(111) catalyst exhibited a high FEC2H5OH of 76.2±4.8 % at 600 mA⋅cm−2, and a peak value of |jC2H5OH| of 720±34 mA⋅cm−2, almost 4 times of that using conventional Cu2Mg with (311) facets, comparable to the best reported values for the CO2‐to‐ethanol electroreduction.

Local coordination and electronic interactions of Pd/MXene via dual‐atom codoping with superior durability for efficient electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation

AbstractCatalyst design relies heavily on electronic metal‐support interactions, but the metal‐support interface with an uncontrollable electronic or coordination environment makes it challenging. Herein, we outline a promising approach for the rational design of catalysts involving heteroatoms as anchors for Pd nanoparticles for ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) catalysis. The doped B and N atoms from dimethylamine borane (DB) occupy the position of the Ti3C2 lattice to anchor the supported Pd nanoparticles. The electrons transfer from the support to B atoms, and then to the metal Pd to form a stable electronic center. A strong electronic interaction can be produced and the d‐band center can be shifted down, driving Pd into the dominant metallic state and making Pd nanoparticles deposit uniformly on the support. As‐obtained Pd/DB–Ti3C2 exhibits superior durability to its counterpart (∼14.6% retention) with 91.1% retention after 2000 cycles, placing it among the top single metal anodic catalysts. Further, in situ Raman and density functional theory computations confirm that Pd/DB–Ti3C2 is capable of dehydrogenating ethanol at low reaction energies.