Shell Biomass Research Articles

Walnut shell/phenolic resin carbon electrodes via laser sintering and KOH activation

Currently, the application of 3D-printed biomass-based carbon electrodes is hindered by their suboptimal performance. This study utilizes walnut shell powder as a carbon source and employs Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology for the efficient 3D printing of a double-helix carbon precursor. High-performance biomass-based carbon electrodes are prepared through carbonization and KOH activation. Comparative studies on the microstructure and electrochemical performance of the carbonized and activated samples were conducted. Experimental results demonstrate that KOH activation significantly enhances the microstructure of the carbon electrodes, leading to marked improvements in their electrochemical performance. During desalination experiments, the carbon electrodes exhibited excellent ion removal efficiency, with a maximum conductivity reduction rate of 0.2 μS/cm·min, confirming their feasibility in seawater desalination applications. This research validates the potential of walnut shell biomass for the preparation of 3D-printed carbon electrodes, addressing bottlenecks in traditional carbon electrode manufacturing processes while promoting efficient biomass utilization and environmental protection.

Walnut Shell Biomass Triggered Formation of Fe3C-Biochar Composite for Removal of Diclofenac by Activating Percarbonate

Percarbonate (SPC) as a promising substitute for liquid H2O2 has many advantages in the application of in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO). Developing efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly catalysts for SPC activation plays the key role in promoting the development of SPC-based ISCO. Herein, the walnut shell biomass was combined with ferric nitrate for the catalytic synthesis of Fe3C@biochar composite (Fe3C@WSB), which demonstrated high efficiency in activating SPC for the removal of diclofenac (DCF). The Fe3C showed average crystallite size of 32.6 nm and the composite Fe3C@WSB demonstrated strong adsorptivity. The prepared Fe3C@WSB could activate both SPC and H2O2 with high efficiency at ca. pH 3 with extremely low leaching of iron, while in a weak acidic condition, higher efficiency of DCF removal was obtained in the Fe3C@WSB/SPC process than in the Fe3C@WSB/H2O2 process. Moreover, the Fe3C@WSB/SPC and Fe3C@WSB/H2O2 processes did not show significant differences when supplied with varying amounts of catalyst or oxidant, but the Fe3C@WSB/SPC process exhibited stronger capability in dealing with relatively highly concentrated DCF solution. Based on quenching experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis, heterogeneous activation of SPC was assumed as the dominant route for DCF degradation, and both the oxidation by radicals, including •OH, •O2− and CO3•−, combined with electron transfer pathway contributed to DCF degradation in the Fe3C@WSB/SPC process. The cycling experiment results also revealed the stability of Fe3C@WSB. This work may cast some light on the development of efficient catalysts for the activation of SPC.

Valorization of Ricinus communis outer shell biomass to biochar: Impact of thermal decomposition temperature on physicochemical properties and EMI shielding performance

The rising awareness of electromagnetic pollution has increased interest in renewable and ecologically sustainable materials for shielding electromagnetic waves. Research on carbon-based electromagnetic wave absorption materials derived from agro waste is widely explored due to their advantageous characteristics, including low density and consistent physicochemical properties. The research aims to produce biochar with maximum carbon content from Ricinus communis outer shell (RCOS) and to examine the characteristics of biochar/epoxy composites for their application in electromagnetic (EM) shielding. In this study, the composite made from RCOS-based biochar was effectively developed using slow pyrolysis at 400 °C–700 °C. The characterisations of enhanced properties of biochar were conducted by using yield analysis and proximate analysis, elemental analysis, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), electrical conductivity. The biochar pyrolysis results revealed that the biochar yield, fixed carbon and maximum carbon content were 30 wt%, 50.49 wt% and 79.2 wt%, respectively, at 700 °C. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that for the biochar at 700 °C, C=C and C-H functional groups were present, and the others were eliminated as volatile gases during biochar production. TG analysis demonstrated higher biochar stability with residues of 75 % for 700 °C. The biochar produced at 700 °C possesses the maximum electrical conductivity of 95 S/m due to the presence of graphitic carbon. The vector network analyser (VNA) measured a maximum shielding efficiency of 26.5 dB in the X-band frequency when adding 40 wt% biochar prepared at 700 °C to the epoxy matrix. The results suggest that the RCOS biochar/epoxy composites have promise as a novel type of absorbent materials because of their low density, lightweight structure, and extensive absorption capacities. These biochar-based lightweight composites can be used as a shielding material for electronic enclosures, telecommunication equipment, and aerospace applications.

