Agricultural Waste Residues Research Articles

Agricultural Waste for Energy Storage, Conversion and Agricultural Applications

Agricultural waste residues (agro-waste) present a significant source of carbohydrates that are often underutilized despite their valuable properties. With increasing urbanization and limited non-renewable resources, the valorization of agro-waste is imperative. The global energy demand is on the rise, driven by factors such as population growth, industrialization, and a desire for enhanced living standards. Traditional energy sources, especially fossil fuels, have come under scrutiny for their environmental impact and limited availability. Consequently, there is an increasing focus on developing renewable and sustainable energy solutions, particularly through the use of agricultural waste. Agricultural waste—including crop residues, animal manure, and byproducts from food processing—represents a largely untapped resource for energy production. Converting this waste into valuable energy can help meet rising energy needs while offering environmental and economic advantages, such as mitigating waste disposal issues and creating additional income sources for the agricultural sector. Despite the significant potential of agricultural waste for energy storage and conversion, several challenges remain. These include issues related to logistics and transportation, the need for pretreatment, and concerns about economic feasibility. Future research should aim to enhance conversion technologies and better integrate agricultural waste into energy and agricultural systems. This review discusses various energy conversion technologies and applications of agricultural waste, including biofuels, biogas, and direct combustion, while exploring its role in energy storage through biochar. This review examines the composition and properties of agricultural waste, the various technologies available for energy conversion, and how agricultural waste can be utilized as a feedstock for biofuels, biogas, and direct combustion. It also investigates the integration of agricultural waste in energy storage solutions like biochar and explores other agricultural applications beyond energy production.

Adsorption of Cobalt Ions by Activated Carbon Prepared from Agricultural Waste Residues and Treated with Magnetic Nanomaterials: A Review

General Background: The study of heavy metal adsorption is crucial for environmental protection and industrial wastewater management. Specific Background: The adsorption of cobalt ions (Co2+) by activated carbon derived from agricultural waste, enhanced with magnetic nanomaterials, has garnered significant interest due to its potential for cost-effective and efficient wastewater treatment. Knowledge Gap: Despite numerous studies, there remains a lack of comprehensive research on the specific combination of agricultural waste-derived activated carbon and magnetic nanomaterials for Co2+ adsorption. Aims: This study aims to meticulously review the existing literature on the preparation of activated carbon from agricultural residues, the enhancement of its properties with magnetic nanomaterials, and its effectiveness in Co2+ ion adsorption. Results: The review demonstrates that activated carbon with a large specific surface area and diverse functional groups significantly improves Co2+ adsorption. The incorporation of magnetic nanomaterials further enhances this efficiency due to increased surface area and magnetic properties. Novelty: This research uniquely combines agricultural waste valorization with advanced nanotechnology, presenting a sustainable and innovative approach to heavy metal adsorption. Implications: The findings underscore the dual environmental benefits of recycling agricultural waste and mitigating industrial pollution, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution for cobalt ion recovery from wastewater. This study serves as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers focusing on sustainable environmental remediation technologies. Highlights: Enhanced Adsorption: Magnetic nanomaterials boost activated carbon's efficiency. Sustainable Solution: Agricultural waste-derived activated carbon is eco-friendly and cost-effective. Comprehensive Insight: Review identifies research gaps and future directions. Keywords: cobalt ion adsorption, activated carbon, agricultural waste, magnetic nanomaterials, wastewater treatment

Remediation of arsenic and fluoride from groundwater: a critical review on bioadsorption, mechanism, future application, and challenges for water purification.

In the past few decades, the excessive and inadequate use of technological advances has led to groundwater contamination, mainly caused by organic and inorganic pollutants, which are highly harmful to human health, agriculture, water bodies, and aquaculture. Among all toxic pollutants, As and F- play a significant role in groundwater contamination due to their excellent reactivity with other elements. To mitigate the prevalence of arsenic and fluoride within the water system, the use of biochar gives an attractive strategy for removing them mainly because of the substantial surface area, pore size, pH, aromatic structure, and functional groups inherent in biochar, which are primarily dependent upon its raw material and pyrolysis temperature. Researcher develops different methods like physiochemical and electrochemical for treating arsenic and fluoride contamination. Among all removal methods, bioadsorption using agricultural waste residues shows effective/feasible removal of As and F- due to its low cost, ecofriendly nature, readily available, and efficient reuse compared with several other harmful synthetic materials that demand costly design specifications. This study discusses current developments in bioadsorption methods for As and F- that use agricultural-based biomaterials and describes the prevailing state of arsenic and fluoride removal strategies that use biomaterials precisely.

