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Paper sludge biomass represents an underutilized feedstock rich in pulped and processed cellulose which is currently a waste stream with significant disposal cost to industry for landfilling services. Effective fractionation of the cellulose from paper sludge presents an opportunity to yield cellulose as feedstock for value-added processes. A novel approach to cellulose fractionation is the sidehill screening system, herein studied at the pilot-plant scale. Composition analysis determined ash removal and carbohydrate retention of both sidehill and high-performance benchtop screening systems. Sidehill screening resulted in greater carbohydrates retention relative to benchtop screening (90% vs 66%) and similar ash removal (95% vs 98%). Techno-economic analysis for production of sugar syrup yielded a minimum selling price of $331/metric ton of sugar syrup including disposal savings, significantly less than a commercial sugar syrup without fractionation. Sensitivity analysis showed that screening conditions played a significant role in economic feasibility for cellulosic yield and downstream processes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Due to a shortage of resources, exploring new biomass fillers has become critical for paper making. In this study, we reported an eco-friendly strategy for fabricating low-cost and efficient recycled paper with high mechanical properties using corrugated cardboard waste paper and harmless municipal sludge (HMS). First, the characteristics of HMS, including the particle size, pH, specific surface area, organic functional groups and organic component content, were analyzed. Then, the influence of the amount of HMS on the properties of the recycled paper was studied. Finally, the strengthening mechanism of biomass filling recycled paper was discussed. The results showed that HMS, a biomass filler for recycled paper preparation, exhibited excellent physical and chemical properties, with a median particle size of 6.395 μm, a surface area of 39.974 m2 g−1 and organic functional groups. The tensile index of the recycled paper with 30 % HMS was 13.10 Nm/g, which was 16.4 % greater than that of the unfilled paper and showed better thermal stability. This excellent performance could be attributed to the uniform distribution of HMS on the fiber surface, which improved the accessibility of hydrogen bond formation between fibers. Thus, this study proved that HMS was an excellent biomass filler for producing recycled paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in energy valorization of paper sludge and biomass waste through incineration results in a rise in waste paper fly ash (WPFA), often perceived as hazardous and requiring specific treatment. In this study, natural carbonation technology at a pilot scale was employed to mitigate the hazardous nature of WPFA by enhancing the stabilization of metal and metalloid trace elements (MMTE), particularly barium (Ba) and lead (Pb) leaching. Natural carbonation of WPFA was found to be optimal at a water/solid ratio of 0.3 L/kg under natural temperature and humidity conditions. Batch leaching tests based on thermodynamic equilibrium were used to assess MMTE solubility concerning pH in both non-carbonated and carbonated WPFA at natural pH. After 7 days of natural carbonation, the leaching concentration of Ba and Pb was below the legal limit in France. The concentration of Ba and Pb in carbonated samples decreased by 98.5% and 98%, respectively. Analyses using thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy demonstrated the increased formation and quantity of calcite (CaCO3) with longer carbonation times, along with the formation of new minerals as BaCO3 and PbCO3, confirming the immobilization of these elements post-carbonation. The leaching behavior and release potential of carbonated WPFA were further evaluated using the four-stage sequential extraction procedure proposed by the European Commission's Bureau of Reference (BCR). The speciation of Ba and Pb shifted significantly from the soluble substance (F1) at 17.6% and 14.8%, respectively, to the carbonate fraction (F2) at 0.49% and 0.02% after 90 days of carbonation. The percolation water collected during the carbonation process adheres to discharge standards into the sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main part of companies in Bulgaria are built, however in the 70s, and upgraded last decade. The country supplies around 80 % of its supplies of paper, paperboard and pulp with own production. Integrated treatment of wastes is a priority for realizing closed life cycle of materials. The aim of the present work is to investigate the composition and other important characteristics of biomass wood ash wasted from paper industry. The correlations and associations among the chemical characteristics are also studied to find some basic trends and important relationships between two similar wastes from different enterprises. It was proved that all samples taken contained Ba, Cr, Mn, Ni, Co, Al, Fe, Cu and Zn far below the legal limits for such type of products. A product has a certain anti-acidic effect. The other positive result was that the content of iron is between 34 to 60 mg per 1 kg dry waste. The microscopic photos confirmed that the particles are close to the nano-size materials. The content of the elements C, N, H is in good quantities and ratios, which is a prerequisite for their use as a soil improver. By the results of this study, it was confirmed that all samples produced as a result of the thermal treatment and final low water content achieved are free from pathogen microorganisms and different weed seeds, affecting the yield and soil sustainability. That allows determining the optimal ratio between the used components with a view to obtain products with desired thermal stability and physico-chemical properties as soil improvers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

γ-Valerolactone (GVL) is a promising biomass-based platform compound that can be used for the removal of hemicellulose in pulp. In this study, a paper-grade pulp was treated using GVL to generate dissolving pulp for viscose production. The GVL concentration, treatment temperature, and reaction time had significant effect on the hemicellulose dissolution. The dissolving pulp with α-cellulose content of 92.3% and hemicellulose content of 5.45% was achieved with 60% GVL at 120 °C for 2 h. The Fock reactivity and intrinsic viscosity of the obtained dissolving pulp were 54.6% and 595 mL/g, which is comparable with the commercial product. In addition, GVL spent liquor was also recycled and reused to upgrade paper-grade pulp. By using purified recycled GVL to treat original pulp, the Fock reactivity of pulp was improved, and the cellulose content of as-prepared upgraded pulp increased to 92.1%, which was close to the cellulose content of dissolving pulp obtained from fresh GVL solution, while the intrinsic viscosity decreased significantly to 598 mL/g. Therefore, the efficient reuse of GVL not only ensured the high quality of dissolving pulp, but it also saved production costs and reduced environmental pollution.

