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10 pages, 1628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Hydrogen Production Efficiency by Rhodopseudomonas palustris MP3 and Rhodopseudomonas harwoodiae SP6 Using an Iron Complex as an Enhancement Factor

by Fariha Kanwal, Arifa Tahir, Takuya Tsuzuki, David Nisbet, Junhong Chen and Angel A. J. Torriero

Energies 2023, 16(13), 5018; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16135018 - 28 Jun 2023

Viewed by 847

Abstract

In the present study, an iron(II)-nanoscale organic complex (Fe-NO) was used as an enhancement factor by two different Rhodopseudomonas species of purple non-sulphur bacteria (PNSB) to produce hydrogen (H₂). The Fe-NO complex was synthesised using FeSO₄·7H₂O and [...] Read more.

In the present study, an iron(II)-nanoscale organic complex (Fe-NO) was used as an enhancement factor by two different Rhodopseudomonas species of purple non-sulphur bacteria (PNSB) to produce hydrogen (H₂). The Fe-NO complex was synthesised using FeSO₄·7H₂O and Eucalyptus viminalis—a native Australian plant leaf extract—in a 1:2 and 2:1 concentration ratio. Besides, FeSO₄·7H₂O was also used as a source of iron(II) for comparison with the Fe-NO complex. The photo-fermentative bacterial cultures were isolated from a fishpond, and only two strains, MP3 and SP6, were found viable after several attempts of quadrate streaking. After phylogenetic analysis, these strains were designated as R. palustris MP3 and R. harwoodiae SP6. After comparison with the control, the results showed that the PNSBs manifested an approximately 50% higher H₂ yield when the 1:2 Fe-NO complex was used in the fermentation broth at 10 mg/L concentration, where 10.7 ± 0.54 and 10.0 ± 0.49 mL H₂/L were obtained by R. palustris MP3 and R. harwoodiae SP6, respectively. The study revealed that the 1:2 Fe-NO complex could be an important material for efficient H₂ production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies for Sustainable Bio-Fuels Production)

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14 pages, 2896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrothermal Carbonization of Dry Anaerobic Digestion Residues Derived from Food and Agro Wastes in Lesvos Island

by Panagiotis Xypolias, Stergios Vakalis, Ioannis Daskaloudis and Dimitrios Francis Lekkas

Energies 2023, 16(12), 4619; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124619 - 09 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 798

Abstract

Biowaste management is at the center of attention in recent years due to the increased focus on Circular Economy practices. Lesvos has numerous food processing facilities and olive mills, and therefore Olive Mill Wastewater (OMWW) is a wastewater stream that requires attention. In [...] Read more.

Biowaste management is at the center of attention in recent years due to the increased focus on Circular Economy practices. Lesvos has numerous food processing facilities and olive mills, and therefore Olive Mill Wastewater (OMWW) is a wastewater stream that requires attention. In this study, a holistic experimental set-up that combines aerobic and anaerobic treatment strategies was developed taking into consideration the hydrothermal carbonization of AD digestate along with locally available OMWW. The study focuses on the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of anaerobic residues from biogas production, and food waste was co-utilized with spent coffee grounds (SCG). The reduced volatile solids of SCG have some effects on the final products. AD produced methane yields of 54.7% for the food waste and 52.4%. for the feedstock with added SCG. At the same time, the feedstock that contained SCG produced more hydrochar that reached up to 50% of the yield. Hydrothermal carbonization in a water medium produced liquids with basic pH values around 8 and conductivities of 4–5 mS/cm, while the samples that were treated in OMWW medium had pH values close to 5.5 and conductivities of around 12 mS/cm. The produced hydrochars have significant calorific values that exceeded 20 MJ/kg for almost all the samples. Overall, HTC with OMWW as a medium was able significantly reduce the COD of OMWW while resulting in hydrochars with increased heating values. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies for Sustainable Bio-Fuels Production)

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18 pages, 2334 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Life Cycle Assessment of Biomethane vs. Fossil Methane Production and Supply

by Alessia Amato, Konstantina Tsigkou, Alessandro Becci, Francesca Beolchini, Nicolò M. Ippolito and Francesco Ferella

Energies 2023, 16(12), 4555; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124555 - 06 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1552

Abstract

Considering the current geopolitical situation that has hindered the gas supply gas from Russia, Europe’s main supplier, it is necessary to find alternative routes to guarantee the Italian gas stocks in winter at a reasonable cost. Such energetic strategies should consider the environmental [...] Read more.

