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Abstract With the rapid development of flexible electronics, new opportunities are opening up for paper-based electrodes. Herein, an integrated paper electrode consisting of homogeneously mixed cellulose fibers, activated carbon (AC), and carbon black is fabricated using cotton stalks as the raw material. Assembled from two such electrodes, the flexible supercapacitor exhibits high energy density, high power density, and outstanding cyclability. Remarkably, the thickness and AC mass loading of the paper electrode can be easily scaled up to commercial levels (610 µm and 9.8 mg cm−2), while still delivering great performances. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the replacement of AC with Ni-Co layered double hydroxide or Fe 2 O 3 can result in paper-based asymmetric supercapacitor with extremely high energy density (331 μW h cm−2 and 10.3 mW h cm−3), substantially outperforming conventional paper-based supercapacitors. The fabrication methodology of integrated paper electrodes in this report manifests great potential, offering a new vision for flexible energy storage. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • An integrated paper electrode is fabricated using cotton stalks as the raw material. • The paper is composed of homogeneously mixed cellulose fibers, AC, and CB. • The paper thickness and AC mass loading can be easily scaled up to commercial levels. • The flexible symmetric supercapacitor delivers favorable energy and power densities. • The paper-based asymmetric supercapacitor exhibits extremely high energy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamentals of pyrolysis, its latest developments, the different conditions of the process and their relative residues are of great importance to evaluate the applicability of the pyrolysis process within the waste management sector and waste treatments. In particular the type of residues and their further use or treatment is of extreme interest as they could become the source of secondary raw material or generate beneficial influence in waste treatments. The main area of focus of this paper is the investigation of the link between the pyrolysis conditions, the chemical and mineralogical composition of their products and the benefits of pyrolysis in the waste management sector. More specific the paper covers the fast, intermediate and slow pyrolysis of organic and a mixture of inorganic/organic charge from households. The catalysts influence during fast pyrolysis on products yields and composition is not being considered in the review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Densified biomass pellets using waste wood sawdust (S) as main materials and wrapping paper fiber (P) as “solid bridge”, named as P/S-BPs, was prepared by a hydraulic press powder pelletizer under room temperature and pressure lower than10MPa. The effects of the addition of P to S and the compressed pressure on the density, resiliency (R), abrasion resistance (AR), impact resistance index (IRI)) and the combustion behavior of the P/S-BPs were investigated. The results showed that the addition of P to S greatly reduced the negative effects of resiliencies on the densities and mechanical properties of P/S-BPs during storage. For example, P/S-BPs compressed at 6MPa in a P/S mass ratio of 1–3 showed the smooth surface and low resiliency of 10% with a high relaxed density of 1.08kgm−3. This is due to the strengthened interlocking bonds through fabricating “solid bridge” and increasing attracting force by adding P to resist the disruptive force created by elastic recovery even under low pressure. Combustion results showed that the addition of P decreased the soot index (SI) due to the lower devolatilization rate and burnout rate, and increased the HHV per unit volume because of its high relaxed density. Thus, compression of waste P and S in a P/S mass ratio of 1–3 at room temperature under 6MPa is a cost-effective process to produce densified sustainable bio-fuel from waste S and P as well as dispose them. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) is a serious weed capable of piercing polyethylene (PE) plastic mulch used in horticulture. A biodegradable plastic, PE and four different papers were tested for 2 years in fields highly-infested with C. rotundus in Zaragoza (Spain). All four papers were able to withstand all weed species. C. rotundus plants penetrated the biodegradable plastic mulch most, possibly because this material had least resistance to slow perforation. Differences in weed biomass between mulching materials were lower because of small size and weight of C. rotundus. Therefore all mulching treatments had a similar impact on weed biomass reduction 63 days after transplanting; biodegradable plastic had most biomass and papers the least, the differences being significant some years, only. Tomato yield was very similar for all mulching treatments and significantly higher than in the non-mulched plots. No effect of treatment was observed on fruit quality parameters. Commercial paper used as mulch without special additives can satisfactory control C. rotundus in processing tomato provided that climate is appropriate to maintain the paper dry during most of the time. Also the crop needs to cover the soil fast enough before the buried part of the mulch degrades allowing wind to lift and tear the mulch. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the present study the interactions between the main constituents of the refuse derived fuel (plastics, paper, and wood) during pyrolysis were studied. Binary mixtures of polyethylene-paper and polyethylene/sawdust have been transformed into pellets and pyrolyzed. Various mixtures with different composition were analyzed and pyrolysis products (tar, gas, and char) were collected. The mixtures of wood/PE and paper/PE have a different behavior. The wood/PE mixtures showed a much reduced interaction of the various compounds because the yields of pyrolysis products of the mixture can be predicted as linear combination of those of the pure components. On the contrary, a strong char yield increase was found at a low heating rate for paper/PE mixtures. In order to explain the results, the ability of wood and paper char to adsorb and convert the products of PE pyrolysis into was studied. Adsorption and desorption tests were performed on the char obtained by paper and wood by using n-hexadecane as a model compound for the heavy products of PE pyrolysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, the prospect of integrating a combined paper&pulp mill with fuel production via biomass gasification was investigated. In the study, three different types of gasifiers (circulating fluidised bed, entrained flow and indirect gasification) and three fuel processes (dimethyl ether, methanol and Fischer-Tropsch wax synthesis) were investigated