By-product Of Pyrolysis Research Articles

Waste to drugs: identification of pyrolysis by-products as antifungal agents against Cryptococcus neoformans

The fungi, Cryptococcus neoformans cause major infections such as cryptococcal meningitis and cryptococcosis. Therefore, we explored the use of Thioredoxin reductase (Trr1) from C. neoformans as a gene target for the development of novel antifungal agents. Trr1 plays an essential role in the survival in the oxidative environment of macrophages and is important for the virulence of C. neoformans. During the thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis) of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB), a cocktail of compounds is produced by the decomposition and degradation. In general, LCB-derived cocktail of compounds is a rich source of aromatic compounds that have been shown to be antifungal in nature. Usually, the aqueous phase produced during biomass pyrolysis is generally regarded as waste. Here, we used Parthenium hysterophorus biomass as the antifungal source and obtained the aqueous phase after pyrolysis. Using GC-MS analysis of the aqueous phase collected from P. hysterophorus biomass revealed the presence of a large number of aromatic and organic compounds. Using virtual screening, the compounds present in the aqueous phase were docked against Trr1 using GLIDE. Two promising candidates were analyzed further by performing molecular dynamics simulation using GROMACS, to establish stable interactions. We validated the computational results with clustering analysis. We report that 2,4-Di-tertbutyl phenol and 1H-Pyrazole, 4-ethyl-3,5-dimethyl have a potent antifungal property and we postulate that they could be a potent antifungal agent against Trr1 of C. neoformans.

Valorizing the carbon byproduct of methane pyrolysis in batteries

While low-cost natural gas remains abundant, the energy content of this fuel can be utilized without greenhouse gas emissions through the production of molecular hydrogen and solid carbon via methane pyrolysis. In the absence of a carbon tax, methane pyrolysis is not economically competitive with current hydrogen production methods unless the carbon byproducts can be valorized. In this work, we assess the viability of the carbon byproduct produced from methane pyrolysis in molten salts as high-value-added anode or conductive additive for secondary Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. Raman characterization and electrochemical differential capacity analysis demonstrate that the use of molten salt mixtures with catalytically-active FeCl3-or MnCl2 result in more graphitic carbon co-products. These graphitic carbons exhibit the best electrochemical performance (up to 272 mAh/g of reversible capacity) when used as Li-ion anodes. For all carbon samples studied here, disordered carbon domains and retained salt species trapped and/or intercalated into the carbon structure were identified by X-ray photoelectron and multinuclear solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The latter lead to reduced electrochemical activity and reversibility, and poorer rate performance compared to commercial carbon anodes. The electronic conductivity of the pyrolyzed carbons is found to be highly dependent on their purity, with the purest carbon exhibiting an electronic conductivity nearly on par with that of commercial carbon additives. These findings suggest that more effective removal of the salt catalyst could enable applications of these carbons in secondary batteries, providing a financial incentive for the large-scale implementation of methane pyrolysis for “low-carbon” hydrogen production.

Evaluation of Wood Vinegar as an Herbicide for Weed Control

Wood vinegar, a by-product of wood pyrolysis, is mostly discarded. Wood vinegar has a phytotoxic effect and could be potentially used as a naturally derived herbicide for weed control. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of wood vinegar from the pyrolysis of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) tree branch wastes to control weeds. The wood vinegar concentrations required to inhibit 50% motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), Spanish needles (Bidens pilosa L.), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.) seed germination measured 0.51%, 0.48%, 0.16%, and 1.1%, respectively. The wood vinegar application rates (spray volume) required to provide 50% control of motherwort and Spanish needles measured 1911 L ha−1 and 653 L ha−1, respectively, while the highest evaluated rate at 4000 L ha−1 controlled 35% tall fescue by 10 days after treatment (DAT). Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) control increased as the wood vinegar application rate increased from 500 L ha−1 to 2000 L ha−1. Wood vinegar was more effective in dark than light conditions for controlling common purslane. By 5 DAT, averaged over application rates, wood vinegar provided 95% and 87% control of common purslane in dark and light conditions, respectively. These findings suggest that wood vinegar obtained from the pyrolysis of apple tree branches could be used for weed management.

