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Applied Sciences
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Organic Waste Valorization Processes under High Pressure
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Organic Waste Valorization Processes under High Pressure

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical and Molecular Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2021) | Viewed by 16131

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Francisco Javier Gutiérrez Ortiz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, University of Seville, Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: supercritical fluids; adsorption; biofuels; chemical and energy engineering processes; modeling and simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Many processes under high pressures and medium-to-high temperatures may be very effective in converting organic waste into a final high value-added bioproduct, including biofuels, commodity chemicals, and biobased functional materials, especially due to the dramatic change in the properties of a number of compounds such as water, CO2, alcohols, etc. that can be used as solvents, reactants, and catalysts for separations, pretreatments, and reactions in the production processes.

Fossil resources can be increasingly replaced by renewable resources such as organic waste as sustainable feedstock that can be valorized in different ways by a number of processes involving different technologies.

Aimed at improving and increasing the knowledge of effective conversion for developing innovative organic waste conversion processes under high pressure, this Special Issue has been conceived as a collection of studies on state-of-the-art techniques and know-how for producing bioproducts from renewable resources using high pressure fluids. Discussion on topics such as recent advances, new methods, modeling, kinetics, troubleshooting, assessment, design, or promising prospect of new technological proposals to be used in an organic waste valorization process are also encouraged.

Experts or professionals are sincerely invited to contribute individual manuscripts to this Special Issue by submitting a review/research paper. Potential topics of interest for this SI are related to the keywords below mentioned but are not limited to them.

Prof. Dr. Francisco Javier Gutiérrez Ortiz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Waste biomass
  • Municipal waste
  • Organic waste
  • Pyrolysis
  • Gasification
  • Supercritical fluids
  • Syngas production
  • Biofuel production (biodiesel, green diesel, bio jet-fuel, etc.)
  • Hydrogen production
  • Chemical production (dimethyl ether, methanol, furanic compounds, amines, etc.)
  • Life cycle assessment
  • Thermodynamics
  • Kinetics
  • Process modeling and simulation

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2748 KiB  
Article
Zein and Spent Coffee Grounds Extract as a Green Combination for Sustainable Food Active Packaging Production: An Investigation on the Effects of the Production Processes
by Emanuela Drago, Margherita Pettinato, Roberta Campardelli, Giuseppe Firpo, Enrico Lertora and Patrizia Perego
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(22), 11311; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app122211311 - 08 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1509
Abstract
In this work, the effect of different production techniques was evaluated on the physical and antioxidant properties of bio-based packaging intended to prevent the premature oxidation of packaged foods. Spent coffee ground extract, rich in antioxidant molecules, obtained through high pressure and temperature [...] Read more.
In this work, the effect of different production techniques was evaluated on the physical and antioxidant properties of bio-based packaging intended to prevent the premature oxidation of packaged foods. Spent coffee ground extract, rich in antioxidant molecules, obtained through high pressure and temperature extraction, was loaded on zein polymeric matrices. The techniques adopted in this work are particularly suitable due to their mild conditions to produce active packaging completely based on natural compounds: electrospinning, solvent casting, and spin coating. The novelty of this work lay in the investigation of the dependance of the properties of active packaging on the adopted production techniques; the results clearly indicated a strong dependence of the features of the films obtained by different production processes. Indeed, spin coated samples exhibited the best oxygen barrier properties, while a higher tensile strength was obtained for the casted samples, and the fastest release of active compounds was provided by electrospun mats. The films produced with different methods had different physical properties and the release of extract bioactive compounds can be tunable by varying the production technique, dependent on the variable to be considered. The products developed offer an alternative to traditional packaging solutions, being more eco-sustainable and promoting waste valorization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Waste Valorization Processes under High Pressure)
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20 pages, 4895 KiB  
Article
Energy Hybridization with Combined Heat and Power Technologies in Supercritical Water Gasification Processes
by José Manuel Benjumea, Francisco José Jiménez-Espadafor, Francisco López-Guirao and Francisco Javier Gutiérrez Ortiz
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(11), 5497; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12115497 - 28 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1498
Abstract
Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) has been shown to be an effective technology to valorize a wide range of organic waste by transforming them into gases with high energy potential, such as hydrogen and methane. However, the industrial implementation of these processes is rarely [...] Read more.
Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) has been shown to be an effective technology to valorize a wide range of organic waste by transforming them into gases with high energy potential, such as hydrogen and methane. However, the industrial implementation of these processes is rarely extended due to the huge energy requirements during plant start-up and operation. The purpose of this study is to explore feasible ways of energy integration by hybridizing SCWG processes with combined heat and power technologies, such as exhaust gases coming from (i) internal combustion engines or (ii) gas turbines. The analysis focuses on energy consumption with the aim of optimizing the operation and design of plants. System configurations are simulated with Aspen Plus considering data from the literature for the gasification of glycerol and using typical plant capacities on an industrial scale. Results show the thermal power required in heat exchangers and the electricity generation from residual energy in hot effluents as a needed step to optimize the plant configuration and boost energy synergies with other technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Waste Valorization Processes under High Pressure)
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21 pages, 1328 KiB  
Article
Feasibility of Coupling Anaerobic Digestion and Hydrothermal Carbonization: Analyzing Thermal Demand
by Rubén González, Marcos Ellacuriaga, Alby Aguilar-Pesantes, Daniela Carrillo-Peña, José García-Cascallana, Richard Smith and Xiomar Gómez
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(24), 11660; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app112411660 - 08 Dec 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3476
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion is a biological process with wide application for the treatment of high organic-containing streams. The production of biogas and the lack of oxygen requirements are the main energetic advantages of this process. However, the digested stream may not readily find a [...] Read more.
Anaerobic digestion is a biological process with wide application for the treatment of high organic-containing streams. The production of biogas and the lack of oxygen requirements are the main energetic advantages of this process. However, the digested stream may not readily find a final disposal outlet under certain circumstances. The present manuscript analyzed the feasibility of valorizing digestate by the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process. A hypothetical plant treating cattle manure and cheese whey as co-substrate (25% v/w, wet weight) was studied. The global performance was evaluated using available data reported in the literature. The best configuration was digestion as a first stage with the subsequent treatment of digestate in an HTC unit. The treatment of manure as sole substrate reported a value of 752 m3/d of biogas which could be increased to 1076 m3/d (43% increase) when coupling an HTC unit for digestate post-treatment and the introduction of the co-substrate. However, the high energy demand of the combined configurations indicated, as the best alternative, the valorization of just a fraction (15%) of digestate to provide the benefits of enhancing biogas production. This configuration presented a much better energy performance than the thermal hydrolysis pre-treatment of manure. The increase in biogas production does not compensate for the high energy demand of the pre-treatment unit. However, several technical factors still need further research to make this alternative a reality, as it is the handling and pumping of high solid slurries that significantly affects the energy demand of the thermal treatment units and the possible toxicity of hydrochar when used in a biological process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Waste Valorization Processes under High Pressure)
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Review

