Search

Red turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus valens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is a non-aggressive pine bark beetle native to North America, and more aggressive invader in China. Dispersing pioneer beetles are attracted to potential host trees by oleoresin monoterpene kairomones, but respond more strongly to those combined with ethanol, a mixture often released from stressed, dying, or recently dead trees. (+)-3-Carene, usually the dominant or co-dominant monoterpene in ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, is a stronger attractant than α-pinene or β-pinene where tested over a large portion of the D. valens range, while (+)-3-carene+ethanol was shown previously to attract twice the beetles of (+)-3-carene. A field test comparing D. valens attraction among the three monoterpenes when all are released with ethanol has never been reported, and was our objective. In three US Pacific Northwestern pine forests, (–)-β-pinene+ethanol lures attracted 1.4 to 1.9 times more beetles than (+)-3-carene+ethanol. (+)- or (±)-α-pinene+ethanol lures were least attractive. A 1:1:1 monoterpene mixture+ethanol lure attracted more beetles than the 1:1:1 lure, but it was not statistically higher. Monoterpenes were dispensed from low density polyethylene bottles and their release rates monitored in laboratory and field tests. Under laboratory conditions (+)-3-carene was released much more rapidly than (+)-α-pinene or (–)-β-pinene when dispensed separately, or in a 1:1:1 mixture. (+)-3-Carene in the 1:1:1 mixture increased the release of both pinenes over their rates when dispensed separately. (–)-β-Pinene+ethanol is currently the strongest kairomone lure for D. valens attraction in US northwest pine forests, and has value for beetle detection, monitoring, research, and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microwave carbonization synthesized green carbon catalysts from nanocellulose. • NCCC boosted MAHs in bio-oil and H 2 -rich gaseous during DF and LDPE co-pyrolysis. • NCCC doubled H 2 selectivity to 65 vol% compared to no catalysts. • NCCC remains effective even after five consecutive uses as a catalyst. • The mechanism of NCCC application of LDPE/DF co-pyrolysis was explored. To enhance the quality of raw bio-oil derived from the pyrolysis of biomass, hydrogen-rich reactants such as waste plastics, cooking oils, and soap stock are frequently incorporated into the fast catalytic co-pyrolysis (co-CFP) of biomass. Nevertheless, widespread uses of acids, bases, and zeolite catalysts must address concerns such as easy to coke, regeneration challenges, and environmental impacts. In this study, one green carbon catalyst is derived from nanocellulose (NCCC) and then firstly applied to co-pyrolyze the Douglas Fir (DF), a typical lumber species in North America, together with low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a commonly used plastic. The use of NCCC during feedstock co-pyrolysis boosted the formation of aromatics, particularly the mono-aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) in bio-oil and H 2 -rich gaseous products, with a selectivity of H 2 to 65 vol.%, nearly double the selectivity without catalysts. Even after five consecutive applications, the NCCC still displays good catalytic effectiveness in the co-pyrolysis: its selectivity for H 2 in gaseous products (48 area%) after five-time usage is virtually equal to that without catalysts (46 area%). Moreover, the mechanism of the NCCC application was investigated by applying the NCCC in a co-pyrolysis of LDPE and DF, along with their individual pyrolysis at temperatures ranging from 450 to 800 °C. This research investigated the potential catalytic impacts of NCCC in co-CFP process, aiming to provide an affordable, eco-friendly heterogeneous catalyst to replace existing acid/base catalysts in the conversion of biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]