A critical review on pyrolysis method as sustainable conversion of waste plastics into fuels

Plastic production has increased globally, and many of these plastic items are no longer in use. The plastic wastes end up as garbage, disposed of in landfills, or scattered, posing major health and environmental risks. In terms of sustainability, converting plastic trash into fuels or any other better option, individual monomers, is a far more environmentally friendly waste management option than landfill dumping. Nearly 1.3 billion metric tonnes of plastic are produced annually as businesses strive to meet the demands of consumers. Plastic is made through a process called polymerization, in which hydrocarbons are rearranged into new molecules. These hydrocarbons often have a high molecular mass, and they may also contain other chemicals to boost their performance. Plastic is a useful material because, among other things, it is durable, lasts a long time, is inexpensive, and has many other benefits. Because plastic can take decades to degrade if left alone, effective waste plastic disposal should be a top priority for every-one. Yet, growing industrialization and urbanization have contributed to a discernible rise in fuel demand. Finding renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels is now a critical global priority. Plastics-to-gasoline conversion provides a means to solve both of these problems. By applying intense heat (more than 370 °C) and an oxygen-free environment, pyrolysis thermochemically decomposes organic materials. The byproducts of pyrolysis are carbon black, hydrocarbons, and pyrolysis oil. This review focuses on pyrolysis as it is the most popular and efficient method for turning polymers into fuels in comparison with other methods. This review comprises the knowledge of different types of plastics and their properties. The major discussion was focused on pyrolysis methods for recycling plastics. To have better knowledge competitive recycling method were discussed. The optimization parameter for recycling process, by-products of plastics, advantages and disadvantages of pyrolysis process are discussed to identify the drawbacks and research gaps. The pyrolysis method are potential for addressing waste plastic management and highlights the need for a reliable alternative fuel source.

Biochar improves the performance of Avena sativa L. grown in gasoline-polluted soils

This study investigated the effect of soil contamination by different concentrations of gasoline on oat (Avena sativa L.) and tested the effect of biochar supply to the polluted soils on the performance of oat plants. Oat seeds were sowed in contaminated soils with different concentrations of gasoline: 0% (control), 1%, 2%, 6%, and 10% (v/w), and grown for 2 weeks. Germination, fresh weight, root and stem length, photosynthetic parameters (i.e., chlorophyll content, PIABS, FV/FM, and NDVI), and total antioxidant power were analyzed. The results showed a remarkable negative effect on almost all the investigated parameters starting from the gasoline concentration of 6%. Based on these results, a new experiment was run by adding 5% (w/w) biochar (a carbon-rich byproduct of wood biomass pyrolysis) to the 6% and 10% polluted soils to test whether adding biochar had a beneficial effect on oat performance. The results showed that biochar supply greatly reduced the negative effects caused by gasoline on all the investigated parameters.

Assessment of the greenhouse gas emission footprint of a biorefinery over its life cycle

Expanding the product portfolio of a biorefinery has the potential to improve the economics of the biorefinery as it not only increases revenue but also improves valuable feedstock use. Such process improvement, however, results in added complexity, energy consumption, and emissions. This study evaluated the energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of an integrated multi-product biorefinery from a life cycle perspective. Six pathways were assessed in which the by-products of fast pyrolysis – biochar and non-condensable gases (NCGs) – were upgraded to produce ethanol and hydrogen, in addition to bio-oil. The six pathways include six corresponding biorefinery configurations. The configurations differ by NCG application and the kind of fuel used to supplement process heat demand. The GHG emissions intensity of the assessed pathways is between 13.54 and 43.13 gCO2eq/MJ. Our assessment shows a higher GHG emissions intensity in the assessed pathways than the base pathway, in which only bio-oil is produced. Generally, the emission intensities of biorefinery products are lower than when these products are produced from fossil sources but higher than when produced from dedicated bioenergy technologies. Also, when the products are put into an end-use application, like power generation, bio-oil shows lower life cycle GHG emissions compared to conventional fossil-based power plants. When the transportation of the products to the power plant is considered, the life cycle GHG emissions of hydrogen are higher than from the conventional generation methods. Sensitivity analyses show that reducing the feedstock moisture content and increasing ethanol titer can provide significant emission reduction potential. Outside the boundaries of the biorefineries, feedstock transportation also has an impact on the overall emissions.

Physical-Chemical Characterization of Different Carbon-Based Sorbents for Environmental Applications.