Pretreatment of Camellia oleifera shell by ethanolamine-based solvents for selective delignification and enhanced enzymatic saccharification

Fruit shell biomass is an agricultural waste that could be valorised into various value-added chemicals. However, the intertwined structure between lignin and holocellulose limits free sugar generation for further fermentation, requiring efficient pretreatment for selective delignification. We pretreated Camellia oleifera shell by ethanolamine-based solvents (binary deep eutectic solvents and single ethanolamine or its derivatives), and compared pretreatment effectiveness of these solvents. Single ethanolamine was the best among ethanolamine-based solvents, indicating the unnecessity of deep eutectic solvent synthesis. Furthermore, structural characterization confirms that ethanolamine could effectively deconstruct Camellia oleifera shell with the highest delignification (76.46%) and sugar yields (83.73% for glucose and 66.87% for xylose) at 130 °C for 3 h. Additionally, correlation analysis suggests that alkalinity and proton dissociation capacity together determined the delignification capacity of ethanolamine. Our findings serve a potential solution to valorise the waste fruit shell lignocellulose resources.

Investigation of the Effect of Temperature on the Biofuel Performance of Hydrochar Obtained from Kidney Bean Shell

In this study, hydrochar products were obtained from kidney bean shell (KBS) biomass at different temperatures using the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) method. Hydrochar products were produced at three different temperatures (200, 220 and 240 C) and a holding time of 90 minutes. Biomass/water ratio was taken as 1:10. Analysis techniques such as Thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Ultimate analysis and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were used in the characterization of raw materials and hydrochar products. In addition, the fuel properties (high heating value, energy yield and energy densification ratio) of raw KBS and hydrochar products were also investigated. As the HTC temperature increases, the high heating value of hydrochar products increases. Among hydrochar products, the highest high heating value belongs to the product obtained at 240 C. The combustion behavior of raw and hydrochar a product was examined using the thermogravimetric analysis method and combustion parameters (Ti, Tb and Tm) were determined. As a result, this study has shown that the hydrochar product produced from KBS by hydrothermal carbonization method can be used as a biofuel material.

Environmental assessment of alkali-activated materials based on agro-industrial waste as alkaline activators through leaching tests

Global circular economy drives the development of sustainable alkali activated materials (AAM) for use as construction material from industrial by-products and wastes. The assessment of the potentially hazardous substances release of these new material combinations into the soil and groundwater over time is essential. In this study, the aim is the environmental assessment of three AAMs based on blast furnace slag (BFS), activated with almond shell biomass ash (ABA) as potassium source and three solid sources of silica from the agricultural industry, rice husk ash (RHA), spent diatomaceous earth (SDE) and bamboo leaf ash (BLA), using European horizontal leaching tests proposed for construction materials, for monolithic form, Dynamic Surface Leaching Test (DSLT) and for granular form, Up-flow Percolation Test and the Compliance leaching test, by simulating different scenarios of their entire life cycle. The leaching results of the AAM showed the effectiveness of the inertization of all the recycled materials studied, which exceeded some inert materials limits, by means of the activation process. Despite the absence of significant differences in the leaching mechanisms of the oxyanions As, Cr, Mo, Sb, Se and V between the three AAMs developed, they presented different long-term leaching behavior depending on their form, monolithic, or granular, and therefore in their different life cycle stages. Therefore, it is concluded that although the incorporation of agro-industrial waste as alternative activators in BFS based AAM according to the Dutch Soil Quality Decree (for unrestricted use of monolithic and granular materials) is an environmentally acceptable option, the design of waste derived AAMs should be assessed by means of a combination of leaching tests that cover their expected life cycle.