The urgent need for sustainable waste management strategies has led to the exploration of innovative approaches for the valorization of waste. In this study, a method is proposed for carbonizing waste biomass materials, particularly paper mill waste sludges (primary and biological) and knots, to produce porous carbonaceous supports. Through an initial hydrothermal carbonization followed by carbonization with nitrogen flow, porous carbon materials are successfully generated. The findings of this investigation validate the successful generation of effective carbonaceous supports utilizing waste biomass materials. These materials are then evaluated for their effectiveness as porous supports in the ionic liquid‐catalyzed cycloaddition reaction of CO2 to styrene oxide, achieving a remarkable conversion rate of up to 98% and an impressive selectivity exceeding 99%. Additionally, the results underscore the significant impact of the selected IL on the overall conversion process. Overall, this study presents a promising pathway for the valorization of paper mill waste sludge through the production of porous carbon materials with potential applications in catalysis and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pines play a significant role in forest biodiversity globally and generate huge forest litter. Dry pine needles due to low ignition temperature and high frictional force with the ground catch fire quickly. Annual forest fires in the northern states of India greatly impact the Indian economy besides causing huge loss to biodiversity, livelihood, and environment. Pine needles are also considered unfit for fodder consumption due to presence of tannins. Although the presence of softwood lignin in pine needles makes it difficult to degrade easily, the presence of holocellulose (68.5%) containing 45-51% cellulose makes this biomass a potential substrate to be used in pulp-making industries for low-grade paper sheets. The good fiber length of pine needles (1.3-1.4 mm) with a diameter of 30-32 μm, maybe considered important property for paper making. The use of pine needles in the pharmaceutical and food industries are due to the presence of secondary metabolites (α-pinene, β-pinene, caryophyllene etc.). The various other potential applications of pine needles are for producing bio-ethanol (yield, 3.98%; purity, 94%), biogas (yield, 23.1 L kg -1 ), smokeless briquettes (calorific value, 18.77 MJ kg -1 ), biochar (calorific value, 25.6 MJ kg -1 ), bio-composites (tensile strength, 21-60 MPa), and bio-pesticides. This paper comprehensively reviews the current applications of pine needles along with its future prospective applications that can have the dual advantage of providing employment opportunities to the people along with environmental protection., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

BACKGROUND: This work proposes the use of a simple, inexpensive method for the hydrothermal synthesis of fluorescent carbon dot nanoparticles (CDs) from rice starch aimed at the determination of Hg2+ in water. The proposed method involved using a paper‐based analytical device coupled to a 3D plate, with a UV‐LED chamber and a smartphone for the acquisition and analysis of the fluorescence digital images of the CDs. RESULTS: The size of the carbon dots ranged from 0.5 to 3 nm, with an average particle size of ~1 nm. The functionalization of carbon dots with methimazole allowed a high selective for Hg2+ determination. The results obtained showed a linear response R2 of 0.997 and Hg2+ concentration in the range of 0.5–45.0 μmol L−1 with a limit of detection and limit of quantitation of 0.23 and 0.62 μmol L−1, respectively. The results of the study show that there were no significant differences, at 95% confidence level, between the data obtained from the application of the proposed method and the reference method. CONCLUSION: The proposed method is in line with the principles of green chemistry, as it involves the use of renewable sources for starch extraction and a hydrothermal synthesis process that does not employ toxic reagents. In addition, the method employs only 15 μL reagent/sample. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia yield substantial waste, necessitating proper disposal to address environmental concerns. Yet, these wastes, rich in starch and lignocellulosic content, offer an opportunity for value-added product development, particularly amino acid production. Traditional methods often rely on costly commercial enzymes to convert biomass into fermentable sugars for amino acid production. An alternative, consolidated bioprocessing, enables the direct conversion of agricultural biomass into amino acids using selected microorganisms. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of the potential of agricultural biomass in Indonesia and Malaysia for amino acid production through consolidated bioprocessing. It explores suitable microorganisms and presents a case study on using Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051 to produce 9.56 mg/mL of amino acids directly from pineapple plant stems. These findings contribute to the advancement of sustainable amino acid production methods using agricultural biomass especially in Indonesia and Malaysia through consolidated bioprocessing, reducing waste and enhancing environmental sustainability., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

As globalization proceeds, increasing biomass energy consumption is an important pathway to replace fossil fuels for tackling climate change by reducing emissions. This study explores the spatial spillover effect in biomass energy carbon reduction, which is frequently ignored when investigating environmental factors. It uncovers whether globalization and its dimensions can strengthen the spatial effect of biomass energy carbon reduction. Besides, we reveal whether biomass energy consumption can promote CO 2 emissions reduction while ensuring economic progress. Results show that (1) owing to the spillover effect, biomass energy consumption plays a significant role in direct and indirect enhancing carbon emissions reduction, with their feedback effects of - 0.003 or 3.3% of the direct effect. (2) Increasing overall, social and political globalization enhances biomass energy consumption's carbon reduction effect. (3) In countries with higher economic development, overall, economic and political globalization has a better promotion in the spatial effect of biomass energy carbon reduction. (4) Developing biomass energy can support the environment quality while enhancing economic growth., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