Biochar has been used in various applications, e.g., as a soil conditioner and in remediation of contaminated water, wastewater, and gaseous emissions. In the latter application, biochar was shown to be a suitable alternative to activated carbon, providing high treatment efficiency. Since biochar is a by-product of waste pyrolysis, its use allows for compliance with circular economics. Thus, this research aims to obtain a detailed characterization of three carbonaceous materials: an activated carbon (CARBOSORB NC 1240®) and two biochars (RE-CHAR® and AMBIOTON®). In particular, the objective of this work is to compare the properties of three carbonaceous materials to evaluate whether the application of the two biochars is the same as that of activated carbon. The characterization included, among others, particle size distribution, elemental analysis, pH, scanning electron microscope, pore volume, specific surface area, and ionic exchange capacity. The results showed that CARBOSORB NC 1240® presented a higher specific surface (1126.64 m2/g) than AMBIOTON® (256.23 m2/g) and RE-CHAR® (280.25 m2/g). Both biochar and activated carbon belong to the category of mesoporous media, showing a pore size between 2 and 50 nm (20–500 Å). Moreover, the chemical composition analysis shows similar C, H, and N composition in the three carbonaceous materials while a higher O composition in RE-CHAR® (9.9%) than in CARBOSORB NC 1240 ® (2.67%) and AMBIOTON® (1.10%). Differences in physical and chemical properties are determined by the feedstock and pyrolysis or gasification temperature. The results obtained allowed to compare the selected materials among each other and with other carbonaceous adsorbents.

Co-Fermenting Pyrolysis Aqueous Condensate and Pyrolysis Syngas with Anaerobic Microbial Communities Enables L-Malate Production in a Secondary Fermentative Stage

The pyrolytic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into fuels and chemicals is a promising option for the valorization of agricultural and forestry residues. However, technological developments are still needed to maximize product recovery and carbon fixation of the pyrolysis process. The pyrolysis aqueous condensate (PAC), a pyrolysis by-product, has a high water content and is highly toxic, hampering its use. The anaerobic digestion of PAC from different biomasses has been proven a viable technology for PAC valorization and detoxification, but its toxicity limits the methanogenic potential. Alternatively, methanation or VFA production from syngas by anaerobic mixed cultures are technologies of scientific interest. This study investigates the potential of a two-stage process to convert the carbon and energy in syngas and PAC into L-malate. PAC and syngas were co-fermented by two mixed cultures at 37 and 55 °C, identifying kinetic inhibitions and the effects of increasing PAC concentrations on the product pool. The media from selected mixed culture fermentations were then inoculated with Aspergillus oryzae for L-malate production. The results show that mixed cultures can perform simultaneous syngas fermentation and PAC detoxification. While PAC concentrations above 2% completely inhibited methanogenesis, CO consumption was inhibited at PAC concentrations above 5%, regardless of the temperature. In fermentations where PAC inhibited methanation, the mixed cultures channelled the carbon and electrons from syngas and PAC to volatile fatty acids or acetate/H2 production, depending on the incubation temperature. Substantial detoxification of PAC was observed under PAC concentrations up to 10% independently of the rates of syngas metabolism. PAC detoxification enabled the further valorization of the acetate produced via syngas and PAC fermentations into L-malate, achieving yields up to 0.17 mM/mM. These results are promising for the development of an integrated process that simultaneously detoxifies and recovers value from gaseous and aqueous waste streams originating from pyrolysis.

Adsorption behaviors of magnetic carbon derived from wood tar waste for removal of methylene blue dye

Wood tar is the main by-product of thermal cracking of biomass. Magnetic biomass activated carbon (M-RWTAC) has been prepared from wood tar. The phenol component in the wood tar has firstly been fixed by phenolic reaction. The resinifero wood tar is subsequently employed to prepare magnetic biomass activated carbon through carbonization, activation and magnetization steps. The surface structure, property and magnetic properties of magnetic biomass activated carbon analyzed by a variety of techniques. Rich oxygen group and high specific surface area of the as-prepared M-RWTAC can provides convenient condition to the adsorption contaminate. Adsorption behavior of the as-prepared M-RWTAC is evaluated with MB as a model of dye pollutant. The MB adsorption of M-RWTAC is in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model is predominant for this adsorption system with the maximum adsorption capacity of 528 mg g−1. The adsorption of MB onto M-RWTAC is an exothermic and entropy production process. The regenerated M-RWTAC can be recycled with the removal efficiency of 82.5 % after 5 successive adsorption cycles. The present study provides a new route to utilize wood tar by-product of biomass pyrolysis.

