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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 (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 13623

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Dr. Changman Kim

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Guest Editor

Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61188, Korea
Interests: bioenergy; biorefinery; bioprocss development; fermentation process engineering; metabolic engineering; gas fermentation; microbial consortium; bioelectrochemistry; C1 biorefinery; bioelectrochemical systems; miocrobial fuel cells; bioremediation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioenergy and biorefinery production have been considered the future of energy production strategies, replacing current fossil fuel energy industries. Recently, several interdisciplinary bioproduction technologies have arisen overcoming conventional fermentation limitations, such as low productivity and process development difficulties. The expansion of bioproduction facilitates not only diverse biocatalysts but also the use of various substrates (from inorganic gases to waste materials) and products (e.g., electricity, polymers, and fuels). Microbial fuel cell and bioelectrochemical production are representative new bioproduction strategies, integrating fermentation and electrochemistry to generate electricity and valuable chemicals.

This Special Issue, titled “Advanced Bioenergy and Biorefinery Processes”, covers most of the original research on bioproduction, with aspects of newly suggested multi- and interdisciplinary technologies. Examples of topics within the scope of this Special Issue include the following (but are not limited to these):

The integration of bioprocess modelling and case studies;
Fermentation process design, integration, and intensification;
Bioprocess modelling, simulation, and optimization;
Biofuel and biochemical production strategies using nonconventional methods;
Microbial fuel cell, electro-fermentation, and microbial electrosynthesis;
Techno-economics of biofuel and biochemical production.

Dr. Changman Kim
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Bioenergy
Biorefinery
Bioprocess
Fermentation
Microbial fuel cell
Electro-fermentation
Bioelectrochemical system
Microbial electrosynthesis

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 3085 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Slow Pyrolysis of Specialty Coffee Residues towards the Circular Economy in Rural Areas

by Josefa Fernández-Ferreras, Tamara Llano, María K. Kochaniec and Alberto Coz

Energies 2023, 16(5), 2300; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16052300 - 27 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2256

Abstract

Coffee, as one of the most consumed beverages, generates a wide variety of waste materials that can be used as biofuels and bio-products. Conventional pyrolysis can be used in rural areas, improving the circular bioeconomy of these places. In this work, the characterization and slow pyrolysis of specialty coffee residues, coffee silverskin (CSS), and spent coffee (SC) were conducted at temperatures from 300 to 600 °C. Physico-chemical and thermal analysis were carried out. In addition, the quantification of individual compounds as acetic, formic, and levulinic acids, caffeine, and other minor compounds was performed. The results indicate the differences between both waste materials in the obtained pyrolysis fractions. The biochar fraction for SC is lower at all temperatures and the liquid fraction higher, reaching maximum values of 62 wt.% in the liquid at 600 °C compared to 47% in CSS. The higher yield in the liquid fraction of SC corresponds to the higher contents of hemicellulose and extractives and the lower ash content. The calculated calorific value for the pyrolysis solid fractions reaches 21.93 MJ/kg in CSS and 26.45 MJ/kg in SC. Finally, biorefinery options of major components of the liquid fraction were also presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Bioenergy and Biorefinery Process)

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10 pages, 820 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physicochemical Characterization and Thermal Behavior of Different Wood Species from the Amazon Biome

by Thiago Averaldo Bimestre, Fellipe Sartori Silva, Celso Eduardo Tuna, José Carlos dos Santos, João Andrade de Carvalho, Jr. and Eliana Vieira Canettieri

Energies 2023, 16(5), 2257; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16052257 - 27 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1544

Abstract

The Brazilian Amazon is one of the main tropical wood-producing regions in the world, where exploration and industrial processing are among its main economic activities. Wood is characterized as a material consisting mainly of compounds with a high degree of polymerization and molecular weight such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, in addition to other compounds such as ash and extractives. This chemical complexity of wood brings with it a wide possibility of chemical and thermochemical processing aiming at the production of bioproducts and biofuels. In this context, it is essential to know the physicochemical properties and thermal behavior of wood species from the Amazon biome to add value to the product, reducing waste and maximizing the species used. This work presents an investigation into the physicochemical and thermogravimetric characteristics of 21 species of wood from the Amazon, in addition to the determination of the higher heating value (HHV) of each one of them, focusing on the energy use of the biomass under analysis. The samples showed a high lignin content, varying between 26.8% and 33.9%, with a standard deviation of 1.7% and an average of 30.0%. The Trattinnickia sp. had the highest lignin content (33.86 ± 0.13%). The cellulose content varied from 31.3% to 55.9%, with a standard deviation of 7.3% and an average of 41.74%. The Ruizterania albiflora had the highest cellulose content (55.90 ± 1.20%). For the hemicellulose content, the variation ranged from 8.6% to 17.0%, with a standard deviation of 2.6% and an average of 12.38%. The samples that showed the highest HHVs were Ocotea sp. (18.588 ± 0.082 MJ kg⁻¹) followed by Ferreiraa spectabilis (18.052 ± 0.157 MJ kg⁻¹). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Bioenergy and Biorefinery Process)

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11 pages, 1325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Production of Biohydrogen from Organ-Containing Waste for Use in Fuel Cells

by Mikhail Fedorov, Vladimir Maslikov, Vadim Korablev, Natalia Politaeva, Aleksandr Chusov and Dmitriy Molodtsov

