Low-cost Biomass Research Articles

High-Performance Solar Steam Generator Using Low-Cost Biomass Waste Photothermal Material and Engineering of the Structure.

In this work, high-performance, low-cost, environmentally friendly multilayered solar steam generation systems are fabricated by engineering the structure and using a biomass photothermal material. Remarkably, the biomass photothermal material is extracted from the pyrolysis waste of linseed (flax) grains. The introduced system desalinates water using solar energy as the renewable source of energy, and its light absorber is from the waste of a renewable source. The biomass waste powder possesses a mesoporous structure, providing high light absorption through photon scattering and its high surface area. Moreover, to harvest the incident light efficiently and manage the thermal energy generated, devices including light absorbers with cone and cubic configurations and different water manager layers are fabricated and compared to each other. To confirm the high performance of the introduced photothermal material, different systems comprising graphite, graphene oxide, and carbon nanotube light absorbers are also fabricated. Using a biomass light absorber combined with harvesting of the light in different directions (cone configuration), the system with a water evaporation rate of 1.59 kg/m2h corresponding to an efficiency of 92.9% is achieved. Furthermore, by depositing a thin layer of the transparent thermal superinsulator silica aerogel on the light absorber layer, the generated heat is localized and the heat losses are prevented, leading to a 7.5% enhancement of the water evaporation rate of the biomass system. The eco-friendly biomass-based system shows no significant change in its performance through operation for 40 desalination cycles of Persian Gulf water.

Modified pineapple waste as low-cost biomass for removal of Co(II) from simulated and real treated wastewater in batch and continuous system

Sustainable waste management practices embrace integrating renewable resources such as biomass production and utilisation as an alternative means of waste disposal. Cobalt was selected as a target heavy metal because it is anticipated to be a human carcinogen, which finds its way into surface waters via industrial applications such as mining, electroplating, paints, pigments and electronics and anticipated advanced oxidation processes using cobalt-catalysed peroxymonosulphate. In this study, we applied waste derived from pineapple in pristine (RPP) and modified form (carbonised, CPP; and chemically treated, CTPP) for removing Co(II) ions from the aqueous system. The biosorbents were characterised using FTIR, SEM and BET techniques. Results from batch studies were subjected to relevant kinetic and equilibrium modelling. Best performing CPP was applied to removing Co(II) from simulated and real wastewater in column studies. Kinetic and equilibrium data were better described with the pseudo-second-order and Freundlich isotherm, respectively. Column data shows a saturation value (ts = 22.90 mg/g) that agreed with Langmuir's predicted qmax (qe = 22.31 mg/g) and was best fitted with the Yoon Nelson model. The expected breakpoint and saturation point were directly related to column mass and inversely related to flow rate and feed concentration. Thomas's model described the behaviour of CPP when applied to remove Co(II) from real wastewater (Ci = 16.34 mg/L, tb = 20 min, ts = 100 min).

Biomass chitosan derived 3D hierarchical porous carbon framework: Green synthesis and efficient polysulfide confinement

In this study, we synthesize a nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon framework with an ultrahigh surface area (a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of 2514.79 m2/g) rich in micropores/mesopores using a template-free strategy utilizing low-cost biomass chitosan as a precursor. This environmental-friendly non-organic potassium/lithium hydroxide system not only dissolves chitosan but also activates carbon framework. Moreover, rational pore structure and physical properties (e.g. conductivity) are realized by adjusting the heat-treatment temperature. The nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon framework/S cathodes reach high area capacities of 4.02 mAh/cm2 and 6.02 mAh/cm2 at 0.2C with high sulfur loadings of 4 and 8 mg/cm2, which can be attributed to the immobilization of lithium polysulfide via micropores/mesopores combined with heteroatom doping. In-situ Raman and X-ray diffraction tests further confirm that the rich micropores/mesopores of the carbon host can act as an active site for the inhibition and catalytic conversion of polysulfide. It is a new strategy and direction for recycling biomass chitosan and also provides a reference for the practical and commercial large-scale application of lithium sulfur batteries.