Medium-Low Temperature Conditions Induce the Formation of Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals in Microplastics with Conjugated Aromatic-Ring Structures during Sewage Sludge Pyrolysis.

Medium-low temperature pyrolysis is an effective method of retaining active components in sludge char. However, we found that incomplete cracking reactions resulted in residues of microplastics (MPs) remaining in the char; moreover, high levels of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) were detected in these MPs. Here, we investigated the temperature-dependent variations in the char-volatile products derived from sludge and MPs under different pyrolysis scenarios using multiple in situ probe coupling techniques and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, thereby identifying the sources of EPFRs and elucidating the corresponding formation-conversion mechanisms. The temperature was the key factor in the formation of EPFRs; in particular, in the 350-450 °C range, the abundance of EPFRs increased exponentially. Reactive EPFR readily formed in MPs with conjugated aromatic-ring structures (polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene) at a temperature above 350 °C; EPFR concentrations were 5-17 times higher than those found in other types of polymers, and these radicals exhibited half-lives of more than 90 days. The EPFR formation mechanism could be summarized as solid-solid/solid-gas interfacial interactions between the polymers and the intermediate products from sludge pyrolysis (at 160-350 °C) and the homolytic cleavage-proton transfer occurring in the polymers themselves under the dual action of thermal induction and acid sites (at 350-450 °C). Based on the understanding of the evolution of EPFRs, temperature regulation and sludge components conditioning may be effective approaches to inhibit the formation of EPFRs in MPs, constituting reliable strategies to diminish the environmental risk associated with the byproducts of sludge pyrolysis.

Techno-economic assessment of an integrated biorefinery producing bio-oil, ethanol, and hydrogen

The production of multiple products, in an integrated manner, encourages the full valorization of biomass feedstock and reduces waste streams. This may improve the economic outlook of the biorefinery and provide a hedge for investors. There is limited understanding of the techno-economics of an integrated, multi-product biorefinery. This study addresses this gap. In this study, we investigated an integrated, multi-product biorefinery. In addition to bio-oil, the valuable products ethanol and hydrogen are produced from fast pyrolysis by-products. We developed process models for bio-oil, ethanol, and hydrogen production from spruce woodchips in an integrated syngas fermentation and fast pyrolysis plant. Six scenarios set against a base fast pyrolysis plant were investigated, and the economic performance of each scenario was evaluated based on the rate of return. The scenarios differ in terms of the use of the non-condensable gases and the type of external fuel used for process heat. In every scenario, biochar is used for ethanol production and bio-oil is assumed to be a final product. The base case had a return rate of 7.0%, while the return rate ranged between 7.46 and 13.01% among the six scenarios. The scenario producing hydrogen from hydrogen-rich non-condensable gases and ethanol from biochar was the most profitable. The profitability was found to be most sensitive to product prices, capital cost, and feedstock cost. The study’s results show that an integrated, multi-product approach to biorefining has the potential to improve the economics of biorefineries and biofuel production.

Study on coupled combustion behaviors and kinetics of plastic pyrolysis by-product for oil

The pyrolysis of waste plastics alleviates the ecological pollution of plastics. In addition to the high-quality oil component of the target product, there are solid residues from incomplete pyrolysis. These residues have a great potential as fuels due to their high carbon content and partial oil content. Currently, few studies have focused on the rational utilisation of waste plastics pyrolysis by-products, especially the simultaneous combustion of carbon and oil and their coupled combustion mechanisms. In this paper, the combustion performance of plastic pyrolysis residues with different particle sizes was firstly evaluated and the TG-DTG curves were kinetically analysed. The melting characteristics of the ashes were observed by XRD and SEM. It was found that the samples showed better combustion performance as the particle size increased. However, the particle size had less effect on the combustion of the residue after plastic pyrolysis, with multiple peaks of weight loss during the combustion process. Oil-carbon coupling characteristic promotes combustion reaction. In addition, the activation energy of combustion of the residue after plastic pyrolysis is low according to the kinetic parameters. Therefore, plastic pyrolysis residue has the advantage of low combustion point compared to coal and is an ideal fuel.