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30 pages, 1670 KiB  
Review
Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Wastes: Reviewing Current Status and Approaches for Enhancing Biogas Production
by Rubén González, Daniela Carrillo Peña and Xiomar Gómez
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8884; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12178884 - 05 Sep 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5961
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion is one of the technologies that will play a key role in the decarbonization of the economy, due to its capacity to treat organic waste, recover nutrients and simultaneously produce biogas as a renewable biofuel. This feature also makes this technology [...] Read more.
Anaerobic digestion is one of the technologies that will play a key role in the decarbonization of the economy, due to its capacity to treat organic waste, recover nutrients and simultaneously produce biogas as a renewable biofuel. This feature also makes this technology a relevant partner for approaching a circular economic model. However, the low biogas yield of traditional substrates such as sewage sludge and livestock waste along with high installation costs limit its profitability. Further expansion of this technology encounters several barriers, making it necessary to seek improvements to attain a favorable financial balance. The use of co-substrates benefits the overall digestion performance thanks to the balancing of nutrients, the enhanced conversion of organic matter and stabilization, leading to an increase in biogas production and process economics. This article reviews the main co-substrates used in anaerobic digestion, highlighting their characteristics in terms of methane production, kinetic models commonly used and the synergistic effects described in the literature. The main process parameters and their influence on digestion performance are presented, as well as the current lines of research dedicated to improving biogas yields, focusing on the addition of hydrogen, bioaugmentation, supplementation with carbon compounds and nanoparticles, the introduction of bioelectrodes and adsorbents. These techniques allow a significant increase in waste degradation and reduce inhibitory conditions, thus favoring process outcomes. Future research should focus on global process efficiency, making particular emphasis on the extrapolation of laboratory achievements into large-scale applications, by analyzing logistical issues, global energy demand and economic feasibility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Waste Valorization Processes under High Pressure)
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24 pages, 1834 KiB  
Review
High-Pressure Technologies for the Recovery of Bioactive Molecules from Agro-Industrial Waste
by Junyang Li, Margherita Pettinato, Roberta Campardelli, Iolanda De Marco and Patrizia Perego
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3642; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12073642 - 04 Apr 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3034
Abstract
Large amounts of food waste are produced each year. These residues require appropriate management to reduce their environmental impact and, at the same time, economic loss. However, this waste is still rich in compounds (e.g., colorants, antioxidants, polyphenols, fatty acids, vitamins, and proteins) [...] Read more.
Large amounts of food waste are produced each year. These residues require appropriate management to reduce their environmental impact and, at the same time, economic loss. However, this waste is still rich in compounds (e.g., colorants, antioxidants, polyphenols, fatty acids, vitamins, and proteins) that can find potential applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Conventional extraction techniques suffer some drawbacks when applied to the exploitation of food residues, including large amounts of polluting solvents, increased time of extraction, possible degradation of the active molecules during extraction, low yields, and reduced extraction selectivity. For these reasons, advanced extraction techniques have emerged in order to obtain efficient residue exploitation using more sustainable processes. In particular, performing extraction under high-pressure conditions, such as supercritical fluids and pressurized liquid extraction, offers several advantages for the extraction of bioactive molecules. These include the reduced use of toxic solvents, reduced extraction time, high selectivity, and the possibility of being applied in combination in a cascade of progressive extractions. In this review, an overview of high-pressure extraction techniques related to the recovery of high added value compounds from waste generated in food industries is presented and a critical discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each process is reported. Furthermore, the possibility of combined multi-stage extractions, as well as economic and environmental aspects, are discussed in order to provide a complete overview of the topic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Waste Valorization Processes under High Pressure)
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