A procedure for making a wooden heat-insulating product for construction applications through lignin removing is presented in this paper. The non-conventional procedure is almost similar to that known and used in the pulp and paper industry, but the technological purpose is clearly different. The type of tree wood chosen by authors (Romanian spruce wood) is a novelty compared to the rather large list of tree species tested so far and represents the originality of the work. The liquid alkaline environment was constituted of NaOH, Ca(OH)2, and distilled water and this has activated the spruce wood waste. By removing lignin from the wood structure, heat conductance of the wooden material decreased by comparison with conductance of the same type of non-treated wood. The heat treatment temperature into an electric oven was 95 °C for 8 hours. The results showed the possibility to obtain a product with denseness value of 0.14 g⋅cm-3 and heat conductance of 0.030 W⋅m-1⋅K-1, i.e. very good insulation properties. Analyzing the material quality, this was almost identical to high-performance wooden materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co-pyrolysis of paper mill sludge (PS) and biomass has attracted significant attention due to its potential for simultaneous resource utilization and waste disposal. In this work, the co-pyrolysis of PS with corn stover (CS) was carried out in a fixed bed reactor to investigate the effect of temperature and PS to CS ratio on the product characteristics. A comparison between the experimental and calculated values of product yield and composition was performed to obtain a deeper understanding of the synergistic interactions. The results exhibited a positive synergistic effect on bio-oil production at lower CS proportions with higher temperatures. Higher temperatures and lower CS proportions were favorable for the formation of aromatics (up to 45.03%) in co-pyrolysis, while the synergistic interactions promoted the production of phenols and exhibited an inhibitory effect on aromatics production. The interactions also inhibited H 2 but promoted CO production due to the enhanced decarbonylation of co-pyrolysis intermediates in the presence of PS internal minerals. Additionally, the characterization of biochars indicated an increasing degree of aromaticity with higher temperatures and CS proportions. The synergistic interactions at higher temperatures facilitated the development of pore structures in the biochar, especially micropores. This study provides valuable insights into the relationship between parameters, products, and synergies in the co-pyrolysis of PS and biomass wastes. [Display omitted] • A comprehensive study on the co-pyrolysis of paper sludge and corn stover was conducted. • Lower corn stover ratios with higher temperatures jointly promoted bio-oil yield. • The formation of phenols and CO was synergistically enhanced during co-pyrolysis. • Higher temperatures facilitated the development of micropores in the biochars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulose material is the main natural resource for the pulp and paper industry, and for its application the material should have a degree of whiteness as high as possible. For this reason, different bleaching treatments were applied during time. In this paper, the photobleaching induced by solar light of a lignocellulosic biomass using NaClO was studied. The colorimetric measurements, UV spectra absorption, and FTIR spectra changes are evaluated and discussed in this paper. The changes of L*a*b parameters can be considered a proof of the reactions generated by hypochlorite radicals during solar light exposure, leading to a biomass whitening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forest products industries play a vital role in the economic, social, and environmental well-being of the Lake States in the United States. While various economic contribution analyses of forest products industries have been conducted to highlight the importance of such industries to regional economies, little effort has yet been made to parse out the contribution of activities in the value chain. The value chain is a series of steps involved in producing goods or services. This study used a matrix decomposition approach to estimate the economic contribution along the value chain through multiple pathways of four forest resource-based industries using wood as inputs: biomass power generation, sawmills, paper mills, and the construction of new single-family residential structures in the Lake States. The direct and indirect economic output values in 2017 resulting from the construction of new single-family residential structures were $19.1 billion, sawmills were $2.5 billion, paper mills were $17.6 billion, and the biomass power generation industry was $759 million. Of the direct and indirect economic output contributed by each industry, the highest percentage of output attributable to the logging industry was observed from the sawmills industry (12%), followed by biomass power generation (9%), paper mills (1.4%), and the construction of new single-family residential structures (<1%), respectively. The percentage of total economic output attributable to the stumpage industry in the region followed a similar trend as commercial logging for all value-chain industries. The relative economic contribution of the value-chain industries to the total economic contribution of the final industry varied based on whether the industry was a primary or secondary forest products industry and the pathways used for sourcing wood inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study characterized the microbial community present in the bench scale horizontal-flow anaerobic immobilized biomass bioreactor (HAIB) used in the removal of limonene, a compound present in citrus processing industries. The HAIB was filled with three support materials (coal, polyurethane foam and gravel) which were inoculated with anaerobic sludge. The limonene initial concentration on the substrate ranged from 10 mg/L to 500 mg/L. The analysis of 16S rRNA showed the presence of 22 OTUs (based on ⩾97% sequence identity), distributed in 57 genera, considering three different matrices. Higher relative abundance of phyla was observed as Synergistetes (43-57%), Proteobacteria (32-42%), Firmicutes (7-8%) and Acidobacteria (2-3%). Actinobacteria, Bacterioidetes and Chloroflexi had the lowest relative abundances between 1 and 2%. Synergistaceae family was the predominated group (47.6%-mineral coal, 55.9%-foam and 43.5%-gravel) followed by Syntrophaceae (2.4%-coal, 1.5%-foam and 2.2%-gravel), which kept a syntrophic relationship with methanogenesis (hydrogenotrophic methanogens) to maintain the anaerobic digestion. Among the Proteobacteria phylum, the Pseudomonadaceae family was predominant in the system with 12.0% on coal, 13.1% on foam, and 20.4% on gravel. The metabolic versatility of Pseudomonas sp. makes them an important bioremediation agent by being capable of metabolizing xenobiotic and chemical toxic compounds, thus having great prominence for the limonene removal in the HAIB bioreactor., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Efforts are ongoing to utilise agricultural waste to achieve a full resource use approach. Bambara groundnut is an important crop widely grown in the sub-Saharan Africa with potential future importance because of its resilience to thrive under heightened weather uncertainty and widespread droughts that have challenged food security. After harvesting, the edible nuts are separated from the shells which are discarded as waste. Therefore, this research is aimed at characterising the chemical composition and the structural properties of Bambara groundnut shells (BGS) in view of their potential application as a biomass for different bio-products. The chemical composition of BGS was found to be 42.4% cellulose, 27.8% hemicellulose, 13% lignin and 16.8% extractives. Proximate analysis showed a high amount of volatile matter (69.1%) and low moisture (4.4%). XRD analysis confirmed crystallinity of cellulose I polymer and FTIR analysis observed functional groups of lignocellulosic compounds. Thermal stability, maximum degradation temperature and activation energy were found