Considering the current geopolitical situation that has hindered the gas supply gas from Russia, Europe’s main supplier, it is necessary to find alternative routes to guarantee the Italian gas stocks in winter at a reasonable cost. Such energetic strategies should consider the environmental sustainability of the different available options, fitting the targets of the EU environmental policy. With the aim of supplying a quantitative tool to support the European green transition, this paper reports the entire life cycle assessment (LCA) of three different options for the production and supply of natural gas/methane in Italy: the production of biomethane from biogas (considering a real-scale plant in Italy), the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplied by Qatar by vessel, and the use of compressed gas delivered from Algeria via pipeline. The application of the LCA standardized method allowed for the quantification of the environmental benefit provided by the first option, against all the considered impact categories, thanks to a combination of several advantages: (a) its low-impact anaerobic production, (b) its exploitation of a waste product from the food/agriculture industries, and (c) its production of valuable by-products, which can be considered environmental credits. The results proved the possible environmental gain resulting from an integrated energy supply system that would be able to enhance the economic fabric of specific areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies for Sustainable Bio-Fuels Production)

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13 pages, 3124 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Electrogenic Microorganism Citrobacter sp. Isolated from Microbial Fuel Cell and Bacterial Characteristics Determination

by Hugo Guillermo Jimenez Pacheco, Abdel Alejandro Portocarrero Banda, Eric Ivan Vilca Cayllahua, Lilia Mary Miranda Ramos, Victor Ludgardo Alvarez Tohalino, Herbert Jesús Del Carpio Beltran and Pavel Kewin Delgado Sarmiento

Energies 2023, 16(7), 3047; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16073047 - 27 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1669

Abstract

The generation of energy through the transformation of polluting waste is a widely explored field and offers advances in green technologies. One of the promising technologies is Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs). These cells can contain electroactive microorganisms that transform organic waste into electricity [...] Read more.

The generation of energy through the transformation of polluting waste is a widely explored field and offers advances in green technologies. One of the promising technologies is Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs). These cells can contain electroactive microorganisms that transform organic waste into electricity by transferring electrons from their metabolism. In this study, a new bacterium capable of producing electricity from the waste of the poultry sector and using copper electrodes, called Av_G1, was identified and isolated. It is phylogenetically related to Citrobacter freundii and Citrobacter Murlinae. This new strain was identified molecularly, biochemically, and phylogenetically; its physiological and morphological characteristics were also studied through a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Biochemical determination was performed using Simmons Citrate Agar, Lysine Iron Medium (L.I.A.), Motility/Ornithine Test, Methyl Red indicator, Enzymes: oxidase and catalase, and Gram stain test. The phylogenetic inference was deduced by bioinformatics tools (MEGA X, JalView, Clustal Omega) and the genetic databases The Ribosomal Database Project—RDP and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). A maximum current potential of 0.645 V, a maximum current density of 168.72 ± 14.07 mA/m², and a power density of 31.05 mW/m² were recorded. During the monitoring, the physicochemical parameters were taken: pH, Oxide Reduction Potential (ORP), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), conductivity, Total Solids (TDS), and average temperature were recorded. Therefore, the present study shows a new Gram-negative electrogenic bacterium, which can be used for electrochemical processes and applied in MFC with copper electrodes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies for Sustainable Bio-Fuels Production)

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14 pages, 3904 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Operation and Thermodynamic Modeling of a Novel Advanced Hydrothermal Reactor: Introduction of the Novel 3-Step Evolution Model

by Stergios Vakalis, Snehesh Shivananda Ail, Konstantinos Moustakas and Marco J. Castaldi

Energies 2023, 16(4), 2032; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16042032 - 18 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1213

Abstract

Liquid biowaste represents more than 98% of the total municipal waste streams on wet basis and 4–5% on dry basis. Recent attention has been focused on how to manage it optimally, and several novel technologies are being developed to valorize it. Among the [...] Read more.

Liquid biowaste represents more than 98% of the total municipal waste streams on wet basis and 4–5% on dry basis. Recent attention has been focused on how to manage it optimally, and several novel technologies are being developed to valorize it. Among the developing alternatives is a technology that operates continuously by integrating a hydrothermal reactor, a gasifier and condenser to recover hydrochar using any produced gases to power the system. This study introduces the “3-step evolution model” in order to simulate the hydrothermal reactor. The model has been developed in a MATLAB/Cantera environment and calculates the outputs as the products of a series of sub-stoichiometric char-gas reactions. Experiments with chicken manure slurry as feedstock were implemented for the validation of the model. Treatment of 32.16 kg/h of chicken manure produces 4.57 kg/h of hydrochar and 3.45 kg/h of syngas. The 3-step evolution model simulated the correct ratio of solid-to-gas, 57–43% (excluding the liquids). The experimentally measured carbon dioxide is used as a correction factor to calculate all the other parameters that cannot be assessed during the continuous operation of the hydrothermal reactor. The simulated compositions for carbon dioxide and methane were 94–96% and 0.5–0.8%, respectively. The values were close to the experimental results that ranged from 94.7% to 95.6% for the carbon dioxide and from 0.5% to 0.7% for the methane. The model predicts that higher temperatures of operation would increase carbon monoxide composition from 4–5% up to 7–8%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies for Sustainable Bio-Fuels Production)

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21 pages, 2976 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Sustainability of Waste Circulation Models for Sugarcane Biorefinery System in Thailand

by Thapat Silalertruksa, Chanipa Wirodcharuskul and Shabbir H. Gheewala

Energies 2022, 15(24), 9515; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15249515 - 15 Dec 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2066

Abstract

Sugarcane leaves and trash burning during harvesting, and vinasse management, are major challenges of the Thai sugarcane industry. Identification of the appropriate valorization pathways for both the biomass waste streams using the sugarcane biorefinery concept is necessary. This study aims to assess the [...] Read more.

