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Biomass, Biofuels and Waste: 2nd Edition

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A4: Bio-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2024) | Viewed by 11023

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Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Wilk

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Department of Heat Engineering and Environment Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30 Av., 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Interests: thermal processes; hydrothermal carbonization; torrefaction; pyrolysis; combustion; thermal analysis; post-processing water analysis; fuel property evaluation; biomass; waste; sewage sludge
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Dear Colleagues,

Recently, the political situation has significantly influenced the demand for bioenergy production. The global energy market has been forced to reduce the consumption of natural gas. Additionally, global warming and the depletion of natural sources has imposed the implementation of many actions towards the development of renewable sources and the reduction in fossil fuel usage. Therefore, biomass, biofuels and waste are welcome as eco-friendly alternatives. In addition, new developing technologies should also be applied to sufficiently increase the production of biofuels and to utilize the potential of biomass or waste and the adequate disposal of by-products. Therefore, pre-treatment processes such as torrefaction, hydrothermal carbonization and slow pyrolysis processes are required to improve the properties of biomass or waste and turn them into successful biofuels. Thermal conversion methods, e.g., combustion, gasification or pyrolysis, must be undertaken to process biomass, biofuels or waste into energy or other applications including fuel cells, biofertilizers or absorbents, etc. Every aspect of these processes must be carefully studied. Therefore, a number of actions regarding waste management should also be introduced, including, among others: the reduction in waste generation, including food, mineral and plastic waste; the efficient segregation of municipal mixed solid waste; and the application of thermal processes in order to transform the combustible portion of waste into energy.

This Special Issue aims to present the most recent advancements related to experimental and numerical studies as well theory and design concerning biomass, biofuels and waste conversion technologies. In addition, the benefits and problems associated within their production will be highlighted. Research papers and reviews describing the state of the art are within the scope of this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Wilk
Guest Editor

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Keywords

biomass
biofuel
waste
sewage sludge
municipal solid waste
refuse-derived fuel
renewable fuels
waste management
liquid waste disposal
fuel characterization
circular economy
sustainability
thermal processing
hydrothermal carbonization
liquefaction
stream explosion
torrefaction
pyrolysis
gasification
combustion and incineration
anaerobic digestion and fermentation
wet oxidation
hydrogen
material recovery
energy recovery
energy balance
evaluation of fuel quality
life cycle and risk assessment
technoeconomic analysis
environmental consideration
biological processes
dark fermentation
biorefinery

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Related Special Issue

Biomass, Biofuels and Waste in Energies (12 articles)

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3176 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Possibility of Using Waste from Dye Sorption for Methane Production

by Anna Nowicka, Tomasz Jóźwiak and Marcin Zieliński

Energies 2024, 17(19), 4756; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17194756 - 24 Sep 2024

Viewed by 612

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of sorption of Basic Red 46 (BR46) dye by lignocellulosic biomass on the susceptibility of the sorbed waste to anaerobic decomposition by anaerobic digestion. The research material used in the experiment consisted of two types of biomass: stalks with leaves and inflorescences after mowing Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) (GB), and rapeseed hulls (RHs) after oil pressing. During the anaerobic decomposition of RHs, 732.30 NmL/gVS and 646.63 NmL/gVS of methane were obtained from the non-sorbed substrate and the plant material after dye sorption, respectively. Similarly, in the variants using Canadian goldenrod, the production was 220.70 NmL/gVS and 183.20 NmL/gVS. The GB sorbent sorbed 34% more BR46 dye than the RH sorbent, which is likely to have resulted in the accumulation of VFA and contributed to the partial inhibition of methane production. In light of the obtained results and the literature data, it is concluded that there is a possibility of effective use of dye sorption waste for methane production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass, Biofuels and Waste: 2nd Edition)

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20 pages, 1460 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrogen Production from Enzymatic Pretreated Organic Waste with Thermotoga neapolitana

by Julian Tix, Fabian Moll, Simone Krafft, Matthias Betsch and Nils Tippkötter

Energies 2024, 17(12), 2938; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17122938 - 14 Jun 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 840