The Spatial–Temporal Emission of Air Pollutants from Biomass Burning during Haze Episodes in Northern Thailand

Air pollutants from biomass burning, including forest fires and agricultural trash burning, have contributed significantly to the pollution of the Asian atmosphere. Burned area estimates are variable, making it difficult to measure these emissions. Improving emission quantification of these critical air pollution sources requires refining methods and collecting thorough data. This study estimates air pollutants from biomass burning, including PMs, NOX, SO2, BC, and OC. Machine learning (ML) with the Random Forest (RF) method was used to assess burned areas in Google Earth Engine. Forest emissions were highest in the upper north and peaked in March and April 2019. Air pollutants from agricultural waste residue were found in the lower north, but harvesting seasons made timing less reliable. Biomass burning was compared to the MODIS aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Sentinel-5P air pollutants, with all comparisons made by the Pollution Control Department (PCD) Thailand air monitoring stations. Agro-industries, mainly sugar factories, produce air pollutants by burning bagasse as biomass fuel. Meanwhile, the emission inventory of agricultural operations in northern Thailand, including that of agro-industry and forest fires, was found to have a good relationship with the monthly average levels of ambient air pollutants. Overall, the information uncovered in this study is vital for air quality control and mitigation in northern Thailand and elsewhere.

Comparative studies on the cultivation, yield, and nutritive value of an edible mushroom, Pleurotus tuber-regium (Rumph. ex Fr.) Singer, grown under different agro waste substrates.

In the present study, Pleurotus tuber-regium (Rumph. ex Fr.) Singer collected from Keeriparai forest of Kanyakumari district, South India was cultivated using environmentally benign, low-cost agricultural waste residues (paddy straw, sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, and sawdust) as growth substrates. The main goal of this study was to assess the cultivation, yield, and nutritional value of P. tuber-regium fruiting bodies grown under different growth substrates. Spawn running time and time for primordia formation were found to be shorter in mushroom growing with paddy straw substrate compared to sawdust and sugarcane bagasse. A quick spawn run time was observed in paddy straw substrate (12 ± 1 day) followed by sugarcane bagasse (15 ± 1 day) and sawdust (23 ± 1 day). The primordia was well developed in the macrofungus grown with paddy straw substrate on 18 ± 1 day followed by sugarcane bagasse (22 ± 1 day) and sawdust (32 ± 1 day). Significantly higher yield of fruiting bodies with increased contents of protein and carbohydrate and low level of fat was obtained when P. tuber-regium was cultivated with paddy straw substrate. While, cultivation of P. tuber-regium in sawdust and sugarcane bagasse resulted in increased contents of K, Na, Ca, and Mg along with highest energy value. On the other hand, rice husk did not support the cultivation of this macrofungus. Therefore, it is of significant interest to initiate the commercial production of this macrofungus so as to fight against the problems of malnutrition found in few African and south Asian countries.

Bioenergy and Biopesticides Production in Serbia—Could Invasive Alien Species Contribute to Sustainability?

