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Materials
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Elaboration of Functional Materials and Valuable Molecules from Biomass
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Elaboration of Functional Materials and Valuable Molecules from Biomass

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 10765

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lionel Limousy

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M), Université de Haute-Alsace, CNRS, IS2M UMR 7361, F-68100 Mulhouse, France
2. CNRS, UMR 7361, Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Interests: biomass valorization; pyrolysis; biochar; adsorption; process engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Nicolas Thevenin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
RITTMO Agroenvironnement, Private Research Centre (CRT label), ZA Biopôle, 7 rue de Herrlisheim, F68025 Colmar, France
Interests: biomass conversion and valorization; bioprocessing for fertilizer production; molecule extraction from biomass; biological and physical solid waste treatments; end of life of materials; carbon sequestration

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The conversion of biomass into valuable products and materials has been paid much attention these past twenty years. Among the various sources of biomass, wood chips, sawdust, agricultural residues and aquatic plants have been widely used to extract or convert specific substances in order to obtain valuable molecules for different kinds of applications (fuels, cosmetics, fine chemistry, adhesives, medicals, textiles, additives, etc.). The potential of biomass is still huge since there are more than 350,000 plant species known and more than 2000 new species are discovered each year. The thermochemical conversion of biomass has also been widely studied since it leads to the combined production of gas, liquid and solid products that can be used for different applications. Bio-oil, biochar, activated carbons and syngas are the main by-products that originate from pyrolysis. Epuration, purification, functionalization and other unit operations are necessary to elaborate valuable products with high added value.

Both laboratory and pilot-scale experimental works will be considered for this Special Issue. We welcome the submission of papers coming from different fields of research: material science, chemical engineering and bioprocessing, agriculture, food and beverage, chemistry and biochemistry.

The theme of the SI is devoted to the production and the functionalization of materials from biomass (carbon, composites, hybrids, polymers, etc.) through specific processes. Among the topics of interest, specific attention will be given to papers related to:

  • The development of innovative processes for the extraction and/or production of valuable molecules from biomass;
  • The elaboration of bio-sourced materials from different biomasses (polymers, composites, biochars, hydrochars, activated carbons, etc.) and their applications;
  • Use of microorganisms/enzymes for the conversion of biomass into platform molecules;
  • Carbon sequestration through the use of biomass for replacing specific materials (building, soil applications, etc.).

The selected papers will describe the strategies adopted to develop original approaches to:

  • Produce bio-molecules and elaborate biosourced materials;
  • Optimize and implement new (bio)processes;
  • Give new approaches to biomass valorization and carbon sequestration.

In this context, and according to the topics listed above, authors are encouraged to provide original papers for this SI, circular economy approach is also of interest.

Dr. Lionel Limousy
Guest Editor

Dr. Nicolas Thevenin
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • woody biomass
  • agricultural biomass
  • aquatic biomass
  • biochar
  • activated carbon
  • biosourced materials
  • functional materials
  • carbon sequestration
  • circular economy

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 5625 KiB  
Article
Unveiling the Potential of Corn Cob Biochar: Analysis of Microstructure and Composition with Emphasis on Interaction with NO2
by Méghane Drané, Mohamed Zbair, Samar Hajjar-Garreau, Ludovic Josien, Laure Michelin, Simona Bennici and Lionel Limousy
Materials 2024, 17(1), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17010159 - 28 Dec 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2301
Abstract
In the context of sustainable solutions, this study examines the pyrolysis process applied to corn cobs, with the aim of producing biochar and assessing its effectiveness in combating air pollution. In particular, it examines the influence of different pyrolysis temperatures on biochar properties. [...] Read more.
In the context of sustainable solutions, this study examines the pyrolysis process applied to corn cobs, with the aim of producing biochar and assessing its effectiveness in combating air pollution. In particular, it examines the influence of different pyrolysis temperatures on biochar properties. The results reveal a temperature-dependent trend in biochar yield, which peaks at 400 °C, accompanied by changes in elemental composition indicating increased stability and extended shelf life. In addition, high pyrolysis temperatures, above 400 °C, produce biochars with enlarged surfaces and improved pore structures. Notably, the highest pyrolysis temperature explored in this study is 600 °C, which significantly influences the observed properties of biochars. This study also explores the potential of biochar as an NO2 adsorbent, as identified by chemical interactions revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. This research presents a promising and sustainable approach to tackling air pollution using corn cob biochar, providing insight into optimized production methods and its potential application as an effective NO2 adsorbent to improve air quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Elaboration of Functional Materials and Valuable Molecules from Biomass)
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14 pages, 1730 KiB  
Article
Biochar and Organic Fertilizer Co-Application Enhances Soil Carbon Priming, Increasing CO2 Fluxes in Two Contrasting Arable Soils
by Magdalena Bednik, Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek and Irmina Ćwieląg-Piasecka
Materials 2023, 16(21), 6950; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16216950 - 30 Oct 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1611
Abstract
Biochar soil amendments, along with non-tillage agriculture, are often proposed as a strategy for carbon sequestration. It is still questionable how the quality of biochar might influence the priming effect on soil organic matter and whether the addition of unprocessed organic amendments will [...] Read more.
Biochar soil amendments, along with non-tillage agriculture, are often proposed as a strategy for carbon sequestration. It is still questionable how the quality of biochar might influence the priming effect on soil organic matter and whether the addition of unprocessed organic amendments will affect biochar stability. In the study, six different biochars and three exogenous organic matter sources were added to two distinct arable soils. CO2 emission was monitored for 100 days of incubation and CO2 flux was estimated. Results showed that biochar increased soil CO2 fluxes. The highest peaks, up to 162 µg C-CO2 h−1 100 g−1, were recorded in treatments with food waste biochars, suggesting that they serve as a source of easily available carbon to soil microbes. Co-application of raw organic materials (manure and fresh clover biomass) enhanced CO2 emission and carbon losses, especially in sandy soil, where 0.85–1.1% of total carbon was lost in the short-term experiment. Biochar properties and content of labile C can stimulate CO2 emission; however, in a long-term period, this contribution is negligible. The findings of our study showed that more attention should be paid to priming effects caused by the addition of exogenous organic matter when applied to biochar-amended soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Elaboration of Functional Materials and Valuable Molecules from Biomass)
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Review

