Pyrolysis of Banana and Coffee Residues after Acid Hydrolysis

The use of the residues from renewable feedstock, besides the production of fuels, but also for the generation of other chemicals products, has become a priority. Superior plants have considerable potential as carbohydrate, aryl and fatty acids sources. However, the separation of the main constituents of the samples is necessary for several purposes in the biorefinery concept. The acid hydrolysis and pyrolysis processes are very promising technology, however, some adjustments in the conditions of pyrolysis are needed for different biomasses since carbohydrates were detected （14%-17%） in the residues after the conventional acid hydrolysis of these uncommon biomasses （coffee husk and banana stem and stalk）. On the other hand, it was showed that, by pyrolysis, it is possible to obtain from the solid residue after acid hydrolysis： pyrogenic carbon （charcoal with a yield of 48.5%-52.7%） for agriculture use （biochar） and valuable chemicals in the pyrolysis oil biooil fraction （that accounted by 26.4%-29.0%, free of water）, such as lignin monomers （32.6%-56.4% of the bio-oil） and fatty acids （30%-52.5%）.     

A multiobjective optimization framework for design of integrated biorefineries under uncertainty

A systematic approach for development of a reliable optimization framework to address the optimal design of integrated biorefineries in the face of uncertainty is presented. In the current formulation, a distributed strategy which is composed of different layers including strategic optimization, risk management, detailed mechanistic modeling, and operational level optimization is applied. In the strategic model, a multiobjective stochastic optimization approach is utilized to incorporate the tradeoffs between the cost and the financial risk. Then, Aspen Plus models are built to provide detailed simulation of biorefineries. In the final layer, an evolutionary algorithm is employed to optimize the operating condition. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the framework, a hypothetical case study referring to a multiproduct lignocellulosic biorefinery is utilized. The numerical results reveal the efficacy of the proposed approach; it provides decision makers with a quantitative analysis to determine the optimum capacity plan and operating conditions of the biorefinery. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 3208–3222, 2015     

以植物油为原料发展我国生物柴油炼油厂的探讨

以生物质资源为原料发展生物炼油厂，是炼油和石化工业实现可持续发展的一条重要途径。在介绍了国外以玉米为原料发展生物炼油厂设想的基础上，根据我国国情，提出了以植物油为原料发展生物柴油炼油厂的设想，分析了国内发展这种生物炼油厂的意义，并讨论了可能出现的一些问题及解决方法。认为在国家政策的激励和支持下，生物炼油厂在我国必将得到快速发展。     

Algal biorefinery-based industry: an approach to address fuel and food insecurity for a carbon-smart world

Food and fuel production are intricately interconnected. In a carbon-smart society, it is imperative to produce both food and fuel sustainably. Integration of the emerging biorefinery concept with other industries can bring many environmental deliverables while mitigating several sustainability-related issues with respect to greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel usage, land use change for fuel production and future food insufficiency. A new biorefinery-based integrated industrial ecology encompasses the different value chain of products, coproducts, and services from the biorefinery industries. This paper discusses a framework to integrate the algal biofuel-based biorefinery, a booming biofuel sector, with other industries such as livestock, lignocellulosic and aquaculture. Using the USA as an example, this paper also illustrates the benefits associated with sustainable production of fuel and food. Policy and regulatory initiatives for synergistic development of the algal biofuel sector with other industries can bring many sustainable solutions for the future existence of mankind.     

Integrated Forest Biorefinery: Value-added Utilization of Dissolved Organics in the Prehydrolysis Liquor of Prehydrolysis Kraft (PHK) Dissolving Pulp Production Process

The concept of integrated forest biorefineries(IFBRs) has gained significant interest.The prehydrolysis kraft(PHK) dissolving pulp production process is a suitable example of IFBR concept for the production of dissolving pulp and utilization of dissolved hemicelluloses,acetic acid,and lignin in the prehydrolysis liquor(PHL).This review paper highlights recent progress related to the recovery and utilization of dissolved organics(e.g.,hemicelluloses,acetic acid,and lignin) in the PHL of the PHK dissolving pulp production process.Integrated multi-step recovery and separation processes have been developed for this purpose to accommodate the complex nature of the PHL.Potential products,including xylan-based compounds,acetic acid,and lignin,are also discussed in detail.     