Abstract

Biomass from various types of organic waste was tested for possible use in hydrogen production. The composition consisted of lignified samples, green waste, and kitchen scraps such as fruit and vegetable peels and leftover food. For this purpose, the enzymatic pretreatment of organic waste with a combination of five different hydrolytic enzymes (cellulase, amylase, glucoamylase, pectinase and xylase) was investigated to determine its ability to produce hydrogen (H₂) with the hydrolyzate produced here. In course, the anaerobic rod-shaped bacterium T. neapolitana was used for H₂ production. First, the enzymes were investigated using different substrates in preliminary experiments. Subsequently, hydrolyses were carried out using different types of organic waste. In the hydrolysis carried out here for 48 h, an increase in glucose concentration of 481% was measured for waste loads containing starch, corresponding to a glucose concentration at the end of hydrolysis of 7.5 g·L⁻¹. In the subsequent set fermentation in serum bottles, a H₂ yield of 1.26 mmol H₂ was obtained in the overhead space when Terrific Broth Medium with glucose and yeast extract (TBGY medium) was used. When hydrolyzed organic waste was used, even a H₂ yield of 1.37 mmol could be achieved in the overhead space. In addition, a dedicated reactor system for the anaerobic fermentation of T. neapolitana to produce H₂ was developed. The bioreactor developed here can ferment anaerobically with a very low loss of produced gas. Here, after 24 h, a hydrogen concentration of 83% could be measured in the overhead space. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass, Biofuels and Waste: 2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 2586 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oxidative Liquefaction, an Approach for Complex Plastic Waste Stream Conversion into Valuable Oxygenated Chemicals

by Hamza Mumtaz, Sebastian Werle, Roksana Muzyka, Szymon Sobek and Marcin Sajdak

Energies 2024, 17(5), 1086; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17051086 - 24 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 901

Abstract

Various waste streams including municipal solid waste (MSW), polymer waste from personal protective equipment (PPE) used in medical fields, and composite waste from wind turbine blades (WTBs) demand modern waste management and recycling approaches. Ultimate and proximate analysis of mentioned samples revealed a higher content of carbon—28.2 ± 8.0, 80.1 ± 2.3, and 50.3 ± 2.3, respectively—exhibiting sufficient potential to be converted into secondary carbon-based compounds. For this purpose, oxidative liquefaction of selected waste materials was carried out following a detailed experimental plan, a centred composite design for WTBs, and a central composite face-centred plan for MSW and PPEs. Temperature, pressure, oxidant concentration, reaction time, and waste-to-liquid ratio were the parameters of key interest, and their values were tested at a range of 200–350 °C, 20–40 bar, 15–60%, 30–90 min, and 3–25%, respectively, depending upon the type of waste. As a result, total polymer degradation (TPD) was recorded for three types of waste and the results were satisfactory, encouraging the decomposition of primary waste in liquid oxygenated chemical compounds (OCCs). Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionisation Detection (GC-FID) helped us quantify the number of OCCs for each waste sample. Energy consumption during the process was also recorded and optimisation of the experimental plan based on maximum TPD and OCCs yields against the minimum energy consumption was performed to make the process tech-economic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass, Biofuels and Waste: 2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 2940 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Maximizing Biogas Yield Using an Optimized Stacking Ensemble Machine Learning Approach

by Angelique Mukasine, Louis Sibomana, Kayalvizhi Jayavel, Kizito Nkurikiyeyezu and Eric Hitimana

Energies 2024, 17(2), 364; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17020364 - 11 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1257

