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Applied Sciences
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Bioenergy and Bioproducts from Biomass and Waste
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Bioenergy and Bioproducts from Biomass and Waste

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical and Molecular Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 5027

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. María Ángeles Cancela Carral

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemical Engineering Department, University of Vigo, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain
Interests: chemical engineering; extraction methods; bioproducts; biomaterials; biodiesel
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Invasive-alien species and non-native species represent a serious risk to the biodiversity of an area. One of the most significant affectations of natural ecosystems is biological invasion, which represents a threat to biodiversity conservation. Due to globalization and the expansion-annexation of territories, the presence of non-native species has become increasingly common. These species must be eliminated to facilitate the expansion of native species.

Biomass waste can be transformed into energy and/or clean fuels through a variety of technologies; however, it is interesting to try to previously obtain value-added products and, after the recovery of the waste, transform it into energy

The circular bioeconomy is a model of production, distribution, and consumption in which the value of products, materials, and other resources remain as long as possible. Recent initiatives, such as the European Green Pact (EC, 2019), confirm the expected role of the BEC in the European Union of the future, as well as in each of its regions. The biorefinery model and the obtaining of larger compounds of different degrees of value through productive cascade approaches must be intensively developed.

The main objective of this Special Issue (SI) is to promote the use of any biomass waste, or invasive plants to obtain value-added products and energy. It is essential to carry out the recovery of waste at the territorial level and develop measures to facilitate its minimization and reuse, with experiences aimed at zero waste policy.

Prof. Dr. María Ángeles Cancela Carral
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Applied Sciences 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 2400 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

  • invasive-alien species
  • waste
  • clean technology
  • bioproduct
  • biomaterial
  • bioenergy