The invasive Egeria densa macrophyte and its potential as a new renewable energy source: A study of degradation kinetics and thermodynamic parameters

The increase in global demand, along with environmental concerns, has led to the need for new sources that can supply the energy needed for socioeconomic development while reducing pollutant emissions. Aquatic biomasses, especially those of invasive aquatic macrophytes, can be potential energy sources, and this study evaluated the thermal degradation of the invasive Egeria densa macrophytes (EDM) in an inert environment at four heating rates to evaluate its potential as a low-cost biomass and bioenergy source. Pyrolysis experiments were performed using a thermogravimetric analyzer. The thermal profile of invasive EDM has three main events (multiple stages). Stages (i) and (ii) occur at a temperature range of 125–395 °C and represent the decomposition of carbohydrates such as hemicellulose and cellulose. Stage (iii) occurs between 395 and 500 °C and mainly relates to the decomposition of lignin. Thermal data have been used to analyze kinetic parameters through isoconversional methods, and the activation energy (Ea) value of EDM showed variation at different conversion points. The highest Ea values were observed for conversion rates of 0.3–0.6 due to the increased energy required to break down the lignocellulosic chains during decomposition. The small difference between the enthalpy change and Ea values for the different isoconversional methods can be due to a small potential energy barrier, which reflects the feasibility that the reaction can occur under the expected conditions. Gibbs free energy (137–145 kJ mol−1) and high heating value (13.40 MJ/kg) revealed a significant bioenergy potential for EDM biomass.

Rice husk-derived activated carbon electrode in redox-active electrolyte – New approach for enhancing supercapacitor performance

Processing of renewable, abundant, and low-cost biomass into porous carbon materials for application in supercapacitor electrodes has been attracting interest in last years. In this study, activated carbons (ACs) were produced via carbonization of rice husk followed by the chemical activation with KOH. SEM, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and low temperature nitrogen physisorption were used to characterize the morphology, defectiveness, surface composition and textural parameters of the synthesized ACs. Activation significantly increased the specific surface area of AC up to 2700 m2·g−1 forming a well-developed porous structure favorable for charge accumulation. The electrochemical performance of ACs was tested in the 1 M Na2SO4 and 1 M Na2SO4 + 0.03 M K3Fe[CN]6 electrolytes by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge – discharge measurements and impedance spectroscopy. The addition of redox-active K3Fe[CN]6 to the conventional 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte noticeably (in 3.6 times) increased the specific capacitance of the AC-based electrode up to 400 F·g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A·g−1. The high capacitance retentions of 99.6 % in 1 M Na2SO4 and 97.7 % in 1 M Na2SO4 + 0.03 M K3Fe[CN]6 after 5000 charge–discharge cycles, developed microporosity and high electrochemical performance make the rice husk-derived AC a promising electrode material for energy storage applications. At a current density of 0.5 A·g−1 the symmetric AC2-based supercapacitor with the redox-active electrolyte delivered an energy density of 16.7 Wh·kg−1 at power density of 0.4 kW·kg−1.

Eukaryotic Microalgae and Cyanobacterial Diversity Analysis from Bharathidasan University Campus, Tamil Nadu, India