Abstract

Biogas is a renewable energy source that comes from biological waste. In the biogas generation process, various factors such as feedstock composition, digester volume, and environmental conditions are vital in ensuring promising production. Accurate prediction of biogas yield is crucial for improving biogas operation and increasing energy yield. The purpose of this research was to propose a novel approach to improve the accuracy in predicting biogas yield using the stacking ensemble machine learning approach. This approach integrates three machine learning algorithms: light gradient-boosting machine (LightGBM), categorical boosting (CatBoost), and an evolutionary strategy to attain high performance and accuracy. The proposed model was tested on environmental data collected from biogas production facilities. It employs optimum parameter selection and stacking ensembles and showed better accuracy and variability. A comparative analysis of the proposed model with others such as k-nearest neighbor (KNN), random forest (RF), and decision tree (DT) was performed. The study’s findings demonstrated that the proposed model outperformed the existing models, with a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.004 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.0024 for the accuracy metrics. In conclusion, an accurate predictive model cooperating with a fermentation control system can significantly increase biogas yield. The proposed approach stands as a pivotal step toward meeting the escalating global energy demands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass, Biofuels and Waste: 2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 1939 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Enzymatic In Situ Interesterification of Rapeseed Oil with Methyl Formate in Diesel Fuel Medium

by Violeta Makareviciene, Kiril Kazancev, Egle Sendzikiene and Milda Gumbyte

Energies 2024, 17(2), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17020282 - 5 Jan 2024

Viewed by 829

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the process of enzymatic biodiesel synthesis by directly using rapeseed as a raw material, extracting the oil contained within and interesterifying with a mixture of methyl formate and mineral diesel, choosing the amount of mineral diesel so that the ratio between it and the rapeseed oil in the seeds was 9:1. As the final product of the interesterification process, a mixture of mineral diesel and biodiesel was obtained directly, which is conventionally produced by mixing the mineral diesel and biodiesel. The tests were performed using enzymatic catalysis using the lipase Lipozyme TL TIM. Process optimization was performed using the response surface methodology. A model describing the interaction of three independent variables and their influence on the yield of rapeseed oil methyl esters was developed. The physical and chemical indicators of the product obtained under optimal interesterification conditions were evaluated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass, Biofuels and Waste: 2nd Edition)

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Review

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21 pages, 6447 KiB

Open AccessReview

Research Trends of Thermogravimetric Pyrolysis of Carnauba (Copernicia prunifera) and Thermokinetic Models Based on a Brief Bibliometric Investigation

by Manoel Ribeiro Filho, Samuel Medeiros, Ada Lopes, Glauber Cruz and Maria Rios

Energies 2024, 17(23), 5851; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17235851 - 22 Nov 2024

Abstract

This study presents a brief bibliometric investigation of thermogravimetric pyrolysis of carnauba biomass (Copernicia prunifera), a palm tree native to northeastern Brazil belonging to the Arecaceae family. The objective was to analyze the scientific production and methods used to evaluate the kinetic parameters of biomass pyrolysis. An analysis was conducted using the Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases, and VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software. The methodology allows the generation of clusters and tables of scientific production, including authors, co-authors, affiliations, institutions, journals, and keywords. The search yielded 1983 articles, and after the application of exclusion criteria, 919 articles were retained, forming the basis for the bibliometric analysis. It provided an overview of thermogravimetric pyrolysis of carnauba research and identified areas that require further study. It also identified which universities and researchers have devoted the most effort to this area of research, the key findings, and areas that require further investment to complement existing research. Additionally, the study indicated the suitability of the Friedman method for determining kinetic parameters in biomass pyrolysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass, Biofuels and Waste: 2nd Edition)

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26 pages, 3668 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: Worldwide Presence in Biosolids, Environmental Impact, Identification Methods and Possible Routes of Degradation, Including the Hydrothermal Carbonization Process

by Zuzanna Prus and Małgorzata Wilk

Energies 2024, 17(17), 4219; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17174219 - 23 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1173