Obtaining phenolic-rich extracts from tree nut shells biomass by room temperature green extraction: Molecular insights and attribution analysis

The recycling of tree nut shells biomass (TNSB), a million-tons level inedible food waste, toward food and drug applications should be one of the most promising valorization pathways. However, therein biggest opportunity and challenge is to fully dig for treasure such as its own high-value biomacromolecules and natural active ingredients. This study completed a food and drug grade extraction by using five TNSB sample (i.e., walnut shell, hazelnut shell, macadamia shell, pin nut shell, and pistachio shell), two green solvents (water and ethanol), and cleaner room temperature green extraction (RTGE) technology; and revealed the molecular basis of the raw materials and their extracts through systematic and in-depth molecular analysis. The results showed that TNSB have extremely high lignin content, and their extracts (whether water or ethanol) are rich in phenolic compounds, which results in the latters having extremely strong antioxidant activities (comparable to vitamin C) and α-amylase inhibitory activities (comparable to acarbose). More specifically, walnut shell has the highest ever lignin content of 57% in all reported biomass. The water extract of walnut shell has more excellent properties, such as 147.65 mg/g of total reducing sugars (TRS), 60.49% of total phenolic content (TPC), 0.24 mg/mL of IC50, DPPH, 0.08 mg/mL of IC50, ABTS, and 13.44% of α-amylase inhibitory activity. Further molecular information shows that these reducing sugars are glucose, fructose, arabinose and fucose, and these phenolic compounds include phenol, vanillin, vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gentisic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, caffeic acid, and (trans)catechin. These results demonstrate fully that TNSB will become the preferred feedstock species for lignin-first biorefinery in the future, and walnut shell is undoubtedly the best one. Furthermore, TNSB-based RTGE extracts have the potential to be developed into natural antioxidants, preservatives, diabetes-therapeutic pharmaceutical preparations, nutraceutical and functional foods. In addition, we also used XLSTAT software to conduct a systematic attribution analysis, namely, principal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC), revealing the inner relationship between the multifactors including TRS, TPC, DPPH, ABTS and α-amylase inhibitory activity among TNSB species.

Gasification and Techno-Economic Study of Palm Shell Biomass and the Utilization of Dual Fuel Diesel Engine Operated Diesel Engine

Indonesia's oil reserves and production are steadily declining, accompanied by increasing fossil fuel consumption, particularly in Diesel Power Plants, which contribute to environmental impacts and exacerbate global warming. In response, the government issued a policy in 2028 to implement carbon emission trading for Diesel Power Plants with a capacity below 2 MW, as part of Indonesia's commitment to achieving Net Zero Emission (NZE) by 2060. Considering the significant state assets in the form of diesel-powered generators (approximately 5,200 diesel power plants) still operating throughout Indonesia, the government has also issued policies and strategic plans to develop Biomass Power Plants. This research focuses on examining the combination of biosolar B35 and syngas usage in diesel engines, known as dual fuel engine technology, utilizing abundant palm shell biomass waste in Southeast Sulawesi. The gasification process to create syngas uses a multi-stage downdraft gasifier system with the optimal air ratio variation from previous research, namely 1:7:2 in the pyrolysis, oxidation, and reduction zones. Testing is conducted on a diesel engine at 3000 rpm with load variations ranging from 500 Watt to 4500 Watt. The load is gradually increased at 500-Watt intervals. The syngas mass flow rate is also varied by adjusting four different syngas valve openings to the diesel engine's intake manifold. This study will compare the results of diesel engine operation using single fuel (biosolar B35) with dual fuel (biosolar B35 + syngas) at each engine load interval to determine engine performance, biosolar B35 fuel substitution or savings, carbon reduction in the dual fuel diesel system, and calculate the techno-economics for up-scaling on a 250 kW capacity engine at PT Nusantara Power, Unit Pembangkitan Kendari, ULPLTD Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi. The aim is to support government programs and policies in realizing environmentally friendly and sustainable Diesel Power Plants, as well as to open opportunities for developing biomass-based dual fuel engine technology in Indonesia.

