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Application of Biomass-Derived Carbonaceous Materials in Energy and Environment

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Materials Characterization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 13910

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Lijian Leng

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School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: the production of biochar and bio-oil from biomass via thermochemical treatments, such as pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction; the migration and transformation of heavy metals and nitrogen during the thermochemical treatment; and the valorization of the byproduct aqueous phase of the thermochemical processes; the use of molecular dynamics and machine learning to assist biomass conversion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biomass is a renewable and sustainable carbonaceous material precursor, with wide availability and low cost, which can be an alternative to fossil resources. Biomass carbonaceous materials can be obtained by pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, and other physicochemical treatments of biomass, such as lignocellulosic biomass (woods, grasses, crop residues, etc.) and protein-rich biomass or organic wastes (sewage sludge, algae, manure, food waste, etc.). The as-produced carbonaceous materials have attracted increasing interest in the energy and environment fields because of their promising adsorption, capture, and catalysis properties. The engineering, application, and evaluation of the biomass carbonaceous materials for improved properties, enhanced application, and decreased economic and environmental costs are becoming the top priorities in promoting their industrialization and commercialization, achieving the effective utilization of biomass.

This Special Issue aims to collect recent outstanding experiment-, modeling-, or data-based studies and reviews in the engineering, application and evaluation of the biomass carbonaceous materials. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Engineering biomass-derived carbonaceous materials with advanced properties, such as biomass screening and pretreatment of biomass, process optimization, process integration, and upgrading by additional treatment;

(2) The application of biomass-derived carbonaceous materials in the energy and environment fields as fuel, for the adsorption of pollutants in aqueous and gas phases, soil amendment, carbon storage and sequestration, CO2 adsorption and energy storage, or as a catalysis or additive for enhanced performance in terms of energy and the environment;

(3) The evaluation of biomass-derived carbonaceous materials and related processes or systems, for life cycle assessment and technical and economical analyses.

Prof. Dr. Lijian Leng
Guest Editor

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Keywords

biomass
carbonaceous materials
biochar
hydrochar
pyrolysis
hydrothermal carbonization
thermochemical treatment
adsorption
capture
catalysis
energy and environment
fuel

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 14201 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Torrefaction of Napier Grass and Oil Palm Petiole Waste Using Drop-Type Fixed-Bed Pyrolysis Reactor

by Syazmi Zul Arif Hakimi Saadon, Noridah Binti Osman, Moviin Damodaran and Shan En Liew

Materials 2022, 15(8), 2890; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15082890 - 14 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1860

Abstract

The torrefaction process in the preparation of energy materials has garnered a lot of attention and has been investigated as a means of improving biomass solid fuels. The aim of this study is to study the effect of the temperature and holding time of two biomass samples: wild Napier grass and oil palm petiole. The torrefied samples are operated in a pyrolysis reactor to replicate the torrefaction procedure. The temperature parameter ranges between 220 and 300 °C while the holding time of the reaction parameter ranges from 10 to 50 min. It is found that with increasing temperature and time, the moisture content and number of O and H atoms decrease and also cause both mass and energy yield to decrease. It is found that the calorific value and the energy density increase with both parameters, which shows that optimization is needed for better solid fuel production. Between the two parameters, temperature changes have more significant effects on the torrefied samples. The optimized temperature and time are found to be 260 °C and 30 min, respectively. The usage of the pyrolysis reactor for the torrefaction reaction has been proven to serve as a good option due to similar product characteristics and equivalent results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biomass-Derived Carbonaceous Materials in Energy and Environment)

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18 pages, 3536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Biochar Addition and Air-Flow Rate on Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide Concentration in the Emitted Gases from Aerobic Biostabilization of Waste

by Mateusz Malinowski and Stanisław Famielec

Materials 2022, 15(5), 1771; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15051771 - 26 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1392