The critical role of energy in contemporary life and the environmental challenges associated with its production imply the need for research and exploration of its novel resources. The present review paper emphasizes the continuous exploitation of non-renewable energy sources, suggesting the transition toward renewable energy sources, termed ‘green energy’, as a crucial step for sustainable development. The research methodology involves a comprehensive review of articles, statistical data analysis, and examination of databases. The main focus is biomass, a valuable resource for bioenergy and biopesticide production, highlighting not only its traditional diverse sources, such as agricultural waste and industrial residues, but also non-edible invasive alien plant species. This study explores the utilization of invasive alien species in circular economy practices, considering their role in bioenergy and biopesticide production. The potential conflict between bioproduct acquisition and food sector competition is discussed, along with the need for a shift in approaching non-edible biomass sources. The paper emphasizes the untapped potential of under-explored biomass resources and the necessity for policy alignment and public awareness. Species with a significant potential for these sustainable strategies include Acer negundo L., Ailanthus altisima (Mill.) Swingle., Amorpha fruticosa L., Elaengus angustifolia L., Falopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decr., Hibiscus syriacus L., Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm., Paulownia tomentosa Siebold and Zucc., Partenocissus quenquefolia (L.) Planch., Rhus typhina L., Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Thuja orientalis L. In conclusion, the paper highlights the intertwined relationship between energy, environmental sustainability, and circular economy principles, providing insights into Serbia’s efforts and potential in adopting nature-based solutions for bioenergy and biopesticides acquisition.

DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI-PISTON BINDERLESS BRIQUETTING MACHINE

Cooking and heating fuels needed for everyday survival is experiencing either dwindling supply, fluctuating prices or difficulty in accessing it, with developing countries being the worst hit, so the poor and low income earners rely greatly on fuelwood to meet their everyday energy needs. Agricultural waste residues can be a reliable alternative to fossil fuels and fuelwood when converted into solid fuels called briquettes, whose quality is determined by the production factors. In this research, a multi-piston binderless briquetting machine was designed, fabricated and tested by producing briquettes from selected biomass wastes (corn cob, sugarcane bagasse, groundnut shell, sawdust and rice husk) and polyethylene wastes (sachet water wastes), using the machine. Experimental run was designed via Taguchi fractional factorial using Minitab 17 software, for 27 runs orthogonal array. Input factors; moulding temperature (250, 270 and 290 0C), Moulding pressure (46, 56 and 66 MPa), composition of polyethylene (10, 20 and 30%) and dwell time (60, 180 and 300 seconds) were varied. From the analysis of the materials and briquettes produced, highest bulk density of the mixed material was 250kg/m3, highest compressed density of the briquettes was 587 kg/m3, highest relaxed density was 545 kg/m3 while highest calorific value was 26.3162 MJ/kg. For proximate analysis, lowest moisture content of the briquettes was 0.04%, lowest volatile matter was 71.63%, lowest ash content was 2.77% and highest fixed carbon was 20.40%. Fuels produced from these selected materials were fuels of good qualities that can provide alternative to fossil fuels and fuelwood.

AGRO-WASTE NATURAL FIBER SAMPLE PREPARATION TECHNIQUES FOR BIO-COMPOSITES DEVELOPMENT: METHODOLOGICAL INSIGHTS

In today's engineering industries, there is a growing focus on sustainable and eco-friendly products due to their recyclability, abundant availability and property variability. One key aspect of this sustainability effort is the development of eco-friendly materials, particularly bio composites derived from agricultural waste residues. The physical, mechanical and thermal properties as well as suitability of these fibers depend greatly on the methods used for extraction, processing, chemical modification and physical treatments. Understanding these processes comprehensively is essential for obtaining desired natural fibers/fillers from agricultural waste for creating effective bio composites to meet specific application demands. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the various extraction and modification techniques employed for natural fibers. It offers an in-depth review of diverse extraction processes, ranging from the initial harvesting to the decortication stage. It has been revealed that the choice of extraction methodologies depends on climate, water resources, local traditions, and the desired fiber quality. Additionally, the paper explores chemical and physical treatments, highlighting how each method influences the structure and properties of natural fibers. Overall, this review offers practical insights into the steps taken to transform agro-waste biomass into desired natural fiber and in turn biocomposite material, while enhancing product quality and performance.