to be 178.5 °C, 305.7 °C and 49.4 kJ/mol, respectively. Compared to other nutshells, BGS were found to have a relatively high amount of cellulose and crystallinity that may result in biocomposites with improved mechanical properties., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The use of nanomaterials in biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass offers a promising approach to simultaneously address environmental sustainability and economic viability. This review provides an overview of the environmental and economic implications of integrating nanotechnology into biofuel production from low-cost lignocellulosic biomass. In this review, we highlight the potential benefits and challenges of nano-based biofuel production. Nanomaterials provide opportunities to improve feedstock pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, and catalysis, resulting in enhanced process efficiency, lower energy consumption, and reduced environmental impact. Conducting life cycle assessments is crucial for evaluating the overall environmental footprint of biofuel production. An economic perspective that focuses on the cost implications of utilizing nanomaterials in biofuel production is also discussed. A comprehensive understanding of both environmental and economic dimensions is essential to fully harness the potential of nanomaterials in biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass and to move towards sustainable future energy., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The chemical composition and thermal properties of natural fibers are the most critical variables that determine the overall properties of the fibers and influence their processing and use in different sustainable applications, such as their conversion into bioenergy and biocomposites. Their thermal and mechanical properties can be estimated by evaluating the content of cellulose, lignin, and other extractives in the fibers. In this research work, the chemical composition and thermal properties of three fibers, namely bagasse, kenaf bast fibers, and cotton stalks, were evaluated to assess their potential utilization in producing biocomposites and bioenergy materials. The chemical composition analysis followed the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Standards (TAPPI) methods. The total phenol content was quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to assess the light absorption by the bonds. To evaluate thermal stability and higher heating values, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and bomb calorimetry were performed. The chemical analysis revealed that bagasse contained 50.6% cellulose and 21.6% lignin, kenaf bast fibers had 58.5% cellulose and 10% lignin, and cotton stalks exhibited 40.3% cellulose and 21.3% lignin. The FTIR curves demonstrated a notable similarity among the fibers. The TGA analysis showed degradation temperatures of 321°C for bagasse, 354°C for kenaf bast fibers, and 289°C for cotton stalks. The DSC analysis revealed glass transition temperatures of 81°C for bagasse, 66.3°C for cotton stalks, and 64.5°C for kenaf bast fibers. The higher heating values were measured as 17.3, 16.6 and 17.1 MJ/kg for bagasse, kenaf bast fibers, and cotton stalks, respectively. The three fibers have a high potential for biocomposites and bioenergy material manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper sludge (PS), a by-product of paper mill wastewater treatment, has attracted increasing attention due to the dual nature of resources and pollution. This study focused on investigating the effect of temperature on the product properties and synergies of the co-pyrolysis process involving PS and corn stover (CS) using a fixed bed reactor. The results showed that co-pyrolysis led to an increase in the production of bio-oil, while reducing the formation of char and gases. Notably, the most significant synergistic effect was observed at 600 °C, where the experimental bio-oil yield surpassed the calculated value by 8.9%. At temperatures below 500 °C, ketones, aldehydes, and acids were the predominant products in the co-pyrolysis, which shifted towards phenols and aromatics as the temperature increased. Moreover, a promotion of CO content and an inhibition of CO 2 content with temperature were also observed during co-pyrolysis, suggesting that higher temperatures facilitated synergistic decarbonylation. The co-pyrolysis biochar exhibited a higher abundance of carbonyl and alkyl groups compared to the biochar derived from PS pyrolysis, and the synergistic effect at higher temperatures promoted the development of micropores within the co-pyrolysis biochar. These findings emphasize the temperature-dependent nature of the co-pyrolysis process, offering valuable insights into the potential resource utilization of PS and CS wastes. • Effect of temperature on paper sludge and corn stover co-pyrolysis were studied. • The most significant synergy for enhancing bio-oil production was observed at 600 °C. • Increasing temperature shifted low molecular compounds towards phenols and aromatics. • The synergy at higher temperatures promoted the development of micropores in biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: biomass; carbonization; CO2 cycloaddition; ionic liquids; paper mill sludgeUpcycling Waste BiomassIn article number 2300655, Marcileia Zanatta, Marta C. Corvo, and co‐workers show that, by transforming paper industry waste into porous carbonaceous materials, these materials serve as effective supports in the ionic liquid‐catalyzed cycloaddition of CO2 to styrene oxide, achieving high conversion rates and selectivity..By Mónica Stanton Ribeiro; Maria M. R. A. Lima; Márcia Vilarigues; Marcileia Zanatta and Marta C. CorvoReported by Author; Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

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Melamine-impregnated paper waste (MIPW) is an unavoidable byproduct of the melamine-impregnated paper production process, and it must be urgently disposed. In this paper, due to its high N content, MIPW was used as a N source to co-pyrolyze with camellia oleifera shell (COS). By changing the proportion of MIPW in the raw materials, the migration path of the N was studied during the co-pyrolysis process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis (EA), total nitrogen analysis (TN) and ultraviolet spectrophotometry were used to determine the content and the types of N-containing components in raw materials and products. The results showed that during the co-pyrolysis process, the N in MIPW and COS would be converted into different types of N-containing components, and the proportion of MIPW in raw materials directly impacts the product distribution and the N migration path. With the increase in the proportion of MIPW from 10 to 50 wt.% (daf, mass ratio), the proportion of N in raw materials that migrated into the solid phase decreased from 27.58 to 16.31 wt.%, while that which migrated to the gas and liquid phases increased from 24.92 and 47.50 wt.% to 25.97 and 57.72 wt.