Abstract

Biomass-to-biofuel conversion represents a critical component of the global transition to renewable energy. One of the most accessible types of biomass is sewage sludge (SS). This by-product from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) contains microplastics (MPs) originating from household, industrial and urban runoff sources. Due to their small size (<5 mm) and persistence, MPs present a challenge when they are removed from sewage systems, where they mainly accumulate (~90%). The presence of MPs in SS poses environmental risks when biosolids are applied as fertilizer in agriculture or incinerated for the purpose of energy production. The key problem is the efficient and reliable identification and reduction of MPs in sewage systems, due to the lack of standardized procedures. The reduction methods for MPs might involve physical, chemical, biological, and hydrothermal approaches, including hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). The HTC of SS produces hydrochar (HC), a solid biofuel, and presents a cutting-edge approach that simultaneously addresses secondary microplastic pollution and renewable biomass-derived energy production. In this article, we review briefly the MPs content in biosolids from different countries, and present HTC as a promising method for their removal from SS. In conclusion, HTC (i) effectively reduces the abundance of MPs in biosolids, (ii) produces an improved solid source of energy, and (iii) contributes to circular SS management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass, Biofuels and Waste: 2nd Edition)

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27 pages, 2467 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biohythane, Biogas, and Biohydrogen Production from Food Waste: Recent Advancements, Technical Bottlenecks, and Prospects

by Shivali Sahota, Subodh Kumar and Lidia Lombardi

Energies 2024, 17(3), 666; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17030666 - 30 Jan 2024

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2827

Abstract

Food waste (FW) is a significant global issue with a carbon footprint of 3.3 billion tonnes (Bt), primarily generated due to improper food supply chain management, storage issues, and transportation problems. Acidogenic processes like dark fermentation, anaerobic digestion, and a combination of DF-AD can produce renewable biofuels (Bio-CH₄, Bio-H₂) by valorising FW, aligning with the UN SDGs. FW is an ideal substrate for acidogenic processes due to its high moisture content, organic matter, and biodegradability. However, the choice of FW valorisation pathways depends on energy yield, conversion efficiency, and cost effectiveness. Acidogenic processes are not economically viable for industrial scale FW treatment due to reduced energy recovery from stand-alone processes. So, this study reviews comparative studies on biogas, biohydrogen, and biohythane production from FW via acidogenic processes, focusing on energy yield, energy recovery, and environmental and economic impact to provide a clear understanding of energy recovery and yield from all acidogenic processes. Additionally, this review also explores the recent advancements in digestate slurry management and the synergistic effects of AD and HTC processes. Lastly, a futuristic integrated bio-thermo-chemical process is proposed for maximum energy recovery, valuing food waste to energy vectors (Bio-H₂, Bio-CH₄, and hydro-char) along with digestate management and biofertilizer production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass, Biofuels and Waste: 2nd Edition)

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33 pages, 2124 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Biotechnological Valorization of Waste Glycerol into Gaseous Biofuels—A Review

by Joanna Kazimierowicz, Marcin Dębowski, Marcin Zieliński, Sławomir Kasiński and Jordi Cruz Sanchez

Energies 2024, 17(2), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17020338 - 9 Jan 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1537

Abstract

The supply of waste glycerol is rising steadily, partially due to the increased global production of biodiesel. Global biodiesel production totals about 47.1 billion liters and is a process that involves the co-production of waste glycerol, which accounts for over 12% of total esters produced. Waste glycerol is also generated during bioethanol production and is estimated to account for 10% of the total sugar consumed on average. Therefore, there is a real need to seek new technologies for reusing and neutralizing glycerol waste, as well as refining the existing ones. Biotechnological means of valorizing waste glycerol include converting it into gas biofuels via anaerobic fermentation processes. Glycerol-to-bioenergy conversion can be improved through the implementation of new technologies, the use of carefully selected or genetically modified microbial strains, the improvement of their metabolic efficiency, and the synthesis of new enzymes. The present study aimed to describe the mechanisms of microbial and anaerobic glycerol-to-biogas valorization processes (including methane, hydrogen, and biohythane) and assess their efficiency, as well as examine the progress of research and implementation work on the subject and present future avenues of research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass, Biofuels and Waste: 2nd Edition)

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