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Recent Progress in Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass and Waste Polymers: Innovations and Opportunities

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Circular and Green Polymer Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 April 2024) | Viewed by 7025

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Serguei Alejandro-Martín

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Guest Editor

Chemical Engineering School, Wood Engineering Department, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Concepción, Chile
Interests: alternative fuels from catalytic thermochemical processes; sustainable valorization of lignocellulosic and plastic residues to obtain alternative fuels; upgrading of alternative fuels; modification of natural zeolites to improve catalytic performance
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Prof. Dr. Luis E. Arteaga-Pérez

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Laboratory of Thermal and Catalytic Processes (LPTC), Wood Engineering Department, University of Bío-Bío, Concepción 4051381, Chile
Interests: applied catalysis; biorefinery; waste pyrolysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Romina Romero Carrillo

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Guest Editor

Departamento de Química Analítica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
Interests: Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs); characterisation of pyrolysis products and recovery; photodegradation assisted with solar radiation; characterisation of complex matrices from biomass

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the economic growth of populations around the world, and the reduction of fossil fuel reserves, new alternative fuels are currently being developed, highlighting those obtained from the thermochemical transformation of residues (lignocellulosic, plastics, used tires, and solid urban waste). Furthermore, novel processes for alternative fuels produced from renewable resources are emerging due to the increase in the concentrations of greenhouse gasses and the human race's consciousness about environmental damage. Moreover, alternative fuels have been explored to guarantee the sustainable development of developed countries as potential fossil oil substitutes. Thus, alternative fuels obtained from catalytic pyrolysis of lignocellulosic resources, plastics, used tires, or co-pyrolysis of biomass/plastics are claimed to be a renewable substitute for fossil fuels and derivatives. Therefore, such processes constitute an appropriate way to obtain sustainable fuels, attracting researchers worldwide and becoming an important area for alternative fuels upgrading, platform molecules, and by-product improvement.

This Special Issue focuses on gathering essential information about obtention and upgrading alternative fuels or platform molecules through catalytic thermochemical processes.

Main topics to be considered in this Special Issue:

Reaction mechanisms for thermochemical transformation of polymeric materials.
Characterization of polymers and platform molecules.
Sustainable valorization of lignocellulosic, plastic residues, used tires, and solid urban waste to obtain alternative fuels and platform molecules.
Upgrading alternative fuels from catalytic thermochemical processes.
Biorefinery and biopolymers.
Modifying and improving catalysts to enhance catalytic performance, yield, and product distribution.

Prof. Dr. Serguei Alejandro-Martín
Prof. Dr. Luis E. Arteaga-Pérez
Dr. Romina Romero Carrillo
Guest Editors

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. Polymers 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 2700 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

alternative fuels
renewable hydrocarbon fuels
thermochemical processes
natural and synthetic zeolites
applied catalysis
waste pyrolysis
sustainable valorization
polymer characterization

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 3830 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Industrial Two-Phase Olive Pomace Slurry-Derived Hydrochar Fuel for Energy Applications

by Adnan Asad Karim, Mᵃ Lourdes Martínez-Cartas and Manuel Cuevas-Aranda

Polymers 2024, 16(11), 1529; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16111529 - 29 May 2024

Viewed by 1110

Abstract

The present study aims to resolve the existing research gaps on olive pomace (OP) hydrochars application as a fuel by evaluating its molecular structures (FTIR and solid NMR analysis), identifying influential characteristics (Pearson correlation analysis), process optimization (response surface methodology), slagging–fouling risks (empirical indices), and combustion performance (TG-DSC analysis). The response surfaces plot for hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of OP slurry performed in a pressure reactor under varied temperatures (180–250 °C) and residence times (2–30 min) revealed 250 °C for 30 min to be optimal conditions for producing hydrochar fuel with a higher heating value (32.20 MJ·Kg⁻¹) and energy densification ratio (1.40). However, in terms of process efficiency and cost-effectiveness, the optimal HTC conditions for producing the hydrochar with the highest energy yield of 87.9% were 202.7 °C and 2.0 min. The molecular structure of hydrochar was mainly comprised of aromatic rings with methyl groups, alpha-C atoms of esters, and ether bond linkages of lignin fractions. The slagging and fouling risks of hydrochars were comparatively lower than those of raw OP, as indicated by low slagging and fouling indices. The Pearson correlation analysis emphasized that the enrichment of acid-insoluble lignin and extractive contents, carbon densification, and reduced ash content were the main pivotal factors for hydrochar to exhibit better biofuel characteristics for energy applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass and Waste Polymers: Innovations and Opportunities)

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17 pages, 5521 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photoluminous Response of Biocomposites Produced with Charcoal

by Fabíola Martins Delatorre, Gabriela Fontes Mayrinck Cupertino, Allana Katiussya Silva Pereira, Elias Costa de Souza, Álison Moreira da Silva, João Gilberto Meza Ucella Filho, Daniel Saloni, Luciene Paula Roberto Profeti, Demetrius Profeti and Ananias Francisco Dias Júnior

Polymers 2023, 15(18), 3788; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15183788 - 16 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1306