%, respectively. The proportions of N in the raw materials that changed into pyridinic-N, pyrrolic-N and graphitic-N in the solid phase and N2-N in the gas phase were decreased. The proportions of NH3-N and HCN-N in the gas phase and NH3-N and organic-N in the liquid phase were increased. Moreover, synergies were observed during the co-pyrolysis process, which affected the N migration path in the raw material. This study will provide policy directions and theoretical support for the comprehensive utilization of MIPW and COS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the circular efficiency of biomass resources has become a priority due to the depletion and negative environmental impacts of fossil fuels. This study aimed to quantify the atmosphere-dependent combustion of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) biomass and its thermodynamic and kinetic parameters toward enhancing its circularity and transformability characteristics. The GL combustion occurred in the three stages of moisture removal, volatile release, and coke combustion. Combustion performance characteristics were more favorable in the N 2 /O 2 atmosphere than in the CO 2 /O 2 atmosphere under the same heating rates. The rising heating rate facilitated the release of volatiles. According to the model-free methods of Ozawa-Flynn-Wall and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose, the activation energies essential for the primary reaction were 283.09 kJ/mol and 288.28 kJ/mol in the N 2 /O 2 atmosphere and 233.09 kJ/mol and 235.64 kJ/mol in the CO 2 /O 2 atmosphere. The gaseous products of the GL combustion included CH 4 , H 2 O, C = O, CO, CO 2 , NH 3 , C = C, and C-O(H). Ash prepared in both atmospheres exhibited a tendency for slag formation, with oxy-fuel combustion lowering its risk. This study thus provides a theoretical and practical basis for transforming GL residues into a sustainable energy source., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Seasonally abundant arthropods are a crucial food source for many migratory birds that breed in the Arctic. In cold environments, the growth and emergence of arthropods are particularly tied to temperature. Thus, the phenology of arthropods is anticipated to undergo a rapid change in response to a warming climate, potentially leading to a trophic mismatch between migratory insectivorous birds and their prey. Using data from 19 sites spanning a wide temperature gradient from the Subarctic to the High Arctic, we investigated the effects of temperature on the phenology and biomass of arthropods available to shorebirds during their short breeding season at high latitudes. We hypothesized that prolonged exposure to warmer summer temperatures would generate earlier peaks in arthropod biomass, as well as higher peak and seasonal biomass. Across the temperature gradient encompassed by our study sites (>10°C in average summer temperatures), we found a 3-day shift in average peak date for every increment of 80 cumulative thawing degree-days. Interestingly, we found a linear relationship between temperature and arthropod biomass only below temperature thresholds. Higher temperatures were associated with higher peak and seasonal biomass below 106 and 177 cumulative thawing degree-days, respectively, between June 5 and July 15. Beyond these thresholds, no relationship was observed between temperature and arthropod biomass. Our results suggest that prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures can positively influence prey availability for some arctic birds. This positive effect could, in part, stem from changes in arthropod assemblages and may reduce the risk of trophic mismatch., (© 2024 His Majesty the King in Right of Canada and The Authors. Global Change Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.)

As the adverse effects of using plastics and perfluorinated alkyl substances become more apparent, there is a growing need for sustainable hydrophobic products. Cellulose and its derivatives are the most abundant and widely used polymers, and cellulose-based products have great potential in industries where plastics and other hydrophobic polymers are used, such as stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and oil-water separation applications. In this study, we extracted cellulose from water hyacinth (WH) biomass, known for its negative environmental impact, and converted it into hydrophobic cellulose. This addresses the issue of managing WH waste and creating an environmentally friendly hydrophobic material. Initially, aldehyde groups were introduced through oxidation with periodate, followed by direct octadecyl amine (ODA) grafting onto dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) via a Schiff base condensation. The resulting ODA modified cellulose (ODA-C) was dispersed in ethanol and used to coat various materials, including cotton fabric, cellulose filter paper, and packaging paper. The modified materials showed excellent hydrophobicity as measured by their water contact angles (WCAs), and the application of the coating was demonstrated for oil-water separation, stain-resistant hydrophobic fabric, and paper-based packaging materials. FTIR, XRD, and WCA analysis confirmed the successful modification of cellulose. A high separation efficiency of 99% was achieved for diesel/water separation using modified filter paper (MoFP), under gravity. On application of the coating, cotton fabric became hydrophobic and resisted staining from dye, and paper-based packaging materials became more robust by becoming water-resistant. Overall, the facile synthesis, low cost, high efficiency, and use of environmentally friendly sustainable materials make this a promising strategy for hydrophobically modifying surfaces for a wide range of applications while reducing the menace of water hyacinth., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Biobased waste utilization is an intriguing area of research and an ecologically conscious approach. Plant-based materials can be used to render cellulose, which is an eco-friendly material that can be used in numerous aspects. In the current investigation, cellulose was extracted from the leaves of the Vachellia nilotica plant via acid hydrolysis. The application of this research is specifically directed toward the utilization of undesirable plant sources. To validate the extracted cellulose, FT-IR spectroscopy was applied. The cellulose was measured to have a density of 1.234 g/cm 3 . The crystallinity index (58.93%) and crystallinity size (11.56 nm) of cellulose are evaluated using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy analysis. The highest degradation temperature (320.8°C) was observed using thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry curve analysis. The analysis of particle size was conducted utilizing images captured by scanning electron microscopy. Particle size of less than 30 μm was found and they exhibit non-uniform orientation. Additionally, atomic force microscopy analysis shows an improved average surface roughness (Ra), which increases the possibility of using extracted cellulose as reinforcement in biofilms., (© 2024 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)

Lignin is a tough biopolymer that gives plants strength and protection. It is also a major obstacle for converting plant biomass into biofuels because it prevents enzymes from accessing the sugar-rich fibers. To optimize biofuel production, we need to measure the lignin content in plant tissues accurately and efficiently. In this protocol, we describe a simple and reliable method to measure the total lignin content in plant tissues. The method uses acetyl bromide, a chemical that dissolves lignin into soluble derivatives and makes it possible to detect them by their absorbance at 280 nm. The method consists of two steps: first, we obtained destarched cell wall material from the plant samples, and second, we treat the cell wall material with acetyl bromide and measure the absorbance of the lignin solution. This method can capture all types of lignin and works well with different plant tissues., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