Comparative study of high-solid anaerobic digestion at laboratory and industrial scale – Process performance and microbial community structure

High-solid anaerobic digestion (HSD) for biogas production, compared with wet digestion, is attracting interest due to advantages such as reduced fresh water usage, improved digestate quality and potential for high organic loading rates. However, the underlying processes are not well described and evaluated for HSD. In this study, two laboratory-scale reactors (46 L) of plug-flow type were designed to simulate an industrial-scale HSD process co-digesting food waste, agricultural waste and garden residues under thermophilic conditions. Performance of the laboratory-scale HSD process under stable and disturbed conditions was compared with that in industrial-scale reactors. The results showed that the laboratory- and industrial-scale processes had similar efficiency (93 %) and VS-reduction (43 % and 41 %, respectively) and relatively similar specific methane production (339 and 366 NL CH4/kg VS, respectively). Results from tracer studies combined with chemical analyses showed no phase-separation or plug-flow behaviour along the horizontal axis in either laboratory- or industrial-scale reactors, indicating a need for further process optimisation. Analyses of microbial community structure showed high similarity between laboratory- and industrial-scale, but with some differences caused by downscaling. During the experiment, the laboratory- and industrial-scale processes both showed signs of disturbance, i.e. VFA accumulation at NH4+-N levels > 4 g/L, accompanied by a shift in microbial community structure at both scales, with significant increases in relative abundance of e.g. genera Defluviitoga and Methanothermobacter. In conclusion, this study confirmed the validity of simulating HSD at laboratory scale, thus providing valuable insights into biogas production from high-solid substrates, both in laboratory- and industrial-scale processes.

Sustainable upcycling of sugarcane bagasse into nanofibrillated cellulose utilizing novel green solvents and high intensity ultrasonication

Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) are versatile materials with applications spanning from advanced composites to water treatment innovations. Production of NFC using biopolymers found in agricultural waste residues holds importance due to their environmentally friendly nature, providing viable substitute for non-renewable petroleum resources. From the perspective of sustainable economy, this article focuses on utilizing agricultural waste, sugarcane bagasse (SCB) for the production of nanofibrillated cellulose using green approach. Here, we synthesized four different types of acidic natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) and investigated their potential as pretreatment agents synergistically with acetosolv, aiming to enhance cellulose recovery from SCB. The pretreatment step led to significant yield of cellulose (84.4 %) using Gly-CA NADES and acetosolv combination. The yields in case of Xyl-CA (82.2 %), Gly-TA (75.6 %) and Xyl-TA (68.9 %) were relatively lower. Subsequent implementation of high-intensity ultrasonication (HIU) process resulted in rapid nanofibrillation of fibres with minimal cellulose loss. The morphological and particle size analyses of the produced NFC samples using SEM, TEM and DLS revealed that they exhibited heterogeneity with lengths varying from 25 to 80 nm and widths varying from 5 to 10 nm, indicating a high efficiency of disintegration. The qualitative analysis of NFCs was also investigated by employing XRD, FTIR and TGA/DTG that further determined that the structure of NFCs remained unaltered even after subjecting it to various treatment methods. Thus, the study signifies a holistic approach to resource recovery and promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly biomass conversion processes.

Waste biomass derived highly-porous carbon material for toxic metal removal: Optimisation, mechanisms and environmental implications

Toxic elements, lead, and copper are often found in wastewater discharged from industries such as mining. The discharge of untreated effluent poses severe environmental challenges and sorption methods using agricultural waste materials are proposed as an efficient and cost-effective solution. For this research, activated sunflower material (ASM) was prepared from abundantly available agricultural sunflower waste residues and utilised to remove Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions from an aqueous medium. To begin, we examine variables that may have an impact on the adsorption process, such as pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and initial concentration using Box-Behnken Design (BBD) to find optimal conditions. Maximum removal efficiency was found at a pH of 5, contact time of 180 min, and initial concentration of 50 mg/L for Pb2+ and 150 mg/L for Cu2+. Additionally, adsorbent dose differed by element, for Cu2+ it was 200 mg, whilst for Pb2+ it was 124 mg. Features of activated carbon such as morphology, elemental composition, textural properties, and surface functionalities were characterised using SEM-EDS, BET, FTIR, and XPS. The adsorption equilibrium data were analysed by Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. It was found that the obtained results for Pb2+ adsorption were better described with the Freundlich isotherm model. Maximum adsorption capacities for Pb2+ and Cu2+ were 91.8 mg/g and 20.5 mg/g, respectively. Furthermore, kinetic studies confirmed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model for Pb2+, but for Cu2+ all applied kinetic models fitted experimental data with the same values of the correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.99). After comprehensive analysis using the methods mentioned above, ASM was tested for the removal of Cu2+ from mining wastewater sample, and the obtained removal efficiency was 98.6% ± 2.0%. The results of desorption experiments conducted, confirm that ASM has good potential to be reused for the purpose of removing Cu2+ from wastewater.