Eukaryotic microalgae and Cyanobacteria have immense biodiversity, and are an almost unexploited resource. They have been identified as a hopeful and commercially valuable resource of high-value products such as proteins, fatty acids, pigments, vitamins, alkaloids, flavonoids and steroids etc., in the food and aquaculture industries. Microalgae are a promising candidate for the production of useful products due to their low cost biomass production, ease of cultivation, and glycosylation patterns similar to that of higher plants. Though quite a few species of microalgae have been identified as a potential candidate to fulfill our needs, remain unexplored. The aim of the present study is to enumerate the microalgal diversity in the vicinity of Bharathidasan university (Tiruchirapalli, TamilNadu, India). Physicochemical parameters of the water samples were also determined.the pH of the sites varied from 6.5 to 7.4, lkalinity was between 24 mg L-1 and 42 mg L-1, total alkalinity was between 312 mg L-1 and 681 mg L-1, calcium, magnesium, chloride and nitrate levels varied between 329 mg L-1and 1318 mg L-1, 220 mg L-1 and 826 mg L-1, 12.99 mg L-1 and 193.33 mg L-1, 4.0 mg L-1 and 9.8 mg L-1, respectively. Nitrite, total phosphorus and inorganic phosphorus levels were found to be between 2.1 mg L-1 and 4.3 mg L-1, 2.4 mg L-1 and 6.7 mg L-1, and 1.2 mg L-1 and 4.3 mg L-1. Biodiversity of both eukaryotic microalgae and cyanobacteria recorded the members of the belonging to Oscillatoria sp. are predominant in diversity and distribution followed by other taxa such as Spirulina laxissima, Staurastrum manfeldtii, Merismopedia elegans, Cosmarium blyttii and Cosmarium subcucumis.

Acetoin production from lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates with a modular metabolic engineering system in Bacillus subtilis

BackgroundAcetoin (AC) is a vital platform chemical widely used in food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. With increasing concern over non-renewable resources and environmental issues, using low-cost biomass for acetoin production by microbial fermentation is undoubtedly a promising strategy.ResultsThis work reduces the disadvantages of Bacillus subtilis during fermentation by regulating genes involved in spore formation and autolysis. Then, optimizing intracellular redox homeostasis through Rex protein mitigated the detrimental effects of NADH produced by the glycolytic metabolic pathway on the process of AC production. Subsequently, multiple pathways that compete with AC production are blocked to optimize carbon flux allocation. Finally, the population cell density-induced promoter was used to enhance the AC synthesis pathway. Fermentation was carried out in a 5-L bioreactor using bagasse lignocellulosic hydrolysate, resulting in a final titer of 64.3 g/L, which was 89.5% of the theoretical yield.ConclusionsThe recombinant strain BSMAY-4-PsrfA provides an economical and efficient strategy for large-scale industrial production of acetoin.

Biochar: A Sustainable Alternative in the Development of Electrochemical Printed Platforms

Biochar is a pyrolytic material with several environmental benefits such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering atmospheric carbon and contrasting global warming. However, nowadays, it has moved to the forefront for its conductivity and electron transfer properties, finding applications in the fabrication of electrochemical platforms. In this field, researchers have focused on low-cost biomass capable of replacing more popular and expensive carbonaceous nanomaterials (i.e., graphene, nanotubes and quantum dots) in the realization of sensitive cost-effectiveness and eco-friendly electrochemical tools. This review discusses recent developments of biochar-modified screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). Special attention has been paid to biochar’s manufacturing processes, electron-donating capabilities and sensing applications. Examples of representative works are introduced to explain the distinct roles of biochar in several electro-bioanalytical strategies.

Concentrated Solar Induced Graphene.

Graphene is one of the most promising nanomaterials with many extraordinary properties and numerous exciting applications. In this work, a green, facile, and rapid method was developed to prepare graphene directly from common biomass materials such as banana peels, cantaloupe peels, coconut peels, and orange peels by using concentrated solar radiation. The basic principle of this method is photothermal conversion. On a sunny day, the sunlight was concentrated by a biconvex lens to form a focused light spot with a high temperature above 1000 °C, which can directly convert fruit peels into graphene nanosheets within 2–3 s. The product is named concentrated-solar-induced graphene (CSIG) based on the process employed to generate it. The resulting CSIG was characterized using a range of analytical techniques. The Raman spectrum of the CSIG displayed two distinct peaks corresponding to the D and G bands at ∼1343 and ∼1568 cm–1, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used to confirm that the CSIG consists of a few layers of turbostratic graphene nanosheets. Atomic force microscopy characterization revealed that the CSIG nanosheets have a thickness of ∼4 nm. The antibacterial potential of the CSIG was also explored. The CSIG had a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of Escherichia coli. This simple, green, and straightforward method for producing graphene may open a new route for turning waste into useful materials: an inexhaustible and pollution-free natural resource can be readily exploited by using a solar tracker-lens system for the large-scale production of graphene materials directly from low-cost biomass materials.