This study focuses on investigating a novel category of paper actuators, aiming to attain a favorable equilibrium between substantial electrically actuated force and extended service lifetime (Ts) for the soft electric-responsive artificial muscle. Consequently, the present research has developed an Electro-responsive Biomass Paper Actuator (ERBPA) utilizing calcium alginate hydrogel, employing absolute ethanol (CH3CH2OH) as the slow-release agent, through a straightforward and viable preparation procedure. Moreover, a comprehensive investigation was carried out on the electro-mechano-chemical behaviors and strengthening mechanism of the ERBPA with varying volume fractions of CH3CH2OH, under the electrical actuation of 4 V DC voltage. The experimental findings revealed a gradual decrease in the density of electrically actuated force, elastic modulus, and yield strength with the increasing volume fraction of CH3CH2OH. Specifically, at a volume fraction of 30%, these properties reached their respective minimum values of approximately 15.152 mN/g, 6.5 MPa, and 0.0999 MPa. In contrast to the internal resistance (Rg) of the ERBPA, the specific capacitance (Cp) and the Ts exhibited an initial improvement followed by a reduction, while the rise time (Tr) demonstrated a positive correlation with the volume fraction of CH3CH2OH but a negative correlation with the reaction velocity (Vf). Specifically, at a volume fraction of 25%, Cp, Ts and Tr reached their maximum values of 96.2 mF/g, 1287 s, and 170 s, respectively, whereas Rg and Vf attained their minimum values of 2.39 Ω and 0.044 mN/g·s, respectively. The slow-release effect of CH3CH2OH inherently contributed to the protection of certain free Ca2+ ions, thereby causing a gradual and consistent coordination process with sodium alginate molecules. This, in turn, greatly enhanced the internal structure of ERBPA, resulting in exceptional Ts stability and operational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed quality of briquettes produced from bagasse (B), corn husk (CH), and cassava roots (CR) using banana peels (BP), wastepaper (WP), and clay soil (CS) as binders. Mixing ratios were established from carbonized materials, and briquettes physical and combustion properties were determined. Weak shatter resistance appeared in WP, CS briquettes had best tumbling resistances while WP briquettes had better water penetration. CS briquettes (3:1:1) had low (2.7%) moisture content (MC), and 1:3:1 had low (28%) volatile matter (VM) while the highest was 41% for 2:2:1. Ash content (AC) for 2:2:1 was the highest (41%) with highest heating value (HV). BP briquettes for 0:4:1 (CH:CR:BP) had the lowest MC (4.9%), whereas 2:2:1 (B:CH:BP) had the highest VM (41.5%). AC (15.5%) for 1:3:1 was the highest while 2:2:1 (CH:CR) had the highest HV. WP briquettes 1:3:1 (B:CH) had the lowest MC (2%) and 3:1:1 had highest VM (35%), while the highest AC appeared for 4:0:1. The 2:2:1 (B:CR:WP) briquette yielded the highest HV (25.5 MJ/Kg). All materials were suitable for briquetting, although their qualities are sensitive to weather conditions. Together with BP briquettes, WP briquettes 2:2:1 (B:CR:WP) produce the best results, especially when using CR and CH feedstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forest products industries play a vital role in the economic, social, and environmental well-being of the Lake States in the United States. While various economic contribution analyses of forest products industries have been conducted to highlight the importance of such industries to regional economies, little effort has yet been made to parse out the contribution of activities in the value chain. The value chain is a series of steps involved in producing goods or services. This study used a matrix decomposition approach to estimate the economic contribution along the value chain through multiple pathways of four forest resource-based industries using wood as inputs: biomass power generation, sawmills, paper mills, and the construction of new single-family residential structures in the Lake States. The direct and indirect economic output values in 2017 resulting from the construction of new single-family residential structures were $19.1 billion, sawmills were $2.5 billion, paper mills were $17.6 billion, and the biomass power generation industry was $759 million. Of the direct and indirect economic output contributed by each industry, the highest percentage of output attributable to the logging industry was observed from the sawmills industry (12%), followed by biomass power generation (9%), paper mills (1.4%), and the construction of new single-family residential structures (

The field experiment to study, the role of farming systems and the rise of the mowing in the growth, output and quality of the green fodder qualities of Moringa oleifera Lam, was carried out during the 2021 autumn season in one of the fields of the Sharqat district of Salah Al-Din governorate. The experiment included the study of two important factors: Four transplant distances (10 × 20cm, 20 × 20cm, 20 × 30cm, 30 × 30cm) and three cutting levels. (5 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm), took the first mowing after 70 days of planting, The results showed that the cultivation system exceeded 20 × 20cm and the cutting level was morally 15cm in the plant's height at 191.0cm in the first mowing and 78.50cm in the second mowing. The cultivation system exceeded 30x30cm in the highest branch number per plant at 5cm in the first mowing at 15.50 branches in the first mowing at 14.53cm in the second mowing at 80cm at 7cm Plant-1 agriculture system exceeds 10X20 cm and cutting level of 10 cm in total wet weight of vegetable total of 10.53 kg m2 in First Mowing, 6.83 kg m2 in Second Mowing, wet weight of leaves 4.13 kg m2 in First Mowing, 3.92 kg m2 in Second mowing, 6.22 kg m2 in First Mowing and 1.09 kg kg II Dry leaves 1.32 kg m2 in the first mowing and 0.98 kg m2 in the second mowing also exceed the paper area of 2557.7 cm2. The agriculture system exceeds 20X20 cm and the cut level of 10 cm in the paper area is 2386.9 cm in the second mowing and the cultivation system exceeds 10X20 cm and the cut level is 5 cm in the dry weight of stems 2.05 kg-2 in the first mowing and 0.71 kg-2 in the second mowing . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient utilization of low-cost carbon feedstocks, such as municipal solid waste (MSW), in biorefineries has become increasingly important for reducing GHG emissions and meeting the growing demand for renewable energy sources. However, MSW as a feedstock presents several challenges, including high moisture content, compositional variability, particle size and shape, density, and ash content. To address these challenges, the potential of mechanical dewatering and high-moisture pelleting processes for densifying MSW fractions, such as paper, cardboard, thin plastic, and thick plastic, into low-cost carbon feedstocks with improved handling and conversion properties were investigated. The effect of these preprocessing technologies on the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of the resulting pellets, including bulk density, durability, and size uniformity, were evaluated. The results showed that with these preprocessing technologies, the paper and cardboard fractions could be pelleted at moisture contents over 40% (w.b.) while achieving >99% durability and >300 kg/m3, while the high moisture plastic fractions were not suitable for pelleting. The thick plastic fraction processed in a screw press was shown to remove up to 30% of the moisture content in a single pass. These findings suggest that these mechanical preprocessing technologies can improve the physical properties of low-cost municipal solid waste fractions for biofuels production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, there has been growing interest in the thermal conversion of various alternative fuels, such as biomass and waste-derived fuels. One of the technological solutions for the so-called direct co-combustion of fuels is to create mixtures of various fuels, called mixed secondary fuel. However, mixed secondary fuel has different properties compared to primary fuels. Due to this, by properly selecting the types and proportions of mixtures, it is possible to eliminate their potentially negative impact on both combustion technology and the natural environment. In this paper, we decided to prepare mixed secondary fuel by mixing sunflower husk pellets with RDF (refuse-derived fuel) in a ratio of 1:1 and then analyze the combustion process of the produced fuel in fluidized bed conditions. The results obtained on the basis of the presented research indicate that the mixed secondary fuel eliminated the impact of alkali metal compounds on reducing the melting point of ash and, consequently, on the combustion process of the mixed secondary fuel. An additional benefit is the reduction of emissions of harmful compounds into the atmosphere occurring during the combustion of municipal waste and compliance with the concept of the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the biomass of livestock, poultry manure and straw to study the resource utilization and integration technology by division and classification. The SPSS regression analysis and integration were applied to analyze the economic benefits of the base period (2018) and the audit period (2020). The analysis gives an opportunity in rural areas to reduce chemical fertilizers, pesticides, electricity and coal cost in planting, and this paper opens a novel window for utilizing renewable energy resources and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the global ban on plastics intensifying, the substitution of plastic with paper has garnered increasing attention. However, the inadequate water and oil repellency of pulp molding hinders its practical applications. Currently, the common method to enhance the oil and water repellency of pulp molding is by adding fluorinated water and oil repellents. Nevertheless, fluorinated compounds are environmentally and physiologically harmful. Therefore, the development of fluorine-free, water and oil repellent alternatives is crucial. In this study, chitosan and stearic acid were utilized as the first and second layers of the oil and water repellent coatings, respectively. The coated samples exhibited favorable water repellency, with a water contact angle of 116.4°, and excellent oil repellency, achieving a 12/12 rating on the kit scale. Importantly, the samples did not exhibit any leakage after being soaked in hot water and hot oil at 95±5 °C for 30 min, demonstrating remarkable performance as a barrier against hot water and oil. Moreover, the coated samples displayed outstanding mechanical properties, thermal stability, biodegradability, and recyclability. The approach presented in this study is simple, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and represents a promising technique for producing fluoride-free, oil- and water-resistant pulp molding products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To indicate the condition of the wastewater treatment with microalgae (WTwM) research. Methodology. The words treatment, wastewater, and microalgae, were entered as keywords in a search under “article title” in SCOPUS. The documents found were saved and exported as a file with a .bb extension. From R Studio, the BIBLIOMETRIX interface was linked to R Statistics. The interface was opened from MOZILLA to import the .bb file. Results. There is a significant increase in the number of papers published since 2013, up to 68 articles in 2022. The authors with the highest number of contributions on the subject are Ivet Ferrer and Joan García. The countries most involved in this issue are China, Spain, India and Brazil; China is the one with the highest number of publications. The WTwM studies in 2023 are concerned with investigating biomass accumulation and nutrient removal as a way to make sustainable use of the process. Conclusions. WTwM is a research topic that is studying and disseminating knowledge since the 80’s. The author who stands out the most is Ivet Ferrer. China has little collaboration with scientists from other countries. The most recent WTwM studies address issues related to biodiesel production and biogas production. The topics to be addressed in future research will be related to the study of temperature, osmotic capacity, pH and O2 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the price of fossil fuels, unreliability of fossil fuels for a secure supply of demand in future and their relevant environmental concerns provide an attitude toward substituting renewable energies with fossil fuels for reaching sustainable development in societies. Biofuels as a type of renewable energies can be easily transferred between supply chain's centers and do not have limitation for transportation after their production. Among various types of biofuels, biodiesel, which can be mainly produced from the non-edible feedstocks, such as Jatropha Curcas L. (JCL), is preferred to other biofuels because biodiesel production from JCL which can be cultivated in marginal lands, improves three pillars of sustainability. Since biofuel supply chain's costs can mainly be affected by its feedstock location optimization, this paper used a common weight data envelopment analysis (CWDEA) method for location optimization of feedstock cultivation for a biodiesel supply chain by considering a comprehensive set of sustainability criteria for investigating locations. A case study of Iran is provided for assessing the model's application, and its results in ranking potential locations for JCL cultivation are validated by a numerical taxonomy (NT) approach. In fact, this paper not only specifies the optimum locations for the feedstock cultivation of a biofuel supply chain regarding to sustainability criteria, but also discuss the balanced socioeconomic development and environmental benefits which can be attained by JCL cultivation in marginal and mostly underdeveloped lands. Provided results imply that vast area of Iran's marginal lands has suitable climate for JCL cultivation and policy makers can address all aspect of sustainability simultaneously by investment on those specified lands as well as supplying countries' demand for biodiesel which will be produced from this feedstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the process of biomass pyrolysis and the importance of kinetic modeling in understanding and optimizing this process. Pyrolysis is a thermal conversion method that can produce solid and liquid biofuels, as well as raw materials for bio-based products. The distribution and quality of the products depend on the properties of the biomass and the thermal conditions used. However, there are challenges in accurately determining the kinetics of pyrolysis reactions due to factors such as the variability of biomass composition and the presence of catalysts. The article also provides an overview of nine research papers published in a special issue of the journal Processes, which cover topics such as the devolatilization behavior of different biomass feedstocks, the effects of torrefaction pretreatment, and the influence of catalysts on conversion dynamics. [Extracted from the article]