Comparative analysis of tamarind shell biomass powder and roasted chickpeas powder in kenaf fiber reinforced vinyl ester composite

Comparative analysis of tamarind shell biomass powder and roasted chickpeas powder in kenaf fiber reinforced vinyl ester composite

Efficient degradation of levofloxacin using peroxymonosulfate activated by a novel magnetic catalyst derived from waste walnut shell biomass

Developing an economical and efficient catalyst derived from biochar and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade pollutants holds promise for practical applications. Herein, a simple in-situ synthesis method was designed to generate zeolitic imidazole framework with Co-based (ZIF-67) on the surface of waste walnut shell biomass, and novel derived magnetic catalysts (BC@CobC, Biochar@Co base Carbon) were obtained by high-temperature carbonization. This structure could avoid the drawbacks of structural collapse and particle agglomeration of MOF derivatives, while the presence of biochar could accelerate electron transfer and improve the activation performance. For the degradation of levofloxacin, the removal rate in the 0.5-BC@CobC/PMS system reached 89.88 % in 15 min with a mineralization of 60.43 % when the dosage of catalyst was 0.01 g L−1. Capture experiments and EPR tests showed that SO4−•, •OH, •O2− and 1O2 were jointly participated in the levofloxacin degradation process. Meanwhile, the BC@CobC/PMS system was minimally affected by the pH, co-existing inorganic anions, and natural active substances. It is worth noting that the BC@CobC/PMS system also had excellent removal effect on other typical organic pollutants, and the removal rate could reach 100 %. Cycling experiments showed that BC@CobC maintained high catalytic activity after multiple recycling. The degradation pathway of levofloxacin was also analyzed. Compared to the existing reports, the catalyst is economically superior, with much improved pollutant removal, and boasts a lower catalyst usage. This work will provide a viable idea in terms of reusing biomass waste and activating PMS for wastewater treatment.

Production of syngas from oil palm shell biomass using microwave gasification

The research work on microwave gasification (MWG) is limited in the literature compared to pyrolysis, and little attention has been paid to its efficiency. The present study aims to investigate the effect of MW power (20–40 %) and absorber loading (0–15 wt%) on the temperature, gas composition, syngas yield, quality, and efficiencies during gasification of oil palm shell biomass in a 1.25 kW and 2.45 GHz lab-scale microwave (MW) system. Overall, the yield and quality of syngas increased with MW power, but it decreased after reaching optimum absorber loading. The highest product gas (63.3 wt%) with a heating value of 11.66 MJ/m3 was obtained at an optimum process condition (absorber loading of 10 wt% and MW power of 40 %). Under these conditions, the heating rate of 17 °C/s and maximum syngas (CO + H2) (76.5 vol%) were recorded. The specific energy consumption increased with MW power but dropped with increasing absorber loading, demonstrating MWG to be more energy efficient at higher biomass loading. MW process efficiency (19.7 %) and biomass conversion efficiency (55.6 %) were achieved at optimum process conditions while considering syngas only. The MWG system can become more energy and process-efficient if all byproducts are utilized and scaled up.

