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A series of Co‐Mo/HZSM‐5 catalysts was prepared using an impregnation method for the thermal conversion of prairie cordgrass (PCG). The catalysts were characterized by BET measurements, XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, and TEM. The Co‐Mo/HZSM‐5 catalysts were tested in the thermal conversion of PCG to produce hydrocarbon biofuel in a two‐stage catalytic pyrolysis system. The products were analyzed and included incondensable gas, bio‐oil, and biochar. Compared to non‐catalytically obtained bio‐oil, the chemical composition, water content, higher heating value, viscosity, and density of the catalytic bio‐oils were improved. The results indicated that 4 %Mo‐2 %Co/HZSM‐5 showed a robust ability in the catalytic cracking of PCG with the highest yield of hydrocarbons at 41.08 %. Little catalyst on the prairie: Bifunctional Co‐Mo/HZSM‐5 catalysts with different Co/Mo ratios are used to covert prairie cordgrass to hydrocarbon biofuel in a two‐stage catalytic reactor system. The catalysts are characterized by BET measurements, XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, and TEM. The results show that the 2 %Mo‐4 %Co/HZSM‐5 catalyst generated upgraded bio‐oil with the highest hydrocarbon content at 41.08 %.

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of die nozzle dimensions, barrel temperature profile, and moisture content on DDGS-based extrudate properties and extruder processing parameters. An ingredient blend containing 40% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), along with soy flour, corn flour, fish meal, whey, mineral and vitamin mix, with a net protein content adjusted to 28% was extruded in a single-screw laboratory extruder using seven different die nozzles. Increasing moisture content of the ingredient mix from 15 to 25% resulted in a 2.0, 16.0, 16.3, 22.9, 18.5, 32.5, and 63.7% decrease, respectively, in bulk density, water-solubility index, sinking velocity, L*, b*, mass flow rate, and absolute pressure, as well as 11.6, 16.2, and 7% increases, respectively, in pellet durability, water-absorption index, and a*. Increasing the temperature from 100 to 140°C resulted in 17.0, 5.9, 35.4, 50.6, 28.8, 33.9, and 33.9% decreases, respectively, in unit density, pellet durability, sinking velocity, absolute pressure, specific mechanical energy, torque, and apparent viscosity, but a 49.1 and 16.9% increase, respectively, in dough temperature and water-absorption index. Increasing the L/D ratio of the die nozzle resulted in an increase in bulk density, L*, a*, and torque, but a decrease in unit density, pellet durability, water-absorption index, sinking velocity, b*, mass flow rate, dough temperature, and apparent viscosity. As demonstrated in this study, the selection of an appropriate die geometry, in addition to the selection of suitable temperature and moisture content levels, are critical for producing DDGS-based extrudates with optimum properties.

Plastic fiber composites, consisting of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), and pinewood, big blue stem (BBS), soybean hulls, or distillers dried grain and solubles (DDGS), were prepared by extrusion. Young's modulus, tensile and flexural strengths, melt flow, shrinkage, and impact energy, with respect to the type, amount, and size of fiber on composites, were evaluated. Young's moduli under tensile load of wood, BBS, and soybean‐hull fiber composites, compared with those of pure plastic controls, were either comparable or higher. Tensile strength significantly decreased for all the PP/fiber composites when compared with that of the control. Strength of BBS fiber composites was higher than or comparable to that of wood. When natural fibers were added there was a significant decrease in the melt flow index for both plastic/fiber composites. There was no significant difference in the shrinkage of all fiber/plastic composites compared to that of controls. BBS/PE plastic composites resulted in higher notched impact strength than that of wood or soybean‐hull fiber composites. There was significant reduction in the unnotched impact strength compared to that of controls. BBS has the potential to be used as reinforcing materials for low‐cost composites. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2484–2493, 2004

The objective of the present investigation is to develop and evaluate polyethylene-starch based carriers for sustaining the release of bioactive materials. Polyethylene-starch carriers were prepared by incorporating various amounts of corn starch 0, 40, 80, and 100% in polyethylene beads with and without dye. Acid orange dye was incorporated (1%) to study release patterns and the effect of starch (%) on release. The granulated mixtures were extruded to form uniform dispersions of starch and polyethylene throughout the extrudate. The extrudates obtained were studied for SEM surface characterization before, during, and after release studies to study the erosion process. In the case of 100% starch, 80% of the matrix was eroded in 5 weeks, while with 40% and 80% starch, erosion was less than 20%. The dye release studies showed that release could be sustained well over 12 weeks, depending on the starch (%) incorporated. The erosion process was studied using scanning electron microscopic techniques, which showed gradual erosion of starch particles, leaving a polyethylene skeleton. These materials show promising potential for use as carriers for bioactive materials.

Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP): The cover image demonstrates one promising technology (CFP) for converting biomass to liquid biofuels. The yield and quality of biofuels are depended on biomass species, reactor type, operating conditions (temperature, heating rate, etc.) and the activity of appropriate catalysts. Based on current catalytic research, a novel two‐stage reactor was tested for exploration of catalytic biomass pyrolysis. Lignocellulosic biomass materials such as prairie cordgrass can be converted into hydrocarbon biofuel over bifunctional Co‐Mo/HZSM‐5 catalysts, for which the effects of different metal loading levels were investigated for their influence on the pyrolysis products (bio‐oil, bio‐char, and non‐condensable gas). The physicochemical properties (such as water content, density, viscosity, higher heating value, and chemical composition) of pyrolysis products were characterized. The results indicate that integrating two‐stage catalytic pyrolysis system and Co‐Mo/HZSM‐5 could improve the yields and quality of bio‐oil with higher hydrocarbon content. Although further research is needed, the study confirms that catalytic biomass pyrolysis using a two‐stage reactor system might be an effective pathway for converting lignocellulosic biomass to advanced biofuels. More details can be found in the Full Paper by Shouyun Cheng, Lin Wei, Xianhui Zhao et al. on page 706 in Issue 6, 2016(DOI: 10.1002/ente.201500452).