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30 pages, 1085 KiB  
Review
Revealing the Adverse Impact of Additive Carbon Material on Microorganisms and Its Implications for Biogas Yields: A Critical Review
by Michał Kozłowski, Chinenye Adaobi Igwegbe, Agata Tarczyńska and Andrzej Białowiec
Materials 2023, 16(23), 7250; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16237250 - 21 Nov 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1761
Abstract
Biochar could be a brilliant additive supporting the anaerobic fermentation process. However, it should be taken into account that in some cases it could also be harmful to microorganisms responsible for biogas production. The negative impact of carbon materials could be a result [...] Read more.
Biochar could be a brilliant additive supporting the anaerobic fermentation process. However, it should be taken into account that in some cases it could also be harmful to microorganisms responsible for biogas production. The negative impact of carbon materials could be a result of an overdose of biochar, high biochar pH, increased arsenic mobility in the methane fermentation solution caused by the carbon material, and low porosity of some carbon materials for microorganisms. Moreover, when biochar is affected by an anaerobic digest solution, it could reduce the biodiversity of microorganisms. The purpose of the article is not to reject the idea of biochar additives to increase the efficiency of biogas production, but to draw attention to the properties and ways of adding these materials that could reduce biogas production. These findings have practical relevance for organizations seeking to implement such systems in industrial or local-scale biogas plants and provide valuable insights for future research. Needless to say, this study will also support the implementation of biogas technologies and waste management in implementing the idea of a circular economy, further emphasizing the significance of the research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Elaboration of Functional Materials and Valuable Molecules from Biomass)
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42 pages, 4010 KiB  
Review
A Critical Review of the Removal of Radionuclides from Wastewater Employing Activated Carbon as an Adsorbent
by Anik Chakraborty, Animesh Pal and Bidyut Baran Saha
Materials 2022, 15(24), 8818; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248818 - 9 Dec 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4148
Abstract
Radionuclide-contaminated water is carcinogenic and poses numerous severe health risks and environmental dangers. The activated carbon (AC)-based adsorption technique has great potential for treating radionuclide-contaminated water due to its simple design, high efficiency, wide pH range, quickness, low cost and environmental friendliness. This [...] Read more.
Radionuclide-contaminated water is carcinogenic and poses numerous severe health risks and environmental dangers. The activated carbon (AC)-based adsorption technique has great potential for treating radionuclide-contaminated water due to its simple design, high efficiency, wide pH range, quickness, low cost and environmental friendliness. This critical review first provides a brief overview of the concerned radionuclides with their associated health hazards as well as different removal techniques and their efficacy of removing them. Following this overview, this study summarizes the surface characteristics and adsorption capabilities of AC derived from different biomass precursors. It compares the adsorption performance of AC to other adsorbents, such as zeolite, graphene, carbon nano-tubes and metal–organic frameworks. Furthermore, this study highlights the different factors that influence the physical characteristics of AC and adsorption capacity, including contact time, solution pH, initial concentration of radionuclides, the initial dosage of the adsorbent, and adsorption temperature. The theoretical models of adsorption isotherm and kinetics, along with their fitting parameter values for AC/radionuclide pairs, are also reviewed. Finally, the modification procedures of pristine AC, factors determining AC characteristics and the impact of modifying agents on the adsorption ability of AC are elucidated in this study; therefore, further research and development can be promoted for designing a highly efficient and practical adsorption-based radionuclide removal system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Elaboration of Functional Materials and Valuable Molecules from Biomass)
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