Synthesis and Analysis of Activated Carbon Structure from Ketaping Fruit Shell Biomass Through X-Ray Diffraction Characterization

Synthesis of activated carbon from ketaping fruit shell biomass aims to produce high-quality active carbon to be applied in various fields. Activated carbon from ketaping fruit shells is synthesized by thermal treatment. It is synthesized through two stages, namely carbonation and activation. The carbonation stage is carried out at 400oC under O2 gas flow. This aims to break down lignol cellulose into carbon with low-quality pores through incomplete combustion. The activation stage is carried out by mixing activated carbon and KOH in varying ratios of 1:1, 1:3 and 1:5 wt. It is carried out by multilevel thermal treatment at 700oC for 3.5 hours to form activated carbon with high pore quality. The activated carbon produced is then subjected to EDS characterization to see the active carbon content and XRD to see the structure of the active carbon with the characteristics of distance between layers, layer height, layer width, and number of layers. The results of EDX analysis show that the active carbon from the shell of the ketaping fruit contains 97.52% carbon and 2.48% oxygen. The results of XRD analysis show that the activated carbon surface area optimum at a molar ratio of 1:3 wt is 1,708.62 mg-1. The distance of the resulting activated carbon layer is 0.3566nm at the 002 peak and 0.2102nm at the 100 peak. The layer height and width of the active carbon layer produced at a 1:3 wt ratio were 0.5489nm and 0.3002nm. Meanwhile, the number of layers of active carbon produced is 3 layers.

Influence of Soda and Kraft lignin in polyurethane coatings for the corrosion protection of mild steel in 3.5 % NaCl solution

This study highlights the potential of coconut shell biomass waste-derived lignins (CSL) as corrosion inhibitors to reinforce the coating properties of polyurethane. The utilization of CSL involves a green approach to prepare eco-friendly metallic coatings. Herein, lignin was extracted via Kraft and Soda pulping processes. The present findings indicated that the percentage yield of Soda lignin (SL) (26.43 ± 0.75 %) was significantly higher than that of Kraft lignin (KL) (8.52 ± 0.39 %). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization corrosion monitoring techniques were used to evaluate the anticorrosive performance of modified polyurethane coatings on mild steel exposed to 3.5 % NaCl solution. In this study, doping concentration of 5 wt% KL and SL into polyurethane attained the optimum anticorrosion performance. The surface conditions of uncoated and coated mild steel substrates were investigated through scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, salt spray and adhesion tests. EDX analysis demonstrated that polyurethane added with 5 wt% doping concentration of SL contained the highest content of Fe (86.05 wt%) compared to 5 wt% KL which contained 79.64 wt% of Fe, whereas neat polyurethane coating contained 75.43 wt% of Fe. Hence, enhanced corrosion protection of polyurethane through the addition of CSL, particularly SL, possesses a viable and an effective green approach to utilize coconut shell biomass waste for the application as a potential corrosion inhibitor in organic coatings.

Facile Recycling of Waste Biomass for Preparation of Hierarchical Porous Carbon with High-Performance Electromagnetic Wave Absorption.

Hierarchical-porous-structured materials have been widely used in the field of electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption, playing a critical role in minimizing EMW interference and pollution. High-quality EMW absorbers, characterized by a lower thickness, lighter weight, wider absorption band, and stronger absorption capacity, have been instrumental in reducing damage and preventing malfunctions in the automotive and aviation industries. The utilization of discarded nut shells through recycling can not only alleviate environmental problems but relieve resource constraints. Herein, a facile method for the preparation of hierarchical porous biomass carbon derived from abandoned Xanthoceras Sorbifolium Bunge Shell (XSS) biomass was developed for high-performance EMW absorption. The porous structures of XSS biochar were studied by using different levels of the K2CO3 activator and simple carbonization. The effect of K2CO3 on the EMW parameters, including the complex permittivity, complex permeability, polarization relaxation, and impedance matching, was analyzed. The best EMW absorption performance of the XSS biochar was observed at a mass ratio of activator-to-biomass of 2:1. A minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -38.9 dB was achieved at 9.12 GHz, and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EABmax) of up to 3.28 GHz (14.72~18.0 GHz) could be obtained at a 1.8 mm thickness. These results demonstrated that hierarchical porous XSS carbon was prepared successfully. Simultaneously, the prepared XSS biochar was confirmed as a potential and powerfully attractive EMW-absorbing material. The proposal also provided a simple strategy for the development of a green, low-cost, and sustainable biochar as a lightweight high-performance absorbing material.

