Pyrolysis of Furfural Residues and Possible Utilization Pathway

The manuscript attempts to understand the evolution of NOx precursors: NH3 and HCN from Pyrolysis of furfural residue (FR). The pyrolysis process was carried out in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) coupled to Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The combination revealed insightful information on the evolution of NH3 and HCN. This could help us better understand the characteristics of FR derived from furfural production especially with regard to NH3 and HCN. Nitrogen is considered a minor component in biomass wastes; in this study nitrogen content is about 0.57%. However, the pollution potential poised by low nitrogen content is huge through both direct and indirect processes. Thus, this study presents results that were found with regard to FR pyrolysis in pure nitrogen environment. At the heating rate of 40°C/min−1, the only NOx precursor detected was HCN at 713 cm−1 as per the database provided by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NH3 was not detected. The particle size of FR used ranged between 0.15–0.25 mm.

Furfural residues as soil amendments for long-term seed corn production: effects on community composition and diversity of rhizosphere microbiota

Furfural residues’ s influence on maize rhizosphere microbiota subjected to long-term monocropping is poorly understood. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was employed to investigate the rhizosphere microbiota composition and its variation under long-term field monocropping for maize seed production. The results showed that unplanted, chemical fertilizer (only) treated soil, and furfural residue treated soil as well as seasonal soil batches recruited distinct rhizosphere microbiota. Microbial community diversity increased, and many operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were induced in the rhizosphere soil. Maize plants grown under field conditions were preferentially colonized by Ascomycota and Zygomycota in the unplanted soil, Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota in chemical fertilizer-treated soil, and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota in frufural residue-treated soil. Some potential pathogens, such as Alternaria, Trichocladium, Bipolaris, Solicoccozyma and Cladosporium were not detected, while beneficial microbes, such as Penicillium, Schizothecium and Rhizophlyctis were present. Acidobacteria and Bacteroidetes increased, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes decreased in furfural residue treated soil. The core bacteria detected after long-term cropping were MND1, RB41, UTCFX1, Nitrospira, Cellvibrio, Adhaeribacter etc. The relative abundances of Clostridium, Pseudarthrobacter and Roseiflexus decreased; Haliangium, Nitrospira and MND1 increased; Pirellula, Ellin6067 and Luteimonas reduced in different seasonal soil batches. Amendment with furfural residue promoted the development of beneficial microbes and decreased the abundance of pathogens after different continuous cropping years. The amendment increased cellulose-degrading and complex carbon-decomposing microbes, decreased the number of reductive substance-decomposing microbes, which led to microbial community structure shift over time. Amendment with furfural residue improved the rhizosphere environment, which will in turn improve plant growth. Furfural residue can be used as a soil amendment to control soil-borne diseases and to establish beneficial soil microbes.ImportanceContinuous monoculture of maize seed production led to reduction in plant nutrient absorption, destruction of soil structure, high incidence of soil-borne plant diseases, and decrease in crop yield. Traditional organic fertilizers are either unavailable or unbalanced for intensive cultivation. Furfural residues are acidic and carbon-rich making it a promising organic alternative to chemical fertilizers to improve seed corn production. Amendment with furfural residue may promote the microbiota in rhizosphere soil. In addition, the amendment may increase cellulose-degrading and complex carbon-decomposing microbes, which led to a shift in microbial community structure over time. Amendment with furfural residue may improve the rhizosphere environment, which will in turn improve plant growth, control soil-borne diseases and establish beneficial soil microbes.