Using Walnut Shell Based Activated Carbon for the Efficient Removal of Phosphate from Aqueous Solutions

In this study, walnut shell, which is abundant in Turkey and low-cost biomass waste, has been used for activated carbon production and phosphate removal from aqueous solutions with the produced activated carbon was investigated. ZnCl2 was used to prepare adsorbent by chemical activation method. Produced activated carbons were characterized by moisture content, ash content, iodine number, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The specific surface area was calculated as 415.433 m2/g from the isotherms using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) equation. The effects of pH, adsorbent amount, agitation speed and temperature were investigated. Different adsorption isotherm models were applied. It was found that the Langmuir isotherm provided the best fit for the experimental data. In the pseudo- second order kinetic model, the values found theoretically (qe,cal) were very similar to those determined by experiments (qe,exp). The results showed that the adsorption of phosphate on the WSAC fits the pseudo- second order kinetic model. According to the thermodynamics analysis, phosphate adsorption on WSAC was endothermic under the studied conditions.

Highly porous carbon material from polycyclodextrin for high-performance supercapacitor electrode

Using low-cost biomass to develop ultra-high specific surface area carbon electrode materials for supercapacitors is very important, but it is still challenging. In this paper, using the “bottom-up” idea and starting from the hydrolysate of starch, highly porous carbon material is fabricated by simple polymerization of β-cyclodextrin (CD) and chemical activation. The obtained material shows a maximum specific surface area (SSA) up to 3710 m2 g−1 and pore volume of 2.03 cm3 g−1. Thanks to the hierarchical porous structure and ultra-high specific surface area, the carbon based supercapacitors demonstrates high capacitance of 416 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and excellent cycling stability of 100 % capacity retention after 10,000 cycles in 6.0 M KOH electrolyte system. Furthermore, an attractive energy density of 23.4 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 224.9 W kg−1 in 1.8 V Na2SO4 electrolyte system can be delivered. The polycyclic dextrin based porous carbon reported in this paper has better electrochemical performance than most carbon based electrode materials reported today, which provides a feasible synthetic method for the synthesis of excellent supercapacitor electrode materials.

Woven cattail leaf slips for large-scale, high-efficient and salt-resistant solar water evaporation

Solar-driven water evaporation is considered as a potential and economical strategy for freshwater generation, seawater desalination as well as sewage treatment by powerful photothermal conversion. Herein, polypyrrole (PPy) coated woven cattail leaf (PPy@HCL) slips are proposed for solar evaporator. The cattail leaf slips are fabricated on a large scale via plain weaving craft, which demonstrates outstanding water supply capability because of the special honeycomb structure of the cattail leaves. The PPy@HCL slips exhibit small heat conductivity, excellent salt resistance and high solar absorption in UV–vis–NIR range. Consequently, an evaporation rate of ~2.20 kg m−2 h−1 and a corresponding efficiency of 96.6 % under 1 sun irradiation are achieved for the rolled PPy@HCL slips. Moreover, the PPy@HCL slips can be employed to produce freshwater from brine and wastewater. This study shows that the PPy@HCL slips have promising applications as low-cost biomass materials in large-scale and powerful solar evaporators.

Hard carbon derived from hazelnut shell with facile HCl treatment as high-initial-coulombic-efficiency anode for sodium ion batteries

Hard carbon is an extremely promising anode material for Na-ion batteries owing to its low cost and low operating potential plateau. However, the practical use of hard carbon materials in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is greatly constrained by their low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE). Biomass as carbon sources are a good choice due to the abundance of resources and natural microstructure. Regrettably, biomass contains many impurities that lower its electrochemical performance. Here, by facile synthesis methods, we prepare a hard carbon with a high reversible capacity of 342 mA h g−1 and a high ICE of 91%. The hard carbon is obtained by carbonizing a low-cost biomass hazelnut shell under hydrochloric acid treatment. Hydrochloric acid treatment removes impurities and change microstructure such as interlayer spacing and active sites. The results reveal that the active site and interlayer spacing of the hard carbon material was raised with hydrochloric acid treatment. Therefore, the reversible capacity of hard carbon was greatly improved by the hydrochloric acid treatment.