Microwave irradiation-induced yield enhancement of coconut shell biomass-derived graphene-like material

This paper reports a new strategy (rapid and selective microwave irradiation) to achieve an improved yield of graphene-like material derived from coconut shell biomass. The influence of various microwave irradiation (MWI) powers (80, 240, and 400 W) treatment on the crystalline structures, morphology, and electrochemical performance of the produced samples was determined and compared with the virgin-untreated specimen. The obtained samples were analyzed using varied analytical techniques. The FESEM images of the irradiated samples revealed the existence of graphene-like morphologies accompanied by some thin and transparent sheets. The sample at 80 W displayed the best quality with the highest yield, improving the carbon content, reducing the oxygen functional groups, and increasing the BET-specific surface area by as much as 1238.48 m2/g. The electrochemical properties of the sample treated at 80 W (optimum MWI power treatment) exhibited rectangular curves against scanning speeds, indicating an ideal capacitive behaviour called electric double-layer capacitance (EDLC). It is asserted that the proposed systematic and eco-friendly approach in obtaining the high-performance graphene-like material at low cost may open up sundry opportunities for practical applications, leading towards sustainable development.

Effect of recycled polyethylene catalyst for Mediterranean pine seed shell biomass pyrolysis on hydrogen and methane production

ABSTRACT The present study exhibits the potential of hydrogen and methane gases production from the Mediterranean pine tree seed shell biomass over recycled polyethylene wastes as catalyst. In the study, firstly, the viscosity and density of polyethylene materials and degassing point were determined. The pyrolysis was carried out at a rate of 50 °C/min at 600°C temperature. The obtained gases were analyzed with gas chromatography device. At the last step of the experiments, solid residues were observed under an optical microscope, and their microstructures were also examined. The results showed that Mediterranean pine seed shell biomass and its mixture with low-density polyethylene may produce methane and hydrogen gases. M8 catalyst, which has one of the lowest viscosity values (0.45 gr/10 min.) and highest density values (0.950 gr/cm3) produced the highest methane and hydrogen gas yields. In the pyrolysis experiments, 38.44% CH4, 19.50% CO2 and 42.06% H2 gases were obtained from Mediterranean pine seed shell biomass. Moreover, CO2 emission values of biomass were calculated and compared with DEFRA values. The study demonstrated that, since hydrogen and methane can be obtained through the pyrolysis process, Mediterranean pine tree seed shell can be classified as a new biomass source and has potential to alternative fuel to fossil-based fuels for internal combustion engines.

Cashew nut shell biomass: A source for high-performance CO2/CH4 adsorption in activated carbon

This study embarks on the synthesis of activated carbon (AC) from cashew nut shells using a potassium carbonate (K2CO3) activation process, with a specific focus on its practical application in high-pressure gas adsorption. Among the synthesized samples, MCAK85 emerged as the most efficient, demonstrating a specific surface area of 1693 m2/g and total and micropore volumes of 0.839 cm3/g and 0.641 cm3/g, respectively. Importantly, this bioorganic activated carbon exhibited high sorption capacities for CO2 and CH4, with uptake values of 11.0 mmol/g and 5.5 mmol/g at 10 bar at 25°C, and a CO2/CH4 selectivity range between 9.1 and 1.8. A comprehensive range of characterization techniques were employed to analyze the structural and chemical properties of the synthesized AC, providing valuable insights into the functional groups and molecular structure. The morphology of the AC was examined using SEM, while the point of zero charge was determined to understand the surface charge characteristics. Additionally, TGA was utilized to assess the thermal stability and composition of the AC. This study underscores the potential of utilizing agricultural waste, specifically cashew nut shells, in the creation of effective materials for gas storage and purification applications. The high-pressure adsorption capacity of the produced AC, coupled with its sustainable and eco-friendly nature, underscores its suitability for environmental and industrial applications, particularly in areas focusing on greenhouse gas capture and air purification, thereby inspiring further research and development in this field.

