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Biomass Energy Fuels

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A4: Bio-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2023) | Viewed by 6660

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alla Yu. Krylova

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The A.V.Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis (TIPS), Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Interests: gas chemistry; synthetic fuels; biomass; biomass processing; biochar; hydrothermal carbonization; biochar conversion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The beginning of the 21st century was marked by a surge in scientific interest in biomass which continues to this day. This interest comes from the possibility to use this renewable CO2-neutral feedstock for traditional energy production without a global impact on the environment. Secondary biomass (that is, solid organic wastes of animal and plant origin) attracts special attention. Interest in this biomass is fueled by its wide availability, which increases catastrophically every year due to the world’s population growth.

Combustion is the main direction of waste utilization, but it has become obsolete due to its low efficiency and negative impact on the environment. It is thus being replaced by more efficient energy generation based on the use of high-energy gases and liquid and solid fuels derived from biomass.

Secondary biomass has an exceptional variety of compositions and forms. All types of biomass are characterized with high oxygen leading to rather low caloricity. In addition, biomass, especially secondary biomass, is very moist, which makes it difficult to store and transport and causes significant energy losses when drying. These features of secondary biomass make it necessary to adapt existing technologies for solid fuels, developed during the period of mass coal use, to a new type of raw material.

The development of effective biomass to energy technologies includes the creation of new types of gasifiers and power generators using low-calorie energy gases, as well as the development of technologies for feedstock upgrading. The latter includes biomass thermochemical conversion into biochar (such as pyrolysis, torrefaction, and hydrothermal carbonization). These methods make it possible to change the properties of raw material in the desired direction and unify the initial biomass (low calorific with different composition), forming a certain standard fuel (hydrophobic, high-calorie, environmentally friendly energy fuel). Thus, CO2-neutral biochar with desired properties makes it possible to bring traditional technologies of coal-based energy generation to a new stage of development.

Biochar, along with the initial biomass, can serve as a raw material to produce CO2-neutral liquid fuels. Biomass thermochemical pretreatment allows one to significantly reduce oxygen in feedstock and oxygenates in liquefaction products. This procedure has a beneficial effect on the properties of liquid fuels, increasing their calorific value and reducing corrosiveness.

The key points of technologies developed for the utilization of secondary biomass are:

  • Creation of efficient methods to produce energy gases with high calorific value, including synthesis gas;
  • Development of thermochemical technologies for secondary biomass processing aimed at unified biochar with desired properties;
  • Development of thermochemical technologies for secondary biomass processing aimed at liquid energy fuels;
  • Adaptation of existing energy generation technologies to unified solid and liquid feedstock produced from secondary biomass.

We welcome original research papers and reviews on the production of gaseous, liquid, and solid energy fluids from secondary biomass, including gasification of biomass and biochar, thermochemical processing of biomass to biochar, and production of liquid products from biomass and biochar.

Dr. Alla Yu. Krylova
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Energies 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 2600 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

  • biomass
  • biochar
  • gasification
  • pyrolysis
  • torrefaction
  • hydrothermal carbonation
  • hydrogenation
  • thermal dissolution

