Pretreatment technologies for biological and chemical conversion of woody biomass

TAPPI Journal ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
YANG WANG ◽  
SHIJIE LIU
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Woody Biomass ◽  
Chemical Conversion ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
Biomass Feedstocks ◽  
Production Processes ◽  
Biochemical Production

Woody biomass is an important alternative source for chemicals, materials, and energy. Although different routes of woody biomass conversion have been proposed in various studies, typical biochemical production processes using woody biomass feedstocks consist of four major steps: pretreatment, hydrolysis, fermentation, and separation. Pretreatment remains the most important step in biomass conversion. This paper is a review of available pretreatment technologies for woody biomass bioconversion.

A solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency up to 0.26% achieved in ambient conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (46) ◽  
pp. e2115666118
Author(s):  
Yu-Xin Ye ◽  
Jinhui Pan ◽  
Yong Shen ◽  
Minhui Shen ◽  
Huijie Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Charge Carrier ◽  
Separation Efficiency ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Chemical Conversion ◽  
Electron Acceptors ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Reduction Efficiency ◽  
Earth Abundant ◽  
Carrier Separation

Artificial photosynthesis in ambient conditions is much less efficient than the solar-to-biomass conversion (SBC) processes in nature. Here, we successfully mimic the NADP-mediated photosynthetic processes in green plants by introducing redox moieties as the electron acceptors in the present conjugated polymeric photocatalyst. The current artificial process substantially promotes the charge carrier separation efficiency and the oxygen reduction efficiency, achieving a photosynthesis rate for converting Earth-abundant water and oxygen in air into hydrogen peroxide as high as 909 μmol⋅g−1⋅h−1 and a solar-to-chemical conversion (SCC) efficiency up to 0.26%. The SCC efficiency is more than two times higher than the average SBC efficiency in nature (0.1%) and the highest value under ambient conditions. This study presents a strategy for efficient SCC in the future.

scholarly journals Investigation of a Lignin-Based Deep Eutectic Solvent Using p-Hydroxybenzoic Acid for Efficient Woody Biomass Conversion

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (33) ◽  
pp. 12542-12553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunxuan Wang ◽  
Xianzhi Meng ◽  
Keunhong Jeong ◽  
Shuya Li ◽  
Gyu Leem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Deep Eutectic Solvent ◽  
Woody Biomass ◽  
Hydroxybenzoic Acid

Performance and Emissions Control of Commercial-Scale Biochar Production Unit

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Severy ◽  
David J. Carter ◽  
Kyle D. Palmer ◽  
Anthony J. Eggink ◽  
Charles E. Chamberlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
Fixed Carbon ◽  
Automated Control ◽  
Total Particulate Matter ◽  
Biomass Feedstocks ◽  
Performance And Emissions ◽  
Contamination Levels

Abstract.Two commercial biochar production machines – a single-auger unit and a larger dual-auger version – were operated to evaluate feedstock specifications, biochar quality, throughput rates, and emissions profiles. Biochar was produced from woody biomass feedstocks of various species, contamination levels, comminution methods, and moisture contents. Feedstocks with ash content exceeding 15% dry basis or moisture content exceeding 25% wet basis were observed to decrease fixed carbon content of biochar and to increase the labor effort required to operate the machine. The dual-auger version of the machine was able to process 380 kg h-1 of biomass feedstock (dry basis) to produce 63 kg h-1 of biochar with a mean electricity demand of 4.5 kW. Average CO, propane, NOx, and SO2 emission rates from the flare of this machine were measured to be 160, 120, 51, and 43 g h-1, respectively, with total particulate matter (PM), PM10, and PM2.5 emission rates of 380, 40, and 4.5 g h-1, respectively. Results from these experiments indicate that high-quality biochar can be produced from a variety of feedstocks, including forest residuals, as long as the ash and moisture content are within the specifications. Future research and development should focus on increasing the throughput of the machine, implementing an automated control system to reduce the operational effort, and improving safety and product consistency. Keywords: Biochar, Biomass, Biomass conversion technology, Carbon sequestration, Forest residuals, Gasification, Pyrolysis.

scholarly journals Systems and Synthetic Biology of Forest Trees: A Bioengineering Paradigm for Woody Biomass Feedstocks