Abstract

Application of additives to waste may influence the course of the biostabilization process and contribute to its higher effectiveness, as well as to a reduction in greenhouse gas and ammonia (NH₃) emission from this process. This paper presents research on the impact of biochar addition on the course of the biostabilization process of an undersized fraction from municipal solid waste (UFMSW) in terms of temperature changes, CO₂ concentration in the exhaust gases, NH₃ emission from the process, as well as changes in the carbon and nitrogen content in the processed waste. Six different biochar additives and three different air-flow rates were investigated for 21 days. It was found that biochar addition contributes to extending the thermophilic phase duration (observed in the case of the addition of 3% and 5% of biochar). The concentration of CO₂ in exhaust gases was closely related to the course of temperature changes. The highest concentration of CO₂ in the process gases (approx. 18–19%) was recorded for the addition of 10% and 20% of biochar at the lowest air-flow rate applied. It was found that the addition of 3% or a higher amount of biochar reduces nitrogen losses in the processed UFMSW and reduces NH₃ emission by over 90% compared to the control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biomass-Derived Carbonaceous Materials in Energy and Environment)

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16 pages, 2321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of Alkaline-Treated Soy Waste Biomass for the Removal of Heavy-Metal Ions and Opportunities for Their Recovery

by Laura Bulgariu, Daniela Ionela Ferţu, Irina Gabriela Cara and Maria Gavrilescu

Materials 2021, 14(23), 7413; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14237413 - 03 Dec 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1471

Abstract

In this study, soy waste biomass (SW) resulting from oil extraction was treated with alkaline solution, and the obtained material (Na-SW) was used as biosorbent for the removal of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) ions from aqueous media. The performance of this biosorbent was examined in batch systems, at different initial metal ion concentrations and contact times (pH 3.4; 5 g of biosorbent/L). Isotherm and kinetic modeling was used to calculate the equilibrium and kinetics of the biosorption processes. The maximum biosorption capacity, calculated from the Langmuir isotherm model, followed the order Zn(II) (0.49 mmol/g) > Cd(II) (0.41 mmol/g) ≈ Pb(II) (0.40 mmol/g), while the kinetics of biosorption processes fit the pseudo-second-order model. Three cycles of biosorption/desorption were performed to estimate the reusability of Na-SW biosorbent, and the regeneration efficiency was higher than 97% in all cases. The practical applicability of Na-SW biosorbent in treating of wastewater contaminated with Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) ions was examined using simulated wastewater samples, and the main quality characteristics of the effluents obtained after treatment were evaluated. All these aspects highlight the potential applicability of Na-SW for large-scale wastewater treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biomass-Derived Carbonaceous Materials in Energy and Environment)

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15 pages, 5042 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal Study and Emission Characteristics of Rice Husk Using TG-MS

by José Ignacio Arranz, María Teresa Miranda, Irene Montero and Francisco José Sepúlveda

Materials 2021, 14(20), 6203; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14206203 - 19 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1723

Abstract

Rice husks are a by-product that is generated in large quantities in Spain. However, they are not used efficiently. One of their possible applications is its thermal use in power generation equipment. For that purpose, it is important to know the characteristics of rice husks and their thermal behavior, as well as their possible pollutant emission to the atmosphere with respect to its thermal use as a biofuel. In this work, the thermal characteristics of rice husks and their thermal behavior were studied by using thermogravimetry and mass spectroscopy for two different atmospheres (oxidizing and inert). This way, the thermal profiles and the main characteristics were studied, as well as the emission of possible pollutants to the atmosphere, such as CO₂, CH₄, NO₂, NH₃, SO₂, and H₂S. Moreover, three different methods (FWO, KAS, and Starink) were used to carry out a thermal analysis, in order to obtain the main thermal parameters such as activation energy. The results of the analysis predicted that rice husks could be used as biofuel in industrial thermal equipment based on its acceptable calorific value, good thermal characteristics, and low gas emissions both in oxidizing and inert atmosphere (although they have a high ash content). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biomass-Derived Carbonaceous Materials in Energy and Environment)

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13 pages, 3203 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biochar and Hyperthermophiles as Additives Accelerate the Removal of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Mobile Genetic Elements during Composting

by Yanli Fu, Aisheng Zhang, Tengfei Guo, Ying Zhu and Yanqiu Shao

Materials 2021, 14(18), 5428; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14185428 - 19 Sep 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2232