Boosting H2 Production from a BiVO4 Photoelectrochemical Biomass Fuel Cell by the Construction of a Bridge for Charge and Energy Transfer.

Utilizing a photoelectrochemical (PEC) fuel cell to replace difficult water oxidation with facile oxidation of organic wastes is regarded as an effective method to improve the H2 production efficiency. However, in most reported PEC fuel cells, their PEC activities are still low and the energy in organic fuels cannot be effectively utilized. Here, a unique BiVO4 PEC fuel cell is successfully developed by utilizing the low-cost biomass, tartaric acid, as an organic fuel. Thanks to the strong complexation between BiVO4 and tartaric acid, a bridge for the charge and energy transfer is successfully constructed, which not only improves the photoelectric conversion efficiency of BiVO4 , but also effectively converts the chemical energy of biomass into H2 . Remarkably, under AM1.5G illumination, the optimal nanoporous BiVO4 photoanode exhibits a high current density of 13.54mA cm-2 at 1.23V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) for H2 production, which is higher than that of previously reported PEC water splitting systems or PEC fuel cell systems. This work opens a new path for solving the low PEC H2 production efficiency and provides a new idea for improving the performances and energy conversion efficiency in traditional PEC fuel cells.

Coffee Waste Biochar: a Widely Available and Low-cost Biomass for Producing Carbonaceous Water Treatment Adsorbents

Coffee Waste Biochar: a Widely Available and Low-cost Biomass for Producing Carbonaceous Water Treatment Adsorbents

Antioxidant performance of bio-oils in oxidative stability of base lubricating oil determined through TGA and PDSC techniques

Lube oil suffers from thermo-oxidative degradation in the engine during its service. In order to improve its service life and avoid oxidative degradation, antioxidants are added into the lube oil. The present study focuses on the utilization of low-cost biomass extracts as antioxidant additives and monitoring the level of degradation of lube oil by thermal analysis. The antioxidants used were MeOH extracts of rice husk (BO-I) and wood saw dust (BO-II). The oxidation of the lube oil samples were performed at 100 °C and 200 °C for 6 h separately in the presence of 5% of biomass extract according to modified IP method. Programmed Thermo Gravimetric Analysis was carried out in both oxygen and nitrogen atmospheres to evaluate the antioxidant characters of the BO-I and BO-II from indicators like Tonset, Toffset, mass loss as fast volatiles and weight gain. In DSC study, the indicators of degradation used were, oxidation induction temperature (OIT), percent change in OIT and variance. In case of oxidation at 100°C, the percent differences determined for MBO-I were found to be 0.87% and 0.00% and for MBO-II were 2.67% and 1.63% in O2 and N2 atmospheres, respectively. Similarly, for oxidation at 200 °C, the percent differences in T onset for the NMBO, MBO-I and MBO-II were calculated and found to be 27.77%, 9.52% and 12.74%, respectively under O2 atmosphere, whereas under N2 atmosphere were; 19.80, 12.21 and 13.76%, respectively. The percent changes in OIT values for NMBO, MBO-I and MBO-II samples in comparison with the control sample were found to be 46.99, 29.90, and 3.95%, respectively. Among the two bio-oils, the antioxidant character of the BO-I was found to be excellent compared to BO-II at 100 °C and 200 °C. The biomass extracts can be effectively used as antioxidant additives in lube oil on commercial scale.