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander A. Myburg ◽  
Steven G. Hussey ◽  
Jack P. Wang ◽  
Nathaniel R. Street ◽  
Eshchar Mizrachi
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Woody Biomass ◽  
Forest Trees ◽  
Biomass Feedstocks

scholarly journals Biomass Feedstocks for Liquid Biofuels Production in Hawaii & Tropical Islands: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-132
Author(s):  
Muhammad Usman ◽  
Shuo Cheng ◽  
Jeffrey Scott Cross
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Tropical Islands ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Biomass Feedstocks ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
Conversion Technologies

Many tropical islands, including Aruba, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Pacific Island countries, are entirely dependent on importing fossil fuels to meet their energy demands. Due to global warming, improving energy use efficiency and developing regionally available renewable energy resources are necessary to reduce carbon emissions. This review analyzed and identified biomass feedstocks to produce liquid biofuels targeting tropical islands, particularly focusing on Hawaii as a case study. Transportation and energy generation sectors consume 25.5% and 11.6%, respectively, of Hawaii's imported fossil fuels. Various nonedible feedstocks with information on their availability, production, and average yields of oils, fiber, sugars, and lipid content for liquid biofuels production are identified to add value to the total energy mix. The available biomass conversion technologies and production costs are summarized. In addition, a section on potentially using sewage sludge to produce biodiesel is also included. Based on a comparative analysis of kamani, croton, pongamia, jatropha, energycane, Leucaena hybrid, gliricidia, and eucalyptus feedstock resources, this study proposes that Hawaii and other similar tropical regions can potentially benefit from growing and producing economical liquid biofuels locally, especially for the transportation and electricity generation sectors

scholarly journals A critical review of life cycle assessment studies of woody biomass conversion to sugars

2021 ◽  
Vol 379 (2206) ◽  
pp. 20200335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niamh Ryan ◽  
Polina Yaseneva
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Chemical Industry ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Woody Biomass ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Inventory Data ◽  
Biomass Fractionation

Woody biomass could potentially become a viable raw material for the future sustainable chemical industry. For this, a suitable regulatory framework must exist, that would create favourable economic conditions for wood biorefineries. Such policies must be developed on the basis of scientific evidence—in this case, data supporting the environmental advantages of the bio-based feedstocks to the chemical industry. The most suitable methodology for comprehensive evaluation of environmental performance of technologies is life cycle assessment (LCA). In this review, the available LCA studies of woody biomass fractionation and conversion to bulk chemical feedstocks are critically evaluated. It has been revealed that the majority of the openly available studies do not contain transparent inventory data and, therefore, cannot be verified or re-used; studies containing inventory data are reported in this review. The lack of inventory data also prevents comparison between studies of the same processes performed with different evaluation methods or using different system boundaries. Recommendations are proposed on how to overcome issues of commercial data sensitivity by using black-box modelling when reporting environmental information. From several comparable LCA studies, it has been concluded that today the most environmentally favourable technology for wood biomass fractionation is organosolv. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Bio-derived and bioinspired sustainable advanced materials for emerging technologies (part 1)’.

Performance of Screening Biomass Feedstocks Using Star and Deck Screen Machines

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heesung Woo ◽  
Han-Sup Han
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Wood Chips ◽  
Biomass Feedstocks ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Ground Material

Abstract. The most commonly traded forms of biomass energy feedstock are chipped (wood chips) and ground (hog fuel) materials. Of these two feedstocks, particle size distribution is one of the key characteristics that affect efficient feedstock handling and biomass conversion. This paper compares productivity and effectiveness of star screener and deck screeners in separating chipped and ground material. Both machines were set up to separate feedstock into three different size categories: unders (<10 mm), accepts (10-51 mm), and overs (>51 mm). Results from the study indicated that the star screener (62.61 and 50.95 tons/h) was more productive than the deck screener (26.80 and 15.63 tons/h) when separating wood chips and hog fuel. Also, there was additional cost to apply screening systems to distribute the size of the materials; $3.53/ton and $6.05/ton for deck screen with wood chips and hog fuel and $1.61/ton and $1.98/ton for star screen with wood chips and hog fuel. For size distribution of screened materials, the 13-mm size materials had the highest portion of the accept size class, and the 25-mm size materials were primarily found in the oversize class, and pan size materials (e.g., sawdust) had the highest portion of the under size class. The feedstock materials screened using star and deck screening machines still had size variations exceeding over or under sizes in the under, accept, and over size classes. To improve the quality of screened materials, definitions of the size (under, accept, and over) should to be further refined. Keywords: Biomass feedstock, Deck screen, Hog fuel, Size distribution, Star screen, Wood chips.

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