using computer simulations. The paper reports differences from the stand-alone cases and the integrated cases, using the electricity equivalence efficiency as a measure. Only 6 out of the 18 integrated cases studied displayed a positive result from integration and no obvious fuel selection that stand out as the most beneficial one, however the synthesis of dimethyl ether is, in combination with all gasifiers assessed a rather good choice, with an change in efficiency from integration ranging from −1% to 4%. Dimethyl ether is not the best choice if the electrical equivalence is to be maximised however. In this case the combination of circulating fluidised bed gasification and methanol synthesis should be pursued. The production of Fischer-Tropsch wax should according to the chosen measure not be produced; however there is an added value in the production of a non-oxygenated fuel which has not been taken into account in this particular study. All cases leads to a reduction of 0.4–0.9 kg CO2 per kg of dry biomass used in the process for fuel synthesis and the possibility to export bark is a more significant factor in this respect than which type of fuel is synthesised. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The pulp and paper industry is placed in a unique position as biomass used as feedstock is now in increasingly high demand from the energy sector. Increased demand for biomass increases pressure on the availability of this resource, which might strengthen the need for recycling of paper. In this study, we calculate the energy use and carbon dioxide emissions for paper production from three pulp types. Increased recycling enables an increase in biomass availability and reduces life-cycle energy use and carbon dioxide emissions. Recovered paper as feedstock leads to lowest energy use (22GJ/t) and CO2 emissions (−1100kgCO2/t) when biomass not used for paper production is assumed to be converted into bio-energy. Large differences exist between paper grades in e.g. electricity and heat use during production, fibre furnish, filler content and recyclability. We found large variation in energy use over the life-cycle of different grades. However, in all paper grades, life-cycle energy use decreases with increased recycling rates and increased use of recovered fibres. The average life-cycle energy use of the paper mix produced in The Netherlands, where the recycling rate is approximately 75%, is about 14GJ/t. This equals CO2 savings of about 1tCO2/t paper if no recycled fibres would be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Pine needles lignocellulosic active paper incorporated with nanozeolite was fabricated. • The lignocellulosic paper showed improved water vapor transmission rate. • The lignocellulosic paper showed high ethylene scavenging properties. • Active pine needle based paper suitable for fresh produce active packaging. • Studies indicated valorization of pine needles biomass into paper fabrication. The pines needle falls approximately 2–3 ha−1 year−1 on the forest floors resulting in a considerable amount of lignocellulosic biowaste. The present study aimed to develop pine needles based lignocellulosic active paper and investigate the effect of 5, 20, and 30% (v/w) nano zeolite addition on the physical, mechanical, and microstructural property of the papers. The developed papers were characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and X-ray diffraction. As the zeolite concentration was increased from 5% to 30% in the paper, enhanced water permeability was seen from 5.18 ± 0.34 - 3.88 ± 0.33 g/cm2/day (PN/ZL 30% paper). The addition of 5% zeolite increased the tensile and burst strength from 19.53 ± 3.53 Nm/g and 3.63 ± 0.23 kg/cm2, respectively. The porosity was increased from 340 ± 20 to 1170 ± 60, and Cobb value increased from 338.3 ± 1.5- 406.7 ± 1.5 g/m2. The alterations in terms of surface microstructure in the paper with 20, 30% zeolite were noticed whereas XRD illustrated the high compatibility among the lignocellulosic network of pines and zeolite. The pine needle paper with 30% zeolite possessed remarkable ethylene scavenging properties (62%), opening a way to valorize pine needle waste for food packaging application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to identify faster-growing non-woody species usable for biomass and paper production, four Leucaena species (L. diversifolia, L. colinsii, L. salvadorensis and three varieties of L. leucocephala) were tested. All the Leucaena species showed a good soil and climatic adaptation to Spain Southwest except for L. salvadorensis. Studied Leucaena species showed biomass productivity ranges from 67.14 to 9.44tha−1 (o.d.b.) and 43.6 to 11.4tha−1 under Mediterranean conditions for the first and second year sprouts, respectively. The quantity of solubles and extractives shows similar values when compared with wood materials. Relatively lower lignin content in Leucaena (from 15.7% to 21.4%) species has been found with respect to other vegetal species. The α-cellulose contents (39.4–45.3%) are in the range of the normal values expected for the other non-wood raw materials. The study confirms the feasibility of organocell yield pulping process to Leucaena species. Organocell process provides an efficient delignification (kappa number 12.4 and pulp yield 42.2%) for L. leucocephala and suitably physical characteristics of paper sheet (tensile index 20.3kNm/kg for L. diversifolia). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In order to identify faster-growing non-woody species usable for biomass and paper production, four Tagasastes (Chamaecytisus proliferus) from different origins are tested. All the Tagasaste species (T. Huelva, T. Australia, T. New Zealand and T. La Palma island) show a good soil and climatic adaptation to Southwest Spain. The studied Tagasaste provenances shows biomass productivity ranges from 1.0tha−1 yr−1 to 3.4tha−1 yr−1 (o.d.b.) and 25.3tha−1 yr−1 to 49.4tha−1 yr−1 under Mediterranean conditions for first and second year sprouts, respectively. The quantity of solubles and extractives shows similar values when compared with wood materials. A relatively lower lignin content in Tagasaste (from 13.7% to 17.1%) species has been found with respect to other vegetal species. The α-celullose contents (43.6–45.3%) were in the range of the normal values expected for the other non-wood raw materials. The study confirms the feasibility of the organocell yield pulping process to Tagasaste provenances. Organocell processes provide an efficient delignification (kappa index from 7.2 to 10.9 and pulp yield from 43.6% to 54.1%). The best results are obtained for the physical properties of paper sheets for Tagasaste from Australia in the second year, with values of tensile index of 16.0kNm/kg, burst index of 1.12MPam2/kg and tear index of 0.55Nm2/kg. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]