Fermentative hydrogen production from cheese whey with in-line,concentration gradient-driven butyric acid extraction

Hydrogen (H₂) generation from cheese whey with simultaneous production and extraction of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) was studied in UASB reactors at two temperatures (20 and 35 °C) and pH values (5.0 and 4.5). The extraction module, installed through a recirculation loop, was a silicone tube coil submerged in water, which allows concentration-driven extraction of undissociated VFAs. Operating conditions were selected as a compromise for the recovery of both H₂ and VFAs. Batch experiments showed a higher yield (0.9 mol H₂ mol⁻¹ glucose_eq.) at 35 °C and pH 5.0, regardless of the presence of the extraction module, whereas lower yields were obtained at pH 4.5 and 20 °C (0.5 and 0.3 mol H₂ mol⁻¹ glucose_eq., respectively). VFAs crossed the silicone membrane, with a strong preference for butyric over propionic and acetic acid due to its higher hydrophobicity. Sugars, lactic acid and nutrients were retained, resulting in an extracted solution of up to 2.5 g L⁻¹ butyric acid with more than 90% purity. Continuous experiment confirmed those results, with production rates up to 2.0 L H₂ L⁻¹ d⁻¹ and butyric acid extraction both in-line (from the UASB recirculation) and off-line (from the UASB effluent). In-line VFA extraction can reduce the operating costs of fermentation, facilitating downstream processing for the recovery of marketable VFAs without affecting the H₂ production.     

Influence of synthesis conditions on the production of molecularly imprinted polymers for the selective recovery of isovaleric acid from anaerobic effluents

Two molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) – poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐TRIM) (TRIM, trimethylolpropanetrimethacrylate) and poly(acylamide‐co‐TRIM) – were synthesized in different solvents for the selective recovery of isovaleric acid (template) generated during the anaerobic digestion process. The chemical and structural characterizations of the synthetic adsorbent were carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, TGA and porosimetry through N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms. The selective and adsorptive performances of the imprinted polymers were evaluated by kinetic, isothermal, thermodynamic and selectivity studies and by adsorbent reuse experiments. The poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐TRIM) synthesized with dimethyl sulfoxide:chloroform presented higher selectivity and adsorption capacity for isovaleric acid in the presence of six volatile fatty acids. The kinetic results were well adjusted to the pseudo‐nth order and intraparticle diffusion models, leading to k values of 10^?4 and 6 × 10^?5 for the best synthesis of MIPs and not‐imprinted polymers, respectively. Moreover, the Sips model best described the adsorption isotherm and generated a maximum adsorption capacity of ca 209 mg g^?1 (at 25 °C). Cycles of MIP use–desorption–reuse indicated that the selective adsorbent performed better than commercial adsorbents, losing less than 3% of adsorption capacity after three cycles. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Crop residues: applications of lignocellulosic biomass in the context of a biorefinery

Interest in lignocellulosic biomass conversion technologies has increased recently because of their potential to reduce the dependency on non-renewable feedstocks. Residues from a variety of crops are the major source of lignocellulose, which is being produced in increasingly large quantities worldwide. The commercial exploitation of crop residues as feedstocks for biorefineries which could be used to produce a variety of goods such as biofuels, biochemicals, bioplastics, and enzymes is an attractive approach not only for adding value to residues but also for providing renewable products required by the expanding bioeconomy market. Moreover, the implementation of biorefineries in different regions has the potential to add value to the specific crop residues produced in the region. In this review, several aspects of crop residue application in biorefineries are discussed, including the role of crop residues in the bioeconomy and circular economy concepts, the main technical aspects of crop residue conversion in biorefineries, the main crop residues generated in different regions of the world and their availability, the potential value-added bioproducts that can be extracted or produced from each crop residue, and the major advantages and challenges associated with crop residue utilization in biorefineries. Despite their potential, most biomass refining technologies are not sufficiently advanced or financially viable. Several technical obstacles, especially with regard to crop residue collection, handling, and pre-treatment, prevent the implementation of biorefineries on a commercial scale. Further research is needed to resolve these scale-up-related challenges. Increased governmental incentives and bioeconomic strategies are expected to boost the biorefinery market and the cost competitiveness of biorefinery products.     

The Effect of Lignification Process on the Bioconversion Efficiency in Moso Bamboo

Recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass is closely related to the presence of lignin in secondary cell walls, which has a negative effect on enzyme digestibility, biomass-to-biofuels conversion, and chemical pulping. The lignification process and structural heterogeneity of the cell wall for various parts of moso bamboo were investigated. There were slight differences among three different column parts of moso bamboo in terms of chemical compositions, including cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. However, the detailed analysis of the fractionated lignin indicated that the acid-soluble lignin was first biosynthesized, and the largest molecular weight value was detected from the bottom part of the moso bamboo, as well as the highest syringyl-to-guaiacyl ratio. Although the main -O-4 aryl ethers and resinol structures were clearly present in all lignin samples examined by NMR analysis, the relatively small lignin biomacromolecule in the top part of the moso bamboo lead to poor thermal stability. For the bioconversion process, no significant difference was found among all the moso bamboo samples, and the relatively higher hydrolysis efficiency was largely dependent on the low crystallinity of cellulose rather than the degree of lignin biosynthesis.