Modification of Orange Bagasse with Reactive Extrusion to Obtain Cellulose-Based Materials

Orange bagasse (OB) could be considered a sustainable, renewable, and low-cost biomass for the extraction of cellulose. In this context, reactive extrusion can be considered an excellent, eco-friendly, alternative process for the extraction of cellulose from lignocellulosic materials. Thus, the present study aimed to obtain cellulose-based materials with a reactive extrusion process and also to investigate the impact of pectin on the delignification process. Two groups of samples (OB and depectinizated OB) were submitted to extrusion with sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide in one-step processes. The cellulose content of extruded materials was highly affected by pectin content in the raw material; the thermal profile (TGA curves) and crystallinity also changed. The cellulose content of modified materials ranged from 18.8% to 58.4%, with a process yield of 30.6% to 79.2%. The alkaline reagent provided the highest cellulose content among all extrusion treatments tested, mainly for OB without pectin. The extrusion process was considered an efficient and promising process for extracting cellulose from citrus residue. Materials produced in this study can be used as sources of cellulose fiber for various products and processes, such as in the food industry, fermentation substrates, or refined applications after subsequent treatments.

Synthetic zeolites market will reach $2.7 bn by 2028 with a CAGR of 3.5%

The search for sustainable technologies has become a priority in recent years due to the unprecedented growth in the human population and its adverse effects on the environment. In this context, the potential of microalgae as a source of value-added products has received considerable attention, but for the production of microalgae to be economically viable and sustainable, more significant optimization of mass culture conditions is necessary. The use of microalgae for the treatment of effluents and the parallel production of low-cost biomass can be a viable alternative for different reasons, such as reducing the cost of nutrients, water resources, and energy. This chapter discusses the primary microalgae cultures and their potential for bioremediation in different types of wastewater. In addition, the leading bioenergy technologies are discussed, as well as their applications and prospects.

Preparation of macadamia nut shell porous carbon and its electrochemical performance as cathode material for lithium–sulfur batteries

Biomass carbon material as the sulfur storage matrix of lithium–sulfur batteries is one of the research hotspots. In this paper, the macadamia nut shells are used as the precursor to prepare porous carbon material. By exploring the effect of temperature on the microstructure and electrochemical performance of porous carbon materials during activation, it is found that the porous carbon material prepared under the activation condition of 900 °C has a developed pore structure, super high specific surface area (3552.7 m2•g−1), larger pore volume (2.2 cm3•g−1) and higher mesoporous content (23.85%). And the composite cathode material with the sulfur content of 70.1% has the highest specific capacity, and the initial discharge specific capacity for 0.2 C can reach 942.4 mAh•g−1. The composite material S/OCNT@OPC-1:1 obtained by compounding it with carbon nanotubes at a mass ratio of 1:1 has higher specific capacity, better rate performance and cycle performance. At 0.2 C, the initial discharge specific capacity is as high as 1252.6 mAh•g−1, and it remains at the level of 717.3 mAh•g−1 after 200 cycles. Even at 1 C, the specific capacity is still 984.3 mAh•g−1, and it remains at 690.9 mAh•g−1 after 200 cycles, and the capacity retention rate is 70.2%. Our work shows that the composite material obtained by combining low-cost biomass carbon materials and carbon nanotubes as the cathode material for lithium-sulfur batteries has obvious advantages.

Biomass carbon materials with porous array structures derived from soybean dregs for effective electromagnetic wave absorption

Nowadays, high-performance electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption materials derived from low-cost biomass materials have attracted widespread attention. Herein, a novel biomass‑carbon with porous array structures derived from waste soybean dregs is prepared by a hydrothermal method combined with heat treatment using formaldehyde and KOH as activators. The as-prepared biomass‑carbon with significantly enhanced specific surface area can possess more charge transmission paths, increased multiple reflections and scattering, multiple loss modes, and improved impedance matching, leading to the improvement of EMW absorption performances. The obtained single-component biomass‑carbon without any functional fillers exhibits an effective EMW absorption capability with a wide absorption bandwidth of 4.8 GHz at a thickness of 3.5 mm. This study will provide a valuable approach for the preparation of biomass‑carbon based EMW absorption materials with controllable porous structures by the activation process.