Characterization of Pyrolysis Oil Extracted from High Lignocellulosic Groundnut Shell Biomass

<div>Fossil fuel reserves are swiftly depleting when consumer demand for these fuels continues to rise. In order to meet the demand and diminish the pollution derived through conventional fuels, it is crucial to employ cleaner fuels made from substitutes such as waste biomass. Also, converting waste biomass to fuel can lower usage of landfills. There are many biomass resources that are suitable for fuel production, out of which groundnut is also a potential feedstock. Groundnut shell biomass was chosen for this study, as it is a waste leftover during shelling of groundnuts for various commercial applications. The procured groundnut shells were converted to oil using pyrolysis process and was distilled. Both the pyrolysis oil and the distilled oil were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared instrument wherein the presence of functional groups such as alcohols, amines, and carboxylic acids were identified. Further analysis of the distilled oil using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry indicates that major peaks correspond to phenolic groups. Acetic groups such as vaccenic acid and dicarboxylic acid were also identified in the distilled oil. Physiochemical property tests of distilled oil reveal that the overall qualities were inferior when compared to diesel. Further studies on using groundnut shell distilled oil as a fuel for combustion engine can be done using blend strategy.</div>

Development and performance assessment of a novel multigeneration clean energy system based on biomass-LNG using a dynamic model and supervised learning algorithms

Combining process integration mechanisms with artificial intelligence (AI) can be used as a tool for maximum use of biomass capacity and energy production. This study proposes a continuous multi-generation hybrid energy production system based on biomass-LNG using the carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) method. In this system, using the Gibbs free energy minimization approach, a process based on the fluidized bed gasifier was designed, which in addition to producing hydrogen and electricity from biomass, also produces liquid CO2 and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) from liquid natural gas and limestone for the first time. This process was also examined from thermal (HHV) and thermodynamic (Exergy) standpoints. The simulation of the gasification unit was able to predict the percentage of exhaust gases from the gasifier with errors of RMSE = 3.8 and RMSE = 3.2 for almond shell and rice shell biomass, respectively. Following that, a dataset with more than 14 million records was generated. Then, machine learning methods were employed to investigate and improve the process's simulation characteristics. The evaluation of 15 machine learning algorithms in the construction of the predictive model showed that ANN, Extra Tree Regressor, and Random Forest are the most accurate algorithms in predicting the desired values (such as hydrogen, work, PCC, liquid CO2, exergy, and HHV) with R2 > 0.99. The dataset analysis showed that the current process could produce 130 kg/h of hydrogen, 375 kWh of work, 2600 kg/h of PCC, and 531 kg/h of liquid carbon dioxide on average. As a final step, a WPF desktop application was developed that simplifies the use of ML models so that the impact of changing the variables can easily be calculated.

Numerical Analysis of the Co-firing Combustion of Coal and Palm Shell Kernel In Stoker Boiler

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) states that Indonesia is committed to contributing to global climate change solutions. The government will also continue to encourage the development of a number of renewable energy (EBT)-based power generation projects. This is based on the use of renewable energy which is still low, namely around (1.9%) 8215.5 MW. Meanwhile, the potential for EBT to become energy can be around 443,208 MW. One source of EBT in Indonesia that can be utilized is Biomass. Co-firing of biomass is a relatively cheaper option and does not require investment in new power plants. However, Co-firing combustion has several aspects that need to be studied, such as temperature combustion and the generation of gas emissions. Therefore, this study aims to determine the temperature and the emissions resulting from co-firing of palm kernel shell biomass. This research was conducted using the Computational Fluid Dynamics method on stoker boiler model. The test parameters of the research was the maximum and average temperatures in the furnace, and the average and maximum fractions of CO2, SO2 in the stoker boiler furnace. From the research conducted, it was found that the resulting combustion temperature decreased as the co-firing fraction of the biomass increased. However, CO2 gas emissions increased and SO2 decreased with increasing fraction of co-firing biomass which showed a decrease in harmful gas emissions and complete combustion that occurred in the furnace.