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Biomass Treatment Techniques and Sustainable Utilization of Residues

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 14826

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Prof. Dr. María Cristina Area

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Guest Editor

IMAM, UNaM, CONICET, FCEQYN, Programa de Celulosa y Papel (PROCyP), Félix de Azara 1552, 3300 Posadas, Argentina
Interests: biorefinery; production of bioproducts and biomaterials; chemical technology of fibrous materials; clean technologies for manufacturing cellulose pulps, and papers

Prof. Dr. María Evangelina Vallejos

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Guest Editor

IMAM, UNaM, CONICET, FCEQYN, Programa de Celulosa y Papel (PROCyP), Félix de Azara 1552, 3300 Posadas, Argentina
Interests: composite materials; lignocellulosic fiber; fractionation of lignocellulosic materials; biorefinery; bioproducts
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Dear Colleagues,

Caring for the environment, which is the current focus of attention for the whole society, has become a factor that adds value to industrial production, making it more competitive through advanced technology use and renewable resources. Bioeconomy and circular economy concepts have emerged because of the growing population demand for renewable raw material consumption and cleaner production processes. Some important aspects for maintaining the balance between environment, biodiversity, and economic development are the balance of food and fuel production, the synergism between ecosystem services, climate change mitigation strategies, and the maintenance of long-term food security.

In this context, the possibility of recycling, reusing, and valorizing before discarding a resource and resorting to bioenergy represents an issue of fundamental importance in the economy of some industrial sectors. Thus, the use of economic instruments to protect natural resources is part of the options to control pollution. Additionally, various environmental policies are being implemented to manage biomass waste. Lignocellulose waste is generated from diverse sources, such as agricultural, forest, wood industrialization, and municipal pruning. It is a low-cost and abundant resource. Consequently, the sustainable valorization of forest industrial and agro-industrial waste and the development of clean conversion processes could bring additional benefits, such as solving waste elimination, generating renewable and biochemical biofuels, reducing the net emissions of greenhouse gases, and creating more jobs, among others.

Given that each raw material has a different chemical composition in quantity and quality, the problems of their fractionation, product recovery, purification, and uses are diverse, and their complexity makes the processing difficult, presenting certain technological complications. The sustainability of biorefineries involves a realistic balance between cost considerations and environmental solutions. In this sense, the use of lignocellulosic residues, the development of technologies, and the integration of processes are vital to increasing the productivity and feasibility of the different schemes proposed. This Special Issue focus on sustainable techniques of biomass treatment for residue valorization.

Prof. Dr. María Cristina Area
Prof. Dr. María Evangelina Vallejos
Guest Editors

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Keywords

biomass
biomass treatment techniques
residues
lignocellulosic wastes
sustainable feedstocks
bioenergy
biofuels

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 4722 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Low Density and High Purity Silica Xerogels from South African Sugarcane Leaves without the Usage of a Surfactant

by Ncamisile Nondumiso Maseko, Dirk Enke, Samuel Ayodele Iwarere, Oluwatobi Samuel Oluwafemi and Jonathan Pocock

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4626; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054626 - 05 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2756

Abstract

Sugarcane leaves were used to produce high-purity and low-density silica xerogels through a sol–gel method. The biogenic silica produced through a thermochemical method was reacted with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to form sodium silicate and the produced sodium silicate was titrated with 1 M citric acid to form silica gel. The formed silica gel was washed, subjected to a solvent exchange process and later dried at 80 °C to produce low-density and high-purity silica xerogels. The produced xerogels were characterized with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen physisorption, elemental analysis (CHNS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The produced silica xerogels had an amorphous structure and purity of 99.9 wt%. In addition, the textural properties analysis showed that the xerogel has a BET surface area of 668 m²·g⁻¹, an average pore diameter of 7.5 nm, a pore volume of 1.26 cm³·g⁻¹ and a density of 0.23 g·cm⁻³. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Treatment Techniques and Sustainable Utilization of Residues)

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14 pages, 825 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of CO₂ Injection into Manure as a Pretreatment Method for Increased Biogas Production

by Bronius Žalys, Kęstutis Venslauskas, Kęstutis Navickas, Egidijus Buivydas and Mantas Rubežius

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3670; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043670 - 16 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1913