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 5635 KiB  
Article
Hydrothermal Valorization via Liquid Hot Water and Hydrothermal Carbonization of Pea Pod Waste: Characterization of the Biochar and Quantification of Platform Molecules
by Daniel Esteban Galvis-Sandoval, Alejandra Sophia Lozano-Pérez and Carlos Alberto Guerrero-Fajardo
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2329; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062329 - 10 Mar 2024
Viewed by 510
Abstract
Pea pod cultivation spans various regions and climates, with a global production of around 20 million tons. The pea peel wastes, which make up 30–40% of the total weight of the peas, are freely available in large quantities. The biomass used was characterized [...] Read more.
Pea pod cultivation spans various regions and climates, with a global production of around 20 million tons. The pea peel wastes, which make up 30–40% of the total weight of the peas, are freely available in large quantities. The biomass used was characterized via ultimate, proximate, and structural analysis, obtaining 20.2%w of cellulose and 17.4%w of hemicellulose, which, via valorization processes, can be transformed into platform chemicals. Hydrothermal valorization presents itself as a clean form of treatment for these wastes, ranging from 120 to 180 °C (LHW) and from 180 to 260 °C (HTC). The use of LHW can lead to the production of sugars (up to 70%w yield) and levulinic acid (4%w yield), while the use of HTC leads to formic acid (40%w yield) and levulinic acid (4%w yield). The use of LHW for longer periods favors the production of HMF and furfural. The use of homogeneous catalysts (H2SO4, CH3COOH, KOH, and NaHCO3) was implemented, and their selectivity was described. Solid fractions of LHW and HTC were characterized via FTIR and elemental analysis, and the change in their structure was described as they shifted from biomass to biochar. Optimal conditions for each platform chemical were reported to best utilize the pea pod waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioenergy and Bioproducts from Biomass and Waste)
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16 pages, 7042 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Waste Biomass from Pine, Eucalyptus, and Acacia and the Biochar Elaborated Using Pyrolysis in a Simple Double Chamber Biomass Reactor
by Óscar González-Prieto, Luis Ortiz Torres and Antonio Vazquez Torres
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 1851; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14051851 - 23 Feb 2024
Viewed by 628
Abstract
Using waste biomass is considered one of the ways to reduce climate change. Arboreal waste biomass from pine, eucalyptus, and particularly invasive plants (Acacias) would make it possible to transform this natural resource, but needs to be adjusted to current and [...] Read more.
Using waste biomass is considered one of the ways to reduce climate change. Arboreal waste biomass from pine, eucalyptus, and particularly invasive plants (Acacias) would make it possible to transform this natural resource, but needs to be adjusted to current and innovative technologies. The production of high fixed carbon biochar with this biomass would improve not only environmental aspects, but also the use of currently not susceptible materials for other types of exploitation. The objective of this study is to develop biochar from three different waste biomass materials and compare their parameters with those of the original biomass. Thermochemical conversion processes were used in a simple double chamber reactor developed for this study. Temperatures between 400 and 500 °C during 280 min were achieved and allowed to transform the initial biomass in a biochar with a high content of fixed carbon. By comparing the original biomass with the final biochar through tests of humidity, density, calorific values, fixed carbon, and cationic and elemental analysis, an increase in the parameters was confirmed. Fixed carbon of 70%, 77%, and 71% with pine, acacia, and eucalyptus biomass have been obtained, respectively, with yields between 30% and 40%. The results are favorable, particularly with acacia invasive plants, and could help in their difficult silviculture management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioenergy and Bioproducts from Biomass and Waste)
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16 pages, 7246 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of High-Precision Sub-Micron CaCO3 Anticancer Drug Carriers from Coral Remains
by Pin-Han Chen, Wei-Sheng Chen, Szu-An Chen and Wei-Chung Chen
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14041336 - 06 Feb 2024
Viewed by 559
Abstract
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles have attracted increasing attention as a promising material for drug delivery systems. In this study, coral remains were utilized as a raw material for a novel drug carrier. A series of pre-treatment and parameter experiments were conducted [...] Read more.
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles have attracted increasing attention as a promising material for drug delivery systems. In this study, coral remains were utilized as a raw material for a novel drug carrier. A series of pre-treatment and parameter experiments were conducted to synthesize sub-micron spherical CaCO3 particles. The CaCO3 particles exhibited uniform size distribution, with the minimum mean size being only 344 nm. The effects on the CaCO3 crystal phases and particle sizes were also discussed in this study. Drug loading experiments were also conducted to assess the feasibility of the CaCO3 drug carrier. We loaded TRITC-Dextran into CaCO3 particles for the simulation experiments. The loading capacity reached up to 9.6 wt.%, which was as high as common drug carriers such as liposomes. In this study, we aimed not only to tackle the local environmental issues caused by coral remains, but also to synthesize a suitable drug carrier for cancer therapy using the outstanding properties and low cost of CaCO3. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioenergy and Bioproducts from Biomass and Waste)
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17 pages, 4529 KiB  
Article
Continuous Adsorption of Acid Wood Dyes onto an Activated Carbon Prepared from Pine Sawdust
by Catarina Helena Pimentel, María Sonia Freire, Diego Gómez-Díaz and Julia González-Álvarez
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(2), 841; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14020841 - 19 Jan 2024
Viewed by 856
Abstract
In this paper, an activated carbon obtained from Pinus radiata sawdust is applied to remove blue, red, and black wood dyes from aqueous solutions in a fixed-bed column. The flow rate (7.7–30.8 mL min−1), initial dye concentration (25–500 mg L−1 [...] Read more.
In this paper, an activated carbon obtained from Pinus radiata sawdust is applied to remove blue, red, and black wood dyes from aqueous solutions in a fixed-bed column. The flow rate (7.7–30.8 mL min−1), initial dye concentration (25–500 mg L−1), and bed height (2–4 cm) highly influence the breakthrough-curves’ features. The results indicate that the adsorption capacity increased by decreasing the flow rate and increasing the initial dye concentration, except for the black dye, and increasing bed height, except for the red dye. In addition, the breakthrough time changed by modifying the studied variables. The curves became steeper as the flow rate increased and as the bed height decreased. Also, by increasing the inlet dye concentration, the breakthrough time decreased significantly, and sharper breakthrough curves were obtained. The activated carbon with a surface area of 2826 m2 g−1 led to high values of the adsorption capacity between 150 and 1300 mg g−1. The Yoon–Nelson and Thomas models were the ones that best described the adsorption data. The activated carbon saturated with black dye could be used in three successive cycles after regeneration with H2O2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioenergy and Bioproducts from Biomass and Waste)
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24 pages, 15447 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Cellulose Derived from Invasive Alien Species Plant Waste for Application in the Papermaking Industry: Physic-Mechanical, Optical, and Chemical Property Analysis
by Antía Iglesias, Ángeles Cancela, Ana Soler Baena and Ángel Sánchez
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(20), 11568; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132011568 - 23 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 800
Abstract
This study examines the potential of four invasive plant species, both arboreal and herbaceous, within the riparian forest of the Umia River in Galicia, a common ecosystem in northern Spain. These invasive species (Arundo donax, Phytolacca americana, Eucalyptus globulus, [...] Read more.
This study examines the potential of four invasive plant species, both arboreal and herbaceous, within the riparian forest of the Umia River in Galicia, a common ecosystem in northern Spain. These invasive species (Arundo donax, Phytolacca americana, Eucalyptus globulus, and Tradescantia fluminensis) were collected and assessed for their suitability as an alternative source of pulp and paper materials for the paper industry to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with conventional cellulose fiber production from harmful monocultures. Cellulosic material from leaves, bark, and/or stems of each of the selected species was isolated from lignin and hemicelluloses through kraft pulping processes. Resulted fibers and pulps were analyzed visually, morphologically, chemically, and mechanically to evaluate their papermaking properties. To compare these properties with those of commercially available pulp, test sheets were concurrently produced using commercial bleached Eucalyptus cellulose. The findings reveal that the employed fibers exhibit promising characteristics for artistic paper production. Regarding the pulp, two refining times were tested in a PFI machine, and the Schopper–Riegler degree was measured. Paper sheets underwent various tests to determine thickness, basis weight, apparent volume, apparent density, permeability, and chemical composition, as well as microscopic optical and morphological properties. The fibers obtained from the waste derived from the removal of invasive exotic species and biodiversity control present a viable and intriguing alternative for decentralized paper production, yielding noteworthy results for the creative sector. This research highlights the potential of harnessing invasive species for sustainable and innovative paper manufacturing practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioenergy and Bioproducts from Biomass and Waste)
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Review