Abstract

Sewage treatment plants are known as repositories of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Adding biochar and inoculating with exogenous microbial agents are common ways to improve the quality of compost. However, little is known about the effects of these exogenous additives on the fate of ARGs during composting and the related mechanisms. In this study, municipal sludge was taken as the research object to study the ARG-removal effects of four composting methods: ordinary compost (CT), compost with hyperthermophiles (HT), compost with hyperthermophiles and 2.0% biochar (HT2C) and compost with hyperthermophiles and 5.0% biochar (HT5C). Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing were conducted to analyze the ARGs, MGEs and bacterial community. After composting, the abundance of ARGs in CT was reduced by 72.7%, while HT, HT2C and HT5C were reduced by 80.7%, 84.3% and 84.8%, respectively. Treatments with different proportions of biochar added (HT2C, HT5C) had no significant effect on the abundance of ARGs. Network analysis showed that Firmicutes and Nitrospirae were positively associated with most ARGs and may be potential hosts for them. In addition, redundancy analysis further showed that the class 1 integrase gene (intI1), pH and organic carbon had a greater effect on ARGs. Our findings suggested that the combination of hyperthermophiles and biochar during the composting process was an effective way to control ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), thus inhibiting the spread and diffusion of ARGs in the environment and improving the efficiency of treating human and animal diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biomass-Derived Carbonaceous Materials in Energy and Environment)

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15 pages, 1812 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Speciation of Main Nutrients (N/P/K) in Hydrochars Produced from the Hydrothermal Carbonization of Swine Manure under Different Reaction Temperatures

by Jiangbo Xiong, Shuaiwei Chen, Jiaxin Wang, Yujie Wang, Xiaolin Fang and Huajun Huang

Materials 2021, 14(15), 4114; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14154114 - 23 Jul 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2047

Abstract

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) has been proved to be a promising technology for swine manure (SM) treatment. Currently, there is a lack of systematic understanding of the transformation characteristics of nutrient speciation in the HTC of SM. In this study, the speciation of the main nutrients (N/P/K) in SM-derived hydrochar produced at different reaction temperatures (200–280 °C) was investigated. The recovery of P (61.0–67.1%) in hydrochars was significantly higher than that of N (23.0–39.8%) and K (25.5–30.0%), and the increase in reaction temperature promoted the recovery of P and reduced the recovery of N. After the HTC treatment, the percentage of soluble/available P was reduced from 61.6% in raw SM to 4.0–23.9% in hydrochars, while that of moderately labile/slow-release P was improved from 29.2% in raw SM feedstock to 65.5–82.7%. An obvious reduction was also found in the amounts of available N (from 51.3% in raw SM feedstock to 33.0–40.5% in hydrochars). The percentages of slow-release N and residual N in hydrochars produced at 240 °C reached the maximum and minimum values (46.4% and 18.9%), respectively. A total of 49.5–58.3% of K retained in hydrochars was residual (invalid) potassium. From the perspective of the mobility and availability of N, P and K only, it was suggested that the HTC of SM should be carried out at 220–240 °C. Compared with the original SM, it is safer and more effective to use the SM-derived hydrochar as an organic fertilizer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biomass-Derived Carbonaceous Materials in Energy and Environment)

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14 pages, 2475 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functionalized Biomass Carbon-Based Adsorbent for Simultaneous Removal of Pb²⁺ and MB in Wastewater

by Nannan Zhang, Nan Cheng and Qing Liu

Materials 2021, 14(13), 3537; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14133537 - 25 Jun 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1995 | Retraction

Abstract

It is of great significance to realize the sustainable development of the environment to synthesize functional materials by value-added utilization of waste resources. Herein, a composite material of polyacrylic acid/lignosulfonate sodium/cotton biochar (PAA/LS/BC) was successfully prepared by grafting polyacrylic acid with functionalized waste cotton biochar and lignosulfonate sodium. The obtained absorbent showed prominent capture ability toward Pb²⁺ and methylene blue (MB) with capture characteristics of the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm model. This experiment explored the adsorption performance of the adsorbent for pollutants at different conditions, and further revealed the selective adsorption of Pb²⁺ and MB in the mixed system. Analysis confirmed that electrostatic attraction and complexation are the most critical methods to remove contaminants. Additionally, the regeneration and stability experiment showed that the adsorption capacity of PAA/LS/BC for pollutants did not significantly decrease after five runs of adsorption–desorption. Various results can demonstrate that the adsorbent has excellent performance for removing pollutants and can be used as a material with development potential in the field of adsorption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biomass-Derived Carbonaceous Materials in Energy and Environment)

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