Recovery of Pulp from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch and Used Paper for Sustainable Paper Production

Agricultural waste residue such as empty fruit bunch (EFB) has great potential as an alternative feedstock in pulp and paper industry. This study provides insights into the use of EFB as an alternative non-wood fibre resource for pulping and papermaking. EFB was mixed with used paper (UP) according to the ratio of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 on dry basis. The hemi-cellulose and lignin contents in EFB was removed by soda-pulping using 15% w/v sodium hydroxide for 30 minutes at 100°C. Chemical analyses were performed to determine the ash content, lignin content, and the cellulose content (Rowel method). Physical and mechanical properties of the EFB/UP paper were characterised according to the TAPPI Standards including grammage, porosity, moisture content and tensile strength. The average fibre length of all EFB/UP papers showed different fibre length ranging from 1.0 to 1.2 mm. EFB25 (25% EFB) was found to have the least moisture content of 7.28% meanwhile EFB100 had the least ash content of 2.28% and the highest cellulose and lignin content of 45.22% and 26.5%, respectively. EFB25 demonstrated the highest tensile index of 2.01 Nm/g. There are no major colour changes and no trace of fungal growth on the surface of all paper samples after 4 weeks of storage without temperature and humidity control. It was found that paper with EFB25 displayed good physical appearance with grammage of 59.8 g/m2 that is almost comparable to commercialised paper of 70 g/m2 and suitable for writing.

Particleboard Creation from Agricultural Waste Residue of Seed Hemp.

In this research, agricultural residue of seed hemp variety "Adzelvieši" was used to create hemp particleboard samples. Hemp was grown in three experimental fields where it was observed that after seed harvesting, 3.5 tonnes of hemp stems per hectare remained. The plants were processed with milling, cutting, and sieving equipment. Moisture content and particle size distribution were observed throughout raw material processing. Hemp boards were produced using the cold pressing method with 10% urea formaldehyde resin as the binder. The boards were made as 20 mm thick single-layer parts with a density range of 220 ± 30 kg/m3 and porosity of 86%. Board structural analysis was performed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy methods. Mechanical strength was determined by performing bending strength, internal bond strength, and screw withdrawal tests. The thermal conductivity reached 0.047 ± 0.008 W/(mK). The results were compared with industrially produced hemp shive boards and materials in the developmental or production stage. The feasibility for the experimental production cycle proposed in the study is discussed.

Synergistic Effects and Kinetics in Co-Pyrolysis of Waste Tire With Five Agricultural Residues Using Thermogravimetric Analysis

Abstract Continued social and mobility development has caused a sharp increase in the number of waste tires, increased environmental pollution, and waste of limited resources. Agricultural residues as a bioresource, which has drawn increased attention in recent years. The thermochemical conversion of waste tires and agricultural residues and their mixtures offers important prospects for scientific development, which can provide energy security and a much reduced environmental footprint. In this paper, pyrolysis of waste tires and its co-pyrolysis with maize stalk, wheat straw, cotton stalk, rape straw, or peanut shell agricultural residues, in mass ratios of 1:1 were investigated at different heating rate using thermogravimetric analysis. The kinetic parameters were calculated using Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) kinetic models at heating rates of 20, 30, and 50 °C/min. The synergistic effect between waste tires and agricultural residues was explored by calculating the deviation between the experimental and calculated values. The results showed the presence of a synergistic effect between the co-pyrolysis of waste tires and the residual agricultural residues. In the kinetic analysis, activation energies of waste tires, agricultural residues, and their mixtures were calculated using the two models. The reaction followed a multistage reaction mechanism. The differential thermogravimetry behavior of the mixture was similar to the weighted aggregate results of the waste tire and agricultural waste samples, pyrolyzed separately. These results provide some insights into the combined treatment of waste tires and agricultural waste residues.