Abstract

Manure is considered a by-product or organic waste in cattle, pig, chicken or other animal breeding farms, which can be a valuable product as compost or feedstock for biogas production. The production of biomethane from biogas always copes with the formation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a by-product. This CO₂ may be recycled through the feedstock as a pretreatment to maximize homogeneity, and improve biogas yield and biogas quality. The CO₂-pretreatment process of cow manure (CoM), chicken manure (ChM) and pig manure (PM) was performed in the continuously fed agitated reactor at 25 °C temperature and ambient barometric pressure. Biogas yield and composition exploration were performed in an anaerobic continuous feeding digester with controlled mesophilic (37 °C) environmental conditions. The CO₂ pretreated PM, CoM and ChM yielded 234.62 ± 10.93 L/kg_VS, 82.01 ± 3.19 L/kg_VS and 374.53 ± 9.27 L/kg_VS biomethane from feedstock volatile solids, respectively. The biomethane yield from CO₂ pretreated CoM, ChM and PM achieved was higher over untreated manure by +33.78%, +28.76% and +21.78%, respectively. The anaerobic digestion process of tested feedstocks was stable, and the pH of the substrate was kept steady at a pH of CoM 7.77 ± 0.02, PM 8.07 ± 0.02 and ChM 8.09 ± 0.02 during all the experiment. The oxidation-reduction potential after pretreatment was within the optimal range (−255 ± 39.0 to −391 ± 16.8 mV) for anaerobic digestion. This process also had a positive effect on the energy generated from the feedstock, with ChM showing the greatest increase, from 2.38 MJ/kg to 3.06 MJ/kg. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Treatment Techniques and Sustainable Utilization of Residues)

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12 pages, 2723 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrochar Derived from Spent Mushroom Substrate Ameliorates Soil Properties and Nutrient Levels in Saline–Sodic Soil: An Incubation Study

by Yuanhui Chen, Zhengxiao Sun, Yingjie Su, Jinxia Yang, Mingtang Li, Bo Hong and Guang Chen

Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 12958; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142012958 - 11 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1286

Abstract

Hydrothermal carbonization is a promising strategy for the resource utilization of agricultural wastes. However, the effect of hydrochar on ameliorating saline–sodic soil remains unclear. In the present study, a novel hydrochar amendment was prepared from spent mushroom substrate (SMSHC), followed by an incubation study of saline–sodic soil samples with different pH values (A, pH 9.83; B, pH 8.98; C, pH 8.21). The results demonstrated that SMSHC reduced the adverse effects of saline–sodic soil effectively, and the best effect was obtained when 6% SMSHC was added. Soil pH and ESP decreased by 0.34–0.75 units and 1.0–13.0% at 6% SMSHC loading, respectively. The maximum percentage increase in the soil’s available N, available P, and DOC was 72.3, 221, and 408%, respectively. In the subsequent rice pot seedling experiment, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content and increased K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, proline, soluble sugar, total N, and total P in plant samples were observed. This study verifies hydrothermal carbonization as an alternative method, except for the widely used pyrolysis, to recycle biomass wastes into valuable products for soil remediation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Treatment Techniques and Sustainable Utilization of Residues)

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15 pages, 2504 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanocellulose Extracted from Paraguayan Residual Agro-Industrial Biomass: Extraction Process, Physicochemical and Morphological Characterization

by Maria Edelira Velázquez, Omayra Beatriz Ferreiro, Diego Batista Menezes, Yendry Corrales-Ureña, José Roberto Vega-Baudrit and Juan Daniel Rivaldi

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11386; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811386 - 10 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2358

Abstract

Residual biomasses from agro-industries in Paraguay, including soybean hulls (SBHs) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB), were studied as a source for nanocellulose extraction for the first time. For that purpose, both biomasses were delignified in a semi-pilot stainless-steel reactor, and the cellulose pulp was subjected to a bleaching process with NaClO (2.5%, w/v). The nanocellulose (CNC) was obtained after two-step acid hydrolysis. Firstly, the bleached cellulose was hydrolyzed with HCl (17%, w/w) for two hours at 60 °C to obtain microcrystals by removing most of the amorphous fraction. The celluloses were then treated with H₂SO₄ (65%, w/w) at 45 °C for 45 min to obtain nanocellulose. Physicochemical and morphological properties were analyzed using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The SBHs nanocellulose had a whisker-like form with a 230 ± 42 nm diameter and a 12 ± 2 nm height, and the SCB nanocellulose had a fibril-like form with a 103 ± 30 nm diameter and a height of 6 ± 3 nm. The nanocellulose from SBHs and SCB had good thermal stability as its degradation temperature started at 250 °C. Furthermore, the nanocellulose obtained was negatively charged and formed stable dispersion in water at 0.1 mg/mL concentration and a pH of around 6.5. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Treatment Techniques and Sustainable Utilization of Residues)