Sugarcane leaves and trash burning during harvesting, and vinasse management, are major challenges of the Thai sugarcane industry. Identification of the appropriate valorization pathways for both the biomass waste streams using the sugarcane biorefinery concept is necessary. This study aims to assess the environmental sustainability of five CE models, including (1) sugarcane trash for electricity, (2) sugarcane trash to biochar, (3) sugarcane trash as a soil conditioner, (4) vinasse as a bio-fertilizer, and (5) vinasse for power generation. Life cycle assessment has been conducted using the ReCiPE midpoint impact assessment method. The results revealed that all waste utilization scenarios can help reduce the environmental impacts compared to the base case. The utilization of sugarcane leaves and trash for electricity generation brings about the lowest environmental impacts due to the environmental credits from the substitution of Thai grid electricity. The utilization of sugarcane leaves can reduce impacts on climate change, terrestrial acidification, and ozone formation by about 20–104%, 43–61%, and 12–54%. Recycling vinasse as bio-fertilizer and for biogas production for electricity generation can reduce climate change impact by about 28–29%. There is a significant improvement of the avoidance of pre-harvesting burning of sugarcane in the Thai sugar industry, which has led to the big potential of sugarcane leaves biomass utilization. Recommendations to enhance the efficiency of using sugarcane leaves and vinasse are discussed. The integrated waste circulation scenarios on cane leaves and vinasses in the sugar-electricity-ethanol biorefinery shows advancement in the bio-circular-green economy (BCG) aspects for enhancing the environmental sustainability of the Thai sugarcane industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies for Sustainable Bio-Fuels Production)

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12 pages, 1751 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Salicylic Acid in Castor Oil Content Increase in Emissions of Its Biodiesel Blends

by Luis Armando Galván-Camacho, Ana Angélica Feregrino-Pérez, Francisco Javier De Moure-Flores, Luis Alberto Morales-Hernández, Juan Campos-Guillen, José Alberto Rodríguez-Morales, Antonio Flores-Macias, Diana Laura Quezada-Morales, Carlos Eduardo Zavala-Gómez and Miguel Angel Ramos-López

Energies 2022, 15(24), 9463; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15249463 - 14 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2427

Abstract

Ricinus communis is a species distributed worldwide. Its seeds are used to produce castor oil, which can be used for the production of biofuels; yield improvement can be achieved with elicitors that are substances of biological origin that can induce increased productivity of [...] Read more.

Ricinus communis is a species distributed worldwide. Its seeds are used to produce castor oil, which can be used for the production of biofuels; yield improvement can be achieved with elicitors that are substances of biological origin that can induce increased productivity of primary and secondary metabolism, when applied to plants. Salicylic acid (SA) is a natural constituent of plants, and applied exogenously acts as an elicitor. The aim of this work is to evaluate the oil content of castor bean plants elicitated with 900, 600, 300, and 100 µM of salicylic acid and its emissions derived from biodiesel made with the oil in blends (0, 10 and 20%) with commercial fuel in a 296 cc diesel cycle engine; elicitation was foliar sprayed. The oil content increased 39% when 900 µM SA was applied compared to control, and the evaluation of emissions showed the maximum reduction with 20% of Ricinus communis biodiesel (RCB) in all different RPM rates. Otherwise, the use of SA could be a method to increase oil content in castor plants as there is no difference in emission reduction derived from the SA application compared to control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies for Sustainable Bio-Fuels Production)

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Review

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20 pages, 2588 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biohydrogen—A Green Fuel for Sustainable Energy Solutions

by Fariha Kanwal and Angel A. J. Torriero

Energies 2022, 15(20), 7783; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15207783 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2736

Abstract

Energy plays a crucial role in the sustainable development of modern nations. Today, hydrogen is considered the most promising alternative fuel as it can be generated from clean and green sources. Moreover, it is an efficient energy carrier because hydrogen burning only generates [...] Read more.

Energy plays a crucial role in the sustainable development of modern nations. Today, hydrogen is considered the most promising alternative fuel as it can be generated from clean and green sources. Moreover, it is an efficient energy carrier because hydrogen burning only generates water as a byproduct. Currently, it is generated from natural gas. However, it can be produced using other methods, i.e., physicochemical, thermal, and biological. The biological method is considered more environmentally friendly and pollution free. This paper aims to provide an updated review of biohydrogen production via photofermentation, dark fermentation, and microbial electrolysis cells using different waste materials as feedstocks. Besides, the role of nanotechnology in enhancing biohydrogen production is examined. Under anaerobic conditions, hydrogen is produced during the conversion of organic substrate into organic acids using fermentative bacteria and during the conversion of organic acids into hydrogen and carbon dioxide using photofermentative bacteria. Different factors that enhance the biohydrogen production of these organisms, either combined or sequentially, using dark and photofermentation processes, are examined, and the effect of each factor on biohydrogen production efficiency is reported. A comparison of hydrogen production efficiency between dark fermentation, photofermentation, and two-stage processes is also presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies for Sustainable Bio-Fuels Production)

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