Biochar-embedding iron-alginate microspheres derived from bagasse by one-step microwave pyrolysis/activation for enhanced Cr(VI) removal

In this paper, two types of adsorption materials SA-C-Fe and SA-C-Fe(C) were prepared using bagasse biochar produced by one-step microwave pyrolysis and activation for Cr(VI) removal of wastewater. The adsorption materials were characterized, and Cr(VI) adsorption performance, kinetics and thermodynamics on adsorption materials were studied. Results show that microwave pyrolysis/activation contributes to developed pore structure and abundant active functional groups, resulting in high Cr(VI) adsorption capacities. The optimal preparation conditions for biochar is: microwave power 500 W, ZnCl2/bagasse ratio 2.5:1 and pyrolysis/activation time 15 min, and the specific surface area of biochar is 1,787.64 m2/g. The Cr(VI) adsorption of the two materials is more in line with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the adsorption process is dominated by chemical adsorption. The static removal experiment of Cr(VI) using SA-C-Fe and SA-C-Fe(C) has the best removal effect at pH = 2, and the whole adsorption process is more in line with the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm model. Calculated by the pseudo-two-order kinetic model and the Langmuir-Freundlich isothermal model, the maximum adsorption rate for Cr(VI) of SA-C-Fe and SA-C-Fe(C) are 211.87 mg/g and 388.92 mg/g, respectively. The removal process is mainly dominated by three mechanisms: electrostatic adsorption, ion exchange and redox reactions. The improvement of Cr(VI) adsorption capacity is attributed to more developed pore structure. The results offer beneficial reference for the application of low-cost carbon-based adsorption materials for pollutants separation, and effectively realize the utilization of bagasse pyrolysis by-products.

ZnCl2-modified eucalyptus bark biochar as adsorbent: preparation, characterization and its application in adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions

Biochar is a byproduct of biomass pyrolysis that has been identified as an effective and novel bio-adsorbent for contaminant removal from wastewater. A pyrolysis-chemical activation process was used to convert eucalyptus tree bark to activated biochar, which was then characterized using various techniques (BET, SEM, FTIR, EDX, XRD and pHpzc) and used as a bio-adsorbent to remove hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from aqueous solution. The effects of adsorption process conditions (adsorbate concentration, contact time, adsorbent amount and pH) on Cr(VI) removal efficiency were investigated. The best experimental conditions for the maximum equilibrium uptake of Cr(VI) by activated eucalyptus bark biochar (AEBB) were 10 mg/L, 140 min, 6.0 and 0.3 g/L for initial Cr(VI) concentration, contact time, pH and adsorbent amount, respectively. The AEBB's outstanding performance was aided by its high surface area, well-developed porous structure and dominance of active surface functional groups, as validated by BET, SEM and FTIR. The Freundlich model fitted the equilibrium data the best. The pseudo-second-order model appeared to better predict the kinetics of Cr(VI) adsorption onto AEBB, indicating the dominance of chemisorption.

Co-pyrolysis of peanut shell with phosphate fertilizer to improve carbon sequestration and emission reduction potential of biochar

The carbon sequestration and emission reduction by co-pyrolysis of biomass with phosphate to produce biochar is a key carbon-negative technology. However, effect of phosphate on carbon sequestration and emission reduction during the biochar formation has been unclear. In this study, a typical phosphate compound, potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4), was pre-mixed with peanut shell (PS) for biochar production through pyrolysis at 750 °C. Results showed that after adding KH2PO4, the carbon fixation capacity of biochar increased significantly with FCR = 1.18 to FCR = 1.82, resulting 54% yield when compared to non-catalytic pyrolysis. The KH2PO4 affected the emission reduction process of biochar from two aspects: (1) increasing the calorific value of pyrolysis by-products and (2) reducing the content of CO2 and CH4 in bio-gas. The output of the renewed energy increased to 5.42 × 103 MJ/t from 4.09 × 103 MJ/t and the volume fraction of CO2 and CH4 decreased by 78.17 mol% and 22.01 mol%, respectively. Moreover, the net energy balance and net CO2e balance of the process were found 3.76 × 103 MJ/t and 1.28 × 103 kg/t respectively, reflecting importance and superiority of this research work than other reported studies. Thus, KH2PO4 has efficient carbon sequestration and emission reduction potential.