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18 pages, 4709 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Approaching a Zero-Waste Strategy in Rapeseed (Brassica napus) Exploitation: Sustainably Approaching Bio-Based Polyethylene Composites

by Roberto Aguado, Francesc Xavier Espinach, Fabiola Vilaseca, Quim Tarrés, Pere Mutjé and Marc Delgado-Aguilar

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7942; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137942 - 29 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1543

Abstract

The current need to develop more sustainable processes and products requires the study of new materials. In the field of plastic materials, the need to develop 100% bio-based materials that meet market requirements is evident. In this sense, the present work aims to explore the potential of rapeseed waste as a reinforcement of a bio-based plastic matrix that does not generate new sub-waste. For this purpose, three types of processing of rapeseed residues have been studied: (i) milling; (ii) mechanical process; (iii) thermomechanical process. In addition, the reinforcing capacity of these materials, together with the need for an optimized coupling agent at 6 wt.%, has been verified. The micromechanics of the materials have been evaluated to determine the development of these fibers in the composite material. The results obtained show remarkable increases in mechanical properties, reaching more than 141% in tensile strength and 128% in flexural strength. There is a remarkable difference in the impact behavior between the materials with milled rapeseed and the fibers obtained by mechanical or thermomechanical processes. It was found that by sustainable design it is possible to achieve a 76.2% reduction in the amount of plastic used to manufacture material with the same mechanical properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Treatment Techniques and Sustainable Utilization of Residues)

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14 pages, 2829 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Soda–Ethanol Delignification of Pine Sawdust for a Biorefinery

by Camila María Imlauer Vedoya, María Cristina Area, Natalia Raffaeli and Fernando Esteban Felissia

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6660; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116660 - 29 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1519

Abstract

The soda–ethanol process was conceived as a sulfur-free pulping process, which may also be an alternative to conventional alkaline pulping, such as kraft or soda–AQ in the biorefinery context. An in-depth study using two experimental designs was conducted to establish the viability of soda–ethanol delignification of pine sawdust. At first, a simple factorial design involving the ethanol–water ratio (ethanol:water) and the alkaline load (AL, % over dry wood, odw) was applied to define the levels of these variables and their eventual interaction. Then, a 3² experimental design was performed to evaluate the ability of the process concerning the pulping of pine sawdust. The tested conditions were carefully selected to screen a broad range of cooking times (60, 100, and 140 min) and alkaline loads (19.0, 23.3, and 27.6 %odw) to obtain pulps with different extents of delignification (residual lignin contents). Finally, the kraft, soda–AQ, and soda–ethanol treatments were compared. Soda–ethanol pulping was shown to be a suitable delignification stage for a biorefinery scheme of Pinus elliottii and Pinus taeda sawdust. It has many advantages over traditional processes regarding its environmental impact, harmless chemicals, and selectivity. The tested conditions were similar to those frequently used in conventional pulping at an industrial scale, suggesting the technical feasibility of the soda–ethanol process for pine sawdust processing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Treatment Techniques and Sustainable Utilization of Residues)

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Review

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25 pages, 1667 KiB

Open AccessReview

Bioconversion of Corn Crop Residues: Lactic Acid Production through Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation

by Alonso Malacara-Becerra, Elda M. Melchor-Martínez, Juan Eduardo Sosa-Hernández, L. María Riquelme-Jiménez, Seyed Soheil Mansouri, Hafiz M. N. Iqbal and Roberto Parra-Saldívar

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 11799; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141911799 - 20 Sep 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2459

Abstract

Lactic acid (LA) is a chemical building block with wide applications in the food, cosmetics, and chemical industries. Its polymer polylactic acid further increases this range of applications as a green and biocompatible alternative to petrol-based plastics. Corn is the fourth largest crop in the world, and its residues represent a potentially renewable feedstock for industrial lactic acid production through simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). The main goal of this work is to summarize and compare the pretreatment methods, enzymatic formulations and microbial strains that have been combined in a SSF setup for bioconversion of corn crop residues into LA. Additionally, the main concerns of scaling-up and the innovation readiness level towards commercial implementation of this technology are also discussed. The analysis on commercial implementation renders the current state of SSF technology unsustainable, mainly due to high wastewater generation and saccharification costs. Nonetheless, there are promising strategies that are being tested and are focused on addressing these issues. The present work proves that the study and optimization of SSF as a biorefinery framework represents a step towards the adoption of potentially sustainable waste management practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Treatment Techniques and Sustainable Utilization of Residues)

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