Fermentative valorisation of xylose-rich hemicellulosic hydrolysates from agricultural waste residues for lactic acid production under non-sterile conditions

Lactic acid (LA) is a platform chemical with diverse industrial applications. Presently, commercial production of LA is dominated by microbial fermentation using sugary or starch-based feedstocks. Research pursuits emphasizing towards sustainable production of LA using non-edible and renewable feedstocks have accelerated the use of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB). The present study focuses on the valorisation of xylose derived from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and olive pits (OP) through hydrothermal and dilute acid pretreatment, respectively. The xylose-rich hydrolysate obtained was used for LA production by homo-fermentative and thermophilic Bacillus coagulans DSM2314 strain under non-sterile conditions. The fed-batch mode of fermentation resulted in maximum LA titers of 97.8, 52.4 and 61.3 g/L with a yield of 0.77, 0.66 and 0.71 g/g using pure xylose, xylose-rich SCB and OP hydrolysates, respectively. Further, a two-step aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) extraction technique was employed for the separation and recovery of LA accumulated on pure and crude xylose. The LA recovery was 45 – 65% in the first step and enhanced to 80–90% in the second step.The study demonstrated an efficient integrated biorefinery approach to valorising the xylose-rich stream for cost-effective LA production and recovery.

Potential Usage of Selected Agro-Residue as a Biofuel Production Sources: Physiochemical Evaluation Approach

This article present physiochemical characterization of commonly available agricultural waste residues on dry basis for: (Corn cob, Coconut shell, Cashew nut, Palm kernel shell and Cassava stem) with the view to evaluate their respective suitability for biofuel production using thermochemical conversion process. The investigated respective biomass feedstock milled samples was analyzed in the laboratory for fuel physiochemical characterization. The physiochemical characterization carried out on each biomass waste sample are Proximate Analysis, Ultimate Analysis, Elemental composition analysis and determination of their respective Higher heating Value(HHV). The obtained results revealed that of all the biomass samples characterized, the Coconut shell (CNS), Corn cob(CC) and Cassava stem(CS) samples proved to possess the most suitable characteristics for better bio-oil production. Palm kernel shell(PKS), Coconut shell(CNS) and Cashew nut(CN) due to their obtained low ash content, adequate hardness and fairly high fixed carbon content are generally regarded to be a potential source for making quality grade charcoal (bio-char) using Pyrolysis process. Gasification process is found desirable to producing high yield of bio-gas for Corncob(CC) and Cassava stem(CS) biomass samples due to their respectively obtainable high value of moisture content: (13.4%wt and 15.10%wt.) and fixed carbon contents of (67.94%wt and 74.13%wt) in this study. Moreover, among all other biomass sample investigated in this study, Coconut Shell(CNS) in comparison to all other samples characterized attained highest HHV of 31.2 MJ/kg. Negligible amount of Sulphur and Nitrogen which could resulted to lower emission of SO2 and NO2 if use directly for heating purposes aftermath application of any of the thermochemical conversion processes is also observed for the biomass waste samples analyzed independent of their types. These results show that the characterized biomass samples could be a suitable candidate for alternative energy fuels production in terms of quality and environment concern.