Performance and mechanism of bamboo residues pyrolysis: Gas emissions, by-products, and reaction kinetics

The performances and reaction kinetics of the bamboo shoot leaves (BSL) pyrolysis were characterized integrating thermogravimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses. The high volatiles and low ash, N, and S contents of BSL rendered its pyrolysis suitable for bio-oil generation. The main mass loss of BSL pyrolysis occurred in the devolatilization stage between 200 and 550 °C. The peak temperatures of pseudo-hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin pyrolysis in BSL were 248.04, 322.65 and 383.51 °C, respectively, while their average activation energies estimated by Starink method were 144.29, 175.79 and 243.02 kJ/mol, respectively. The one-dimensional diffusion mechanism (f (α) = 1/(2α)) best elucidated the hemicellulose reaction. The cellulose (f (α) = 0.74 (1 − α)[−ln (1 − α)]−13/37) and lignin (f (α) = 0.35 (1 − α)[−ln (1 − α)]−13/7) reactions were best described by the nucleation mechanisms. The estimated kinetic triplets accurately predicted the pyrolysis process. 619.3 °C and 5 °C/min were determined as the optimal pyrolytic temperature and heating rate. The C-containing gases were dominant among the non-condensable gases evolved from the pyrolysis. The NOx precursors (NH3 and HCN) were found more important than NO emission in pollution control. 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, (1-methylcyclopropyl) methanol, heptanal, acetic acid, and furfurals were the main pyrolytic by-products. BSL-derived biochar is a relatively pure carbon-rich material with extremely low N and S content. The BSL pyrolysis yielded a promising performance, as well as value-added by-products to be utilized in the fields of bioenergy, fragrance, and pharmaceuticals.

Synthesis of Biochar From Lignocellulosic Biomass for Diverse Industrial Applications and Energy Harvesting: Effects of Pyrolysis Conditions on the Physicochemical Properties of Biochar

The excessive dependency on fossil fuel resources could be curtailed by the efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass. Biochar, a porous carbonaceous product synthesized exploiting thermochemical conversion pathway, could be an environment-friendly replacement of fossil fuel resources. Slow pyrolysis, a sub-class among various thermochemical conversion techniques, has gained immense popularity owing to its potential to convert biomass to biochar. Furthermore, biochar obtained as the by-product of slow pyrolysis has attracted enormous popularity due to its proven role and application in the multidisciplinary areas of engineering and environmental remediation applications. The physicochemical quality of biochar and its performance is significantly dependent on the feedstock type and pyrolysis process parameters. Therefore, further experimental research and investigations in terms of lignocellulose biomass type and pyrolytic process parameters (temperature, heating rate and reaction time) are essential to produce biochar with desired physicochemical features for effective utilization. This review presents an updated report on slow pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, impact of different pyrolysis parameters and degradation pathway involved in the evolution properties of biomass. The influence of the feedstock type and lignocellulosic composition on the biochar properties are also discussed meticulously. The co-relationship between biochar yield at different pyrolysis temperatures and the development of textural properties provides valuable information for their effective utilization as a functional carbon material. Additionally, an extensive study was undertaken to collate and discuss the excellent physicochemical characteristics of biochar and summarizes the benefits of biochar application for diverse industrial purposes. Biochar is acknowledged for its excellent physicochemical properties owing to the thermal treatment and as a result its prospective diverse industrial applications such as for soil treatment, carbon sequestration, adsorbent (wastewater treatment or CO2 capture), producing activated carbon for gold recovery, energy storage and supercapacitor are summarized systematically in this review paper. For instance, biochar when applied in soil have shown improvement in soil respiration by 1.9 times. Furthermore, biochar when used to capture CO2 from flue gas stream under post-combustion scenario has demonstrated superior capture performance (2.8 mmol/g) compared to commercial activated carbon. This paper identified the knowledge gaps and outlooks in the field of the advancements of biochar from slow pyrolysis for targeted engineering applications mainly in the field of environmental remediation and energy harvesting.