Energies 2022, 15(21), 8019; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15218019 - 28 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1497

Abstract

The production of low-carbon hydrogen based on renewable energy sources is considered a promising direction in the development of the modern world economy. The purpose of the presented research is to develop technologies and study the processes of converting biogases into hydrogen, as well as its use in low-temperature fuel cells. The methodology for organizing a multi-stage laboratory experiment for obtaining biogas, its purification from impurities and, in the future, the production of biohydrogen was developed based on field studies in Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. The results of modeling studies have shown that during biogas reforming, it is possible to obtain a hydrogen mixture with a hydrogen content of 98% vol and methane 2% vol. Based on the results of the research, the possibility of using the significant potential of “weak” biogas containing methane 30–45% vol to produce biohydrogen (more than 93% vol) was proved. A technique for using biohydrogen in low-temperature fuel cells for energy generation has been substantiated and tested. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Bioenergy and Biorefinery Process)

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15 pages, 548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energetic and Exergetic Performances of a Retrofitted, Large-Scale, Biomass-Fired CHP Coupled to a Steam-Explosion Biomass Upgrading Plant, a Biorefinery Process and a High-Temperature Heat Network

by Roeland De Meulenaere, Tim Maertens, Ale Sikkema, Rune Brusletto, Tanja Barth and Julien Blondeau

Energies 2021, 14(22), 7720; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14227720 - 18 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2331

Abstract

This paper aims at assessing the impact of retrofitting an existing, 730 MW

_{e}

, coal-fired power plant into a biomass-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant on its energetic and exergetic performances. A comprehensive thermodynamic model of the power plant was developed [...] Read more.

This paper aims at assessing the impact of retrofitting an existing, 730 MW

_{e}

1 %

deviation between the model and the measurements for the main process parameters. The validated model was then used to predict the behaviour of the biomass CHP after retrofitting. The modelled CHP unit is coupled to a steam-explosion biomass upgrading plant, a biorefinery process, and a high-temperature heat network. 13 scenarios were studied. At constant boiler load, delivering heat to the considered heat clients can increase the total energy efficiency of the plant from

44 %

(electricity only) to

64 %

, while the total exergy efficiency decreases from

39 %

35 %

. A total energy efficiency of

67 %

could be reached by lowering the network temperature from

120^{\circ}

C to

70^{\circ}

C. Identifying the needed heat clients could, however, represent a limiting factor to reach such high efficiencies. For a constant power demand, increasing the boiler load from 80 to

100 %

in order to provide additional heat makes the total energy efficiency increase from

43 %

55 %

, while the total exergy efficiency decreases from

39 %

36 %

. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Bioenergy and Biorefinery Process)

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10 pages, 3640 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioconversion of Crude Glycerol into 1,3-Propanediol(1,3-PDO) with Bioelectrochemical System and Zero-Valent Iron Using Klebsiella pneumoniae L17

by Da Seul Kong, Eun Joo Park, Sakuntala Mutyala, Minsoo Kim, Yunchul Cho, Sang Eun Oh, Changman Kim and Jung Rae Kim

Energies 2021, 14(20), 6806; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14206806 - 18 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2648

Abstract

Crude glycerol is a major byproduct in the production of biodiesel and contains a large number of impurities. The transformation of crude glycerol into valuable compounds such as 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) using clean and renewable processes, like bioconversion, is an important task for the future of the chemical industry. In this study, 1,3-PDO bioproductions from crude and pure glycerol were estimated as 15.4 ± 0.8 and 11.4 ± 0.1 mmol/L, respectively. Because 1,3-PDO is a reductive metabolite that requires additional reducing energy, external supplements of electron for further improvement of 1,3-PDO biosynthesis were attempted using a bioelectrochemical system (BES) or zero-valent iron (ZVI). The conversions of crude and pure glycerol under electrode and iron-based cultivation were investigated for 1,3-PDO production accompanied by metabolic shift and cell growth. The BES-based conversion produced 32.6 ± 0.6 mmol/L of 1,3-PDO with ZVI implementation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Bioenergy and Biorefinery Process)

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14 pages, 1564 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Valorisation of Agri- and Aquaculture Residues via Biogas Production for Enhanced Industrial Application

by Júlio Ximenes, André Siqueira, Ewa Kochańska and Rafał M. Łukasik

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2519; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092519 - 27 Apr 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2468

Abstract

Climate changes are nowadays reality and affect all aspects of everyday life. One of the places where these changes influence the society the most is the Brazilian Ceará region and Jaguaribara basin that suffer long-lasting, devastating drought cycles. They have a dramatic negative impact on local economy, forcing change in business models. This work presents the valorisation of wastes and residues from local fish, prawns, and the vegetable-cultivation industry via biogas production forced to adapt to these new circumstances. Along a single year, as much as 189.74 tonnes of wastes and residues can be processed by the biogas production facility, producing as much as 94 GJ of cooling energy and 1 tonne of biofertiliser monthly. Even for such a small biogas production facility, the NPV is positive already after 11 years; its IRR is 6.2%, and accumulated ROI for 20 years of operation is as high as 77.8%. This work demonstrates that a valorisation of industrial wastes and residues via biogas production is a feasible solution for a specific industrial scenario addressing new socio-economic challenges for the particular enterprise. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Bioenergy and Biorefinery Process)

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