A Study on the Co-Combustion Characteristics of Coal and Bio-SRF in CFBC

Bio-SRF based on livestock waste has low heating value and high moisture content. The concentration of toxic gases such as SOx, NOx, and HCl in the flue gas is changed according to the composition of fuel, and it has been reported. Therefore, the study of fuel combustion characteristics is necessary. In this study, we investigated combustion characteristics on the blended firing of coal and Bio-SRF (bio-solid refused fuel) made from livestock waste fuel in CFBC (circulating fluidized bed combustor). The raw materials for manufacturing Bio-SRF include agricultural waste, herbaceous plants, waste wood, and vegetable residues. Bio-SRF, which is formed from organic sludge, has a low heating value and a high moisture content. Bio-SRF of livestock waste fuel is blended with different ratios of coal based on heating values when coal is completely combusted in CFBC. In the result of experiment, the combustor efficiency of calculated unburned carbon concentration in the fly ash shows 98.87%, 99.04%, 99.64%, and 99.71% when the multi co-combustion ratio of livestock waste fuel increased from 100/0 (coal/livestock waste) to 70/30 (coal/livestock waste). In addition, the boiler efficiency is shown to be 86.23%, 86.30%, 87.24% and 87.27%. Through the experimental results, we have identified that co-combustion of livestock waste fuel does not affect boiler efficiency. We have systematically investigated and discussed the temperature changes of the internal combustor, compositions of flue gases, solid ash characteristics, and the efficiency of combustion and of the boiler during co-combustion of coal and Bio-SRF.

Main Problems Faced by Biomass Coupling Power Generation Metering

Carry out in-depth research on the electricity metering project of the biomass gasification coupled power generation project of Hubei Huadian Xiangyang Power Generation Co., Ltd., and upgrade the existing metering capacity based on the requirements of the power industry standard "Calculation of biomass energy from coal-fired coupled biomass power generation Part 1: Gasification coupling of agricultural and forestry waste residues" to form a complete, accurate and advanced electricity metering capacity. In view of the shortcomings of the hardware and software of the current electricity metering, we will improve and upgrade them one by one. In this plan, the existing biomass energy and electricity metering system is planned to be modified by replacing the sampling system, pre-treatment system, adding missing parameters of the analyzer, adding power measuring points, replacing gas, steam and condensate flow meters, and arranging explosion-proof cabins.

Enhancing Biofuel Production Through Nanoparticle-assisted Fermentation: A Comparative Study

Nanoparticles have many applications in various fields, including biofuel technology, and rising demands for energy and increased harmful environmental impacts of fossil fuel have increasing interest towards biofuel as an alternative eco-friendly source of energy and ethanol blended petrol. The production of ethanol from agricultural waste (rice straw) and banana plant residue with biological approach is an important step toward energy sustainability and in minimizing greenhouse gases emissions. A promising approach, the use of nanoparticles to assist fermentation. The process enhances biofuel production by incorporation of nanoparticles in fermentation process. The purpose of this research paper is to explore the application of nanoparticle-assisted fermentation for enhanced biofuel production. This study explains the process of ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of NiO and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. This study investigates the Comparative analysis of cost and yield production of ethanol production through the fermentation with and without Nanoparticles. The outcomes of this research offer valuable insights into how employing nanoparticles to assist fermentation can strengthen the process and potentially drive advancements in biofuel technologies.

Corn Stover Pretreatment with Na2CO3 Solution from Absorption of Recovered CO2

Renewable resources such as lignocellulosic biomass are effective at producing fermentable sugars during enzymatic hydrolysis when pretreated. Optimizing pretreatment methods for delignification while maintaining sustainability and low processing costs requires innovative strategies such as reusing greenhouse gas emissions for materials processing. Corn stover, an agricultural waste residue, was pretreated with 2.2 M Na2CO3 produced from CO2 captured via absorption in a 5 M NaOH solution. Composition analysis of the pretreated corn stover exhibited higher cellulose content (40.96%) and less lignin (16.50%) than the untreated biomass. Changes in the chemical structures are visible in the FTIR-ATR spectra, particularly in the cellulose and lignin-related absorption bands. The sugar release from hydrolysis was evaluated at different time intervals and by varying two enzyme ratios of CTec2-to-HTec2 (2:1 and 3:1). Enzymatic hydrolysis produced higher and more stable glucose yields for the pretreated biomass, surpassing 90% after 24 h using the 3:1 enzyme ratio. Sugar concentrations notably increased after pretreatment and even more when using the cellulase-rich enzyme solution. The maximum glucose, xylose, and arabinose recovered were 44, 19, and 2.3 g L−1. These results demonstrate the viability of capturing CO2 and converting it into an efficient Na2CO3 pretreatment for corn stover biomass. Additional processing optimizations depend on the combination of physicochemical parameters selected.