The energy management (EM) solution of the multi-microgrids (MMGs) is a crucial task to provide more flexibility, reliability, and economic benefits. However, the energy management (EM) of the MMGs became a complex and strenuous task with high penetration of renewable energy resources due to the stochastic nature of these resources along with the load fluctuations. In this regard, this paper aims to solve the EM problem of the MMGs with the optimal inclusion of photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind turbines (WTs), and biomass systems. In this regard, this paper proposed an enhanced Jellyfish Search Optimizer (EJSO) for solving the EM of MMGs for the 85-bus MMGS system to minimize the total cost, and the system performance improvement concurrently. The proposed algorithm is based on the Weibull Flight Motion (WFM) and the Fitness Distance Balance (FDB) mechanisms to tackle the stagnation problem of the conventional JSO technique. The performance of the EJSO is tested on standard and CEC 2019 benchmark functions and the obtained results are compared to optimization techniques. As per the obtained results, EJSO is a powerful method for solving the EM compared to other optimization method like Sand Cat Swarm Optimization (SCSO), Dandelion Optimizer (DO), Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), and the standard Jellyfish Search Optimizer (JSO). The obtained results reveal that the EM solution by the suggested EJSO can reduce the cost by 44.75% while the system voltage profile and stability are enhanced by 40.8% and 10.56%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Dragonflies and damselflies are invaluable components of freshwater ecosystems, acting as dominant predators and facilitating the exportation of matter and energy from aquatic to terrestrial environments thanks to their powerful flight. They are also crucial as a food source for various animals and, in some cases, for humans. Through a comprehensive review of the literature, we estimated the biomass, density, and secondary production of these insects, assessing their potential significance in terrestrial fertilization. Our findings indicate that dragonfly larvae are particularly abundant in lentic habitats. Overall, the evidence suggests that dragonflies and damselflies may make a substantial contribution to the exportation of materials to terrestrial systems, especially considering the adults' ability to migrate and inhabit different types of water ecosystems. Freshwater insects are highly significant as ecosystem service providers, contributing to provisioning services, supporting services, and cultural services. Odonates are dominant predators in many freshwater systems, becoming top predators in fishless ecosystems. One service that odonates provide is the export of matter and energy from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we provide a review of the literature aiming to estimate the density, biomass, and secondary production of odonates and discuss to what extent this order of insects is relevant for the fertilization of terrestrial ecosystems. We found published data on 109 species belonging to 17 families of odonates from 44 papers. Odonata larvae are abundant in freshwater systems, with a mean density of 240.04 ± 48.01 individuals m−2 (±SE). Lentic habitats show much higher densities (104.40 ± 55.31 individuals m−2, N = 118) than lotic systems (27.12 ± 5.09, N = 70). The biomass estimations for odonates indicate values of 488.56 ± 134.51 mg m−2 y−1, with similar values in lentic and lotic habitats, which correspond to annual secondary productions of 3558.02 ± 2146.80 mg m−2 y−1. The highest biomass is found in dragonflies of the Aeshnidae, Corduliidae, and Gomphidae families. The available evidence suggests a significant potential contribution of Odonata to the exportation of material from water bodies to land. This is further strengthened by the ability of adult odonates to migrate and to colonize different types of water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has a huge potential for biomass utilization. Converting low-grade biomass into high-quality hydrogen and natural gas is of great significance in promoting the utilization of biomass resources and the achievement of carbon reduction goals. Based on the data of biomass collection, transportation, power generation, hydrogen production and gas production stages in China, this paper constructs a multi-chain hybrid whole-life process evaluation model for "electricity to gas" and comprehensively compares the energy consumption, carbon emission and cost of the two chains of "hydrogen production from biomass power generation" and "methane production from biomass power generation". We comprehensively compare the energy consumption, carbon emissions and costs of biomass-to-hydrogen and biomass-to-methane technologies. Biomass natural gas is found to have significant advantages in terms of energy consumption, carbon emissions and economics compared to biomass hydrogen production. In order to promote the development of the biomass "electricity to gas" industry in China, this paper proposes that PEM electrolysis tanks can be used for hydrogen production, and the distance from the biomass feedstock collection to the hydrogen production chemical park should be optimized to reduce the whole-life-cycle cost. Biomass natural gas can buy time for the development of China's hydrogen industry and infrastructure construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Woody biomass energy has exponentially grown in the last decade as a renewable energy alternative to fossil fuels. The growing trend of burning trees amid global climate crisis suggests that the wood pellet industry has been grossly successful in positioning itself as a sustainability leader. What communicative frames and strategies has the industry harnessed to communicate sustainability? What do the frames and strategies leave out? To explore those questions, this paper examines the woody biomass industry's construction of sustainability by focusing on the case of the world's largest wood pellet company, Enviva. Following ecolinguistics and framing theory, the first part of the paper examines the company's website and social media presence to unpack the frames that Enviva engages to communicate its sustainability. Then, the paper turns to the spheres of life that the company omits from its framing but are crucial to the conceptualization of sustainability from an ecojustice perspective. The paper concludes with a call for ecojustice as the framework for evaluating sustainability of life on land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]