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32 pages, 2548 KiB  
Review
From Biogas to Biomethane: An In-Depth Review of Upgrading Technologies That Enhance Sustainability and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
by Ahinara Francisco López, Telma Lago Rodríguez, Shoeib Faraji Abdolmaleki, Marta Galera Martínez and Pastora M. Bello Bugallo
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2342; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062342 - 11 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1316
Abstract
Renewable energies present an opportunity to enhance energy security, reduce dependence on imports, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Natural gas, viewed as a transitional fuel from coal to renewables, lacks reliable environmental sustainability and does not contribute to EU energy independence. Recently, biomethane [...] Read more.
Renewable energies present an opportunity to enhance energy security, reduce dependence on imports, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Natural gas, viewed as a transitional fuel from coal to renewables, lacks reliable environmental sustainability and does not contribute to EU energy independence. Recently, biomethane has been gaining attention as an alternative to natural gas. Obtained from purified or “upgraded” biogas, it offers environmental and economic advantages. Several developed technologies, including absorption, adsorption, membrane separation, and cryogenic separation, are commercially available. However, those are energy- and resource-intensive. In this context, this review aims to examine the recent advancements in biogas upgrading, particularly in physical, chemical, and biological pathways. It focuses on CO2 removal and/or conversion to methane, offering an updated overview for future studies. The technologies are classified based on the separation method (by phase addition, by solid agent, by phase creation, and by biological process), and an analysis of each category is conducted. The discussion covers the economic and environmental characteristics, process complexity, and future research prospects in sustainable technologies. This review highlights the potential of biogas upgrading technologies in contributing to sustainable development, increasing energy security, and achieving greenhouse gas reduction goals that are aligned with EU targets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioenergy and Bioproducts from Biomass and Waste)
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