Evaluation of Mechanical Properties and Pyrolysis Products of Carbon Fibers Recycled by Microwave Pyrolysis

Disposal of the waste from carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) has become an urgent problem due to the increasing application of CFRPs in many industries. A novel method for the rapid recovery of carbon fibers by a microwave pyrolysis and oxidation process was proposed in this study. The resin matrix was rapidly pyrolyzed by heating CFRPs directly with microwave radiation, and then the residual carbon and organic matter on the surface of carbon fibers were removed by oxidation to obtain recycled carbon fibers (RCFs). The recovery rate of recycled carbon fibers was measured, and their mechanical properties were evaluated by tensile strength and tensile modulus tests. The results showed that, after microwave pyrolysis at 500 °C for 15 min and oxidation at 550 °C for 30 min, the maximum tensile strength of RCFs was 3042.90 MPa (about 99.42% of that of virgin carbon fibers), the tensile modulus was 239.39 GPa, and the recovery rate was about 96.5%. The microstructure and chemical composition of RCFs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the components of the pyrolysis byproducts were detected by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. These results indicate that this method is suitable for the effective recovery of high-quality carbon fibers from CFRPs.

Bio-Based Solutions for Agriculture: Foliar Application of Wood Distillate Alone and in Combination with Other Plant-Derived Corroborants Results in Different Effects on Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.).

Simple SummaryBio-stimulants are showing growing success and are gradually replacing synthetic fertilizers in agriculture. Wood distillate (WD), also known as wood vinegar or pyroligneous acid, is a by-product of biomass pyrolysis and is increasingly used as a bio-stimulant for crop production. The purpose of this work was to test two types of WD utilizations: (i) pure WD (from BioDea®) and (ii) WD combined with 3% soy lecithin and 5% flavonoid-rich wood glycolic extract (BF; BioDea Flavor®), at concentrations of 0.25% and 0.50%. Our results indicate that foliar applications of both WD and BF increased chlorophyll content, biomass, and starch content in the treated lettuce, while WD, at a concentration of 0.50%, also increased glucose and fructose content. All the treatments were found to be safe, as neither of them showed a significant increase in the content of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in lettuce.Bio-stimulants are showing growing success and are gradually replacing synthetic fertilizers in agriculture. Wood distillate (WD), also known as wood vinegar or pyroligneous acid, is a by-product of biomass pyrolysis and is increasingly used as a bio-stimulant for crop production. This study investigated whether weekly foliar applications of 0.25% and 0.50% WD have a differential effect on the chlorophyll and sugar content as well as biomass production in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Moreover, the additional beneficial effect from the addition of corroborants of plant origin such as 3% soy lecithin and 5% flavonoid-rich wood glycolic extract to WD (BF) was investigated. Moreover, the possible toxicological concern from some potentially toxic elements (PTEs), namely Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn, which may be abundant in WD was verified. After four weeks, we found that 0.25% WD not only increases lettuce biomass, which has an economic value, but also has beneficial effects on other qualitative parameters such as sugars and total sweetness. On the other hand, the use of 0.5% WD decreased the content of soluble sugars, suggesting a hormetic-type effect. We did not find evidence of further beneficial effects from the addition to WD of plant-derived corroborants, nor of any enrichment in the content of the investigated PTEs.

Infiltration of direct-spun carbon nanotube articles

A key step towards realizing the promise of macroscopic carbon nanotube (CNT) articles in high-performance structural applications is polymer infiltration into the porous CNT structure, which improves stress transfer and promotes long-term material integrity. However, infiltration is often found to be sub-optimal - a significant impediment to the scaling and adoption of CNT-article composites that has thus far received little systematic attention. In this study, a unique combination of inverse gas chromatography (IGC) and a statistical thermodynamic model is used to accurately quantify the energetic driving force for infiltration into CNT articles for the first time. This is measured to have a very low value. Using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, IGC analysis and electron microscopy, this low energy is found to result from near-complete surface coverage by non-graphitic pyrolysis byproducts. The surface energy is improved by plasma treatment as confirmed by IGC analysis. The effects of the surface treatment and modifications to the porous structure on the infiltration rate of model liquids are studied by optical imaging. Accurate surface energy measurements and image analysis are coupled to shed light on the critical parameters in these CNT articles that dictate the infiltration physics, which can be tuned to maximize the rate and extent of space filling.