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1957 KiB  
Article
Study on the Evolution Pattern of the Aromatics of Lignin during Hydrothermal Carbonization
by Wendi Sun, Li Bai, Mingshu Chi, Xiuling Xu, Zhao Chen and Kecheng Yu
Energies 2023, 16(3), 1089; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16031089 - 18 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1278
Abstract
Waste straw contains a large amount of lignin, and its resource utilization is not only in line with the national double carbon development strategy, but also to alleviate environmental pollution. Hydrothermal carbonization is a new thermochemical conversion technology, which has attracted much attention [...] Read more.
Waste straw contains a large amount of lignin, and its resource utilization is not only in line with the national double carbon development strategy, but also to alleviate environmental pollution. Hydrothermal carbonization is a new thermochemical conversion technology, which has attracted much attention because it can directly transform carbon containing waste raw materials with high moisture content and low energy density. To investigate the physicochemical properties and aromatization changes of lignin hydrochar, hydrothermal carbonization experiments were carried out at 290 °C and a solid–liquid ratio of 1:20 for 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, 2.00, 4.00, 8.00 h, respectively. The experimental results shows that hydrothermal carbonization can increase the combustion quality of lignin. Physical and chemical properties analysis shows that with the increase of hydrothermal carbonization time from 0 to 2 h, the hydrochar content increased from 21.21% to 26.02% and the HHV of hydrochar increased from 20.01 MJ/Kg to 26.32 MJ/Kg. When the holding time exceeded 2 h, the carbon content and calorific value of hydrothermal tended to be stable. With the increase of holding time, FTIR analysis and XRD analysis show that the free hydroxyl groups in water-soluble lignin were easily combined with intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds, thus forming an ordered crystal arrangement. Subsequently, the crystal structure formed a well-arranged long chain through a strong hydrogen bond network, forming a ring structure in the process of aromatization. Aromatic ring structure accumulated, aromatization wave peak increased with holding time and aromatization intensified. Hydrochar crystal particles became larger and arranged in order. At the same time, the surface functional group detection and degree of crystallization were almost unchanged when holding time exceeded 2 h. The surface morphology of hydrochar was observed by SEM as follows: when the hydrothermal carbonization reaction of lignin entered the insulation stage, the microsphere structure began to aggregate and then became larger. When the holding time reached 2 h, the growth rate of carbon microspheres noticeably slowed. Therefore, the optimal hydrothermal carbonization time of lignin is 2 h, and hydrochar fuel has the best performance and aromatization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Energy Fuels)
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17 pages, 4707 KiB  
Article
Thermal Energy and Exhaust Emissions of a Gasifier Stove Feeding Pine and Hemp Pellets
by Anita Konieczna, Kamila Mazur, Adam Koniuszy, Andrzej Gawlik and Igor Sikorski
Energies 2022, 15(24), 9458; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15249458 - 13 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1521
Abstract
This paper presents the results of research on the energetic use of self-combusted hemp pellets and co-firing with pine pellets. The tests were carried out with the use of a boiler equipped with a Lester Projekt Company gasifying burner and an automatic fuel [...] Read more.
This paper presents the results of research on the energetic use of self-combusted hemp pellets and co-firing with pine pellets. The tests were carried out with the use of a boiler equipped with a Lester Projekt Company gasifying burner and an automatic fuel feeding system. The boiler is equipped with an additional heat exchanger that enables the simulation of any heat load. The experimental stand so built guaranteed to obtain results adequate to the real operating conditions. The research material consisted of pellets made of waste biomass of the Futura 75 sowing hemp and pine sawdust pellets. The experiment was carried out in five proportions by mass of mixtures of both fuels (C-hemp, P-pine): 0:100 (P100), 25:75 (C25/P75), 50:50 (C50/P50), 75:25 (C75/P25), 100:0 (C100). For each variant, the following were determined: effective boiler power, boiler energy balance, boiler energy efficiency, the volumetric composition of flue gas (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide), excess air coefficient and the dust content of particle matter—PM10, PM2.5. The heating value was also determined for hemp pellets and pine sawdust pellets, accordingly 17.34 and 19.87 MJ·kg−1. The obtained test results were related both to the volume of exhaust gases leaving the boiler and to one kilowatt hour of heat produced. The obtained test results showed that the boiler fed with pine pellets achieved the highest thermal power (P100)—14.17 kW, while the smallest—hemp pellets (C100)—4.92 kW. The CO2 emissivity increased with the addition of pine pellets, from 26.13 g (C100) to 112.36 g (P100) relating to 1 m3 and from 430.04 g (C100) to 616.46 g (C25/P75) relating to 1 kWh of heat. In terms of dust emissions, it was found that the combustion of hemp pellets and mixtures thereof is a little worse than that of pine pellets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Energy Fuels)
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20 pages, 2529 KiB  
Article
Non-Catalytic Dissolution of Biochar Obtained by Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sawdust in Hydrogen Donor Solvent
by Alla Krylova, Kristina Krysanova, Mayya Kulikova and Albert Kulikov
Energies 2021, 14(18), 5890; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14185890 - 17 Sep 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1451
Abstract
The production of fuel hydrocarbons from CO2-neutral raw materials is a promising task at present. The thermal dissolution of biochar obtained by the method of hydrothermal carbonization of sawdust was studied. The dissolution of biochar in tetralin (hydrogen donor solvent) was [...] Read more.
The production of fuel hydrocarbons from CO2-neutral raw materials is a promising task at present. The thermal dissolution of biochar obtained by the method of hydrothermal carbonization of sawdust was studied. The dissolution of biochar in tetralin (hydrogen donor solvent) was studied at different temperatures (350–450 °C) and with two types of dilution of the mixture with tetralin: 1/3 and 1/4. The process proceeded without a catalyst. It was found that the samples subjected to thermal dissolution at temperatures of 425–450 °C had the highest conversion and yield of liquid products. The reaction temperature also had a significant effect on the composition of liquid products. It was found that an increase in the reaction temperature led to a significant increase in benzenes, both in the direct and in the hexane fraction. A benzene yield of more than 50% was observed for both fractions at a temperature of 450 °C. It was also suggested that the possible positive effect of abietates on the homogenization of the reaction mixture contributed to high conversion in the process. The biochar/tetralin ratio effects the yield and composition of the liquid products as well. An increase in the tetralin concentration in the mixture during thermal dissolution led to an increase in the conversion and yield of hydrocarbon fractions for fuel purposes. This is undoubtedly due to the large amount of elemental hydrogen involved in the hydrogenation of the reaction mixture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Energy Fuels)
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Review

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21 pages, 4266 KiB  
Review
Advancements in Giant Reed (Arundo donax L.) Biomass Pre-Treatments for Biogas Production: A Review
by Ciro Vasmara, Stefania Galletti, Stefano Cianchetta and Enrico Ceotto
Energies 2023, 16(2), 949; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16020949 - 14 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1779
Abstract
Giant reed is a non-food, tall, rhizomatous, spontaneous perennial grass that is widely diffused in warm-temperate environments under different pedo-climatic conditions. In such environments, it is considered one of the most promising energy crops in terms of economic and environmental sustainability, as it [...] Read more.
Giant reed is a non-food, tall, rhizomatous, spontaneous perennial grass that is widely diffused in warm-temperate environments under different pedo-climatic conditions. In such environments, it is considered one of the most promising energy crops in terms of economic and environmental sustainability, as it can also be cultivated on marginal lands. Owing to its complex and recalcitrant structure due to the lignin content, the use of giant reed as a feedstock for biogas production is limited. Thus, pre-treatment is necessary to improve the methane yield. The objective of this review was to critically present the possible pre-treatment methods to allow the giant reed to be transformed in biogas. Among the studied pre-treatments (i.e., hydrothermal, chemical, and biological), alkaline pre-treatments demonstrated better effectiveness in improving the methane yield. A further opportunity is represented by hybrid pre-treatments (i.e., chemical and enzymatic) to make giant reed biomass suitable for bio-hydrogen production. So far, the studies have been carried out at a laboratory scale; a future challenge to research is to scale up the pre-treatment process to a pilot scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Energy Fuels)
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