Abstract

Due to the possible effects of global warming, new materials that do not have a negative impact on the environment are being studied. To serve a variety of industries and outdoor applications, it is necessary to consider the impact of photoluminosity on the performance of biocomposites in order to accurately assess their durability characteristics and prevent substantial damage. Exposure to photoluminosity can result in adverse effects such as discoloration, uneven surface, loss of mass, and manipulation of the intrinsic mechanical properties of biocomposites. This study aims to evaluate general charcoal from three pyrolysis temperatures to understand which charcoal is most suitable for photoluminosity and whether higher pyrolysis temperatures have any significant effect on photoluminosity. Porosity, morphology, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of charcoal were analyzed. Charcoal obtained at a temperature of 800 °C demonstrates remarkable potential as a bioreinforcement in polymeric matrices, attributable to its significantly higher porosity (81.08%) and hydrophobic properties. The biocomposites were characterized for flexural strength, tensile strength, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FTIR, and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed an improvement in tensile strength after exposure to photoluminosity, with an increase of 69.24%, 68.98%, and 54.38% at temperatures of 400, 600, and 800 °C, respectively, in relation to the treatment control. It is notorious that the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity after photoluminosity initially had a negative impact on mechanical strength, the incorporation of charcoal from higher pyrolysis temperatures showed a substantial increase in mechanical strength after exposure to photoluminosity, especially at 800 °C with breaking strength of 53.40 MPa, and modulus of elasticity of 4364.30 MPA. Scanning electron microscopy revealed an improvement in morphology, with a decrease in roughness at 800 °C, which led to greater adhesion to the polyester matrix. These findings indicate promising prospects for a new type of biocomposite, particularly in comparison with other polymeric compounds, especially in engineering applications that are subject to direct interactions with the weather. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass and Waste Polymers: Innovations and Opportunities)

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16 pages, 2553 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Effects and Mechanistic Insights into the Co-Hydropyrolysis of Chilean Oak and Polyethylene: Unlocking the Potential of Biomass–Plastic Valorisation

by Bastián Puentes, Fidel Vallejo and Serguei Alejandro-Martín

Polymers 2023, 15(12), 2747; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15122747 - 20 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1983

Abstract

This study employed a hydrogen atmosphere in an analytical reactor to investigate the thermochemical transformation of Chilean Oak (ChO) and polyethylene. Thermogravimetric assays and compositional analyses of the evolved gaseous chemicals provided valuable insights regarding the synergistic effects during the co-hydropyrolysis of biomass and plastics. A systematic experimental design approach assessed the contributions of different variables, revealing the significant influence of the biomass/plastic ratio and hydrogen pressure. Analysis of the gas phase composition showed that co-hydropyrolysis with LDPE resulted in lower levels of alcohols, ketones, phenols, and oxygenated compounds. ChO exhibited an average oxygenated compound content of 70.13%, while LDPE and HDPE had 5.9% and 1.4%, respectively. Experimental assays under specific conditions reduced ketones and phenols to 2–3%. Including a hydrogen atmosphere during co-hydropyrolysis contributes to enhanced reaction kinetics and reduced formation of oxygenated compounds, indicating its beneficial role in improving reactions and diminishing the production of undesired by-products. Synergistic effects were observed, with reductions of up to 350% for HDPE and 200% for LDPE compared to the expected values, achieving higher synergistic coefficients with HDPE. The proposed reaction mechanism provides a comprehensive understanding of the simultaneous decomposition of biomass and polyethylene polymer chains, forming valuable bio-oil products and demonstrating the how the hydrogen atmosphere modulates and influences the reaction pathways and product distribution. For this reason, the co-hydropyrolysis of biomass–plastic blends is a technique with great potential to achieve lower levels of oxygenated compounds, which should be further explored in subsequent studies to address scalability and efficiency at pilot and industrial levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass and Waste Polymers: Innovations and Opportunities)

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24 pages, 11404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pyrolysis of Chilean Southern Lignocellulosic Biomasses: Isoconversional Kinetics Analysis and Pyrolytic Products Distribution

by Cristian Cerda-Barrera, Kevin J. Fernández-Andrade and Serguei Alejandro-Martín

Polymers 2023, 15(12), 2698; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15122698 - 16 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1836

Abstract

Biomass provides potential benefits for obtaining value-added compounds instead of straight burning; as Chile has forestry potential that supports such benefits, it is crucial to understand the biomasses’ properties and their thermochemical behaviour. This research presents a kinetic analysis of thermogravimetry, and pyrolysis of representative species in the biomass of southern Chile, heating biomasses at 5 to 40 °C·min⁻¹ rates before being subjected to thermal volatilisation. The activation energy (Ea) was calculated from conversion using model-free methods (Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), and Friedman (FR)), as well as the Kissinger method based on the maximum reaction rate. The average Ea varied between KAS 117 and 171 kJ·mol⁻¹, FWO 120–170 kJ·mol⁻¹, and FR 115–194 kJ·mol⁻¹ for the five biomasses used. Pinus radiata (PR) was identified as the most suited wood for producing value-added goods based on the Ea profile for the conversion (α), along with Eucalyptus nitens (EN) for its high value of reaction constant (k). Each biomass demonstrated accelerated decomposition (an increase in k relative to α). The highest concentration of bio-oil containing phenolic, ketonic, and furanic compounds was produced by the forestry exploitation biomasses PR and EN, demonstrating the viability of these materials for thermoconversion processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass and Waste Polymers: Innovations and Opportunities)

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