Process optimization for the production of biodiesel from Azolla Microphylla oil and its fuel characterization

The most competent and operative use of renewable feedstock is super critical for the production of biodiesel which has increased attention worldwide pertaining to aquatic fern Azolla. Maximizing the biodiesel yield by optimizing the process parameters of the low-frequency ultrasonic energy-assisted transesterification process of Azolla oil is the need of the hour for minimizing the production cost of biodiesel. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied using central composite rotatable design (CCRD) to find the best optimum reaction parameters for this transesterification process. The optimized reaction parameters arrived from the design of experiments were as following: methanol/Azolla oils molar ratio (A) = 6.49 mole/mole, KOH catalyst concentration (B) = 1.69 (weight% of oil), reactiion time (C) = 34.74 min and reaction temperature (D) = 38.87°C. The best higher theoretical predicted Azolla Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) yield was Y = 99.76% which is in well coincidence with the actual yield. The extracted Azolla biodiesel was tested for various fuel properties with standard test procedures and found to be in agreement with various Biodiesel standards and the results are promising in terms of utilizing Azolla oil as an inexhaustible and potentially economical source of biodiesel.

Electrification of a Milstein-type Catalyst for Alcohol Reformation

Novel energy and atom efficiency processes will be keys to develop the sustainable chemical industry of the future. Electrification could play an important role, by allowing to fine-tune energy input and using the ideal redox agent: the electron. Here we demonstrate that a commercially available Milstein ruthenium cata-lyst (1) can be used to promote the electrochemical oxidation of ethanol to ethyl acetate and acetate, thus demonstrating the four electron oxidation under preparative conditions. Cyclic voltammetry and DFT-calculations are used to devise a possible catalytic cycle based on a thermal chemical step generating the key hydride intermediate. Successful electrification of Milstein-type catalysts opens pathway to use alcohols as renewable feedstock for the generation of esters and other key building blocks in organic chemistry, thus contributing to increase energy efficiency in organic redox chemistry.

Integral Analysis of Liquid-Hot-Water Pretreatment of Wheat Straw: Evaluation of the Production of Sugars, Degradation Products, and Lignin

Developing sustainable biorefineries is an urgent matter to support the transition to a sustainable society. Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) is a crucial renewable feedstock for this purpose, and its complete valorization is essential for the sustainability of biorefineries. However, it is improbable that a single pretreatment will extract both sugars and lignin from LCB. Therefore, a combination of pretreatments must be applied. Liquid-hot-water (LHW) is highlighted as a pretreatment for hemicellulose hydrolysis, conventionally analyzed only in terms of sugars and degradation products. However, lignin is also hydrolyzed in the process. The objective of this work was to evaluate LHW at different conditions for sugars, degradation products, and lignin. We performed LHW at 160, 180, and 200 °C for 30, 60, and 90 min using wheat straw and characterized the extract for sugars, degradation products (furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, and acetic acid), and lignin. Three conditions allowed reaching similar total sugar concentrations (~12 g/L): 160 °C for 90 min, 180 °C for 30 min, and 180 °C for 60 min. Among these, LHW performed at 160 °C for 90 min allowed the lowest concentration of degradation products (0.2, 0.01, and 1.4 g/L for furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, and acetic acid, respectively) and lignin hydrolysis (2.2 g/L). These values indicate the potential use of the obtained sugars as a fermentation substrate while leaving the lignin in the solid phase for a following stage focused on its extraction and valorization.

Feedstock: A Solution to Energy and Environment Sustainability

Background: Scarcity of resources, the energy crisis, environmental pollution and climate change are the central challenges that people will have to face in the years to come. Nowadays, agricultural, food and industrial waste is generated in large quantities, which poses a serious problem in its management and disposal. Objective: Feedstocks play a vital role in solving energy and environmental problems. All renewable, biological substances that are used directly as fuel or converted into another form of energy or fuel products are referred to as feedstocks. Biomass is also a clean and renewable feedstock option; also be an excellent alternative to conventional fuels. Method: Renewable fuels are cleaner than traditional coal and petroleum, which reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Various methods could be used to achieve sustainable development methods that not only lead to better waste management. Nevertheless, they could also generate industrially important materials, chemicals, fuels and valuable end products from waste. Results: This review provides an overview of the global scenario for the feedstock. In addition, this paper examines the role of feedstocks in solving energy and environmental issues. Conclusion: This paper sheds light on the issue of environmental impact in order to achieve overall sustainability. Finally, the merits of the feedstock technology prospects were addressed.

Biogas Production: Evaluation and Possible Applications

Biogas is an excellent example of renewable feedstock for energy production enabling closure of the carbon cycle by photosynthesis of the existing vegetation, without charging the atmosphere with excessive carbon dioxide. The present review contains traditional as well as new methods for the preparation of raw materials for biogas production. These methods are compared by the biogas yield and biogas content with the possible applications. Various fields of biogas utilization are discussed. They are listed from simple heating, electricity production by co-generation, fuel cell applications to catalytic conversions for light fuel production by the Fischer-Tropsch process. The aspects of carbon dioxide recycling reaching methane production are considered too.

Development of Sustainable Catalytic Pathways for Furan Derivatives

Biomass, the only globally available, renewable feedstock of organic carbon, is considered a viable alternative to fossil fuels. It can be efficiently utilized to produce various building blocks in accordance with green and sustainable chemistry principles. In this review, recent progress, such as the transformation of carbohydrates (C5 or C6 sugar, inulin, and cellulose) and their derivatives (furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural) into significant platform chemicals over polyoxometalates, zeolites, non-noble metals, and ionic liquids in single or multiphase, is evaluated.

Overview of lignocellulolytic enzyme systems with special reference to valorization of lignocellulosic biomass

: Lignocellulosic biomass, one of the most valuable natural resources, is abundantly present on earth. Being a renewable feedstock, it harbors a great potential to be exploited as a raw material, to produce various value-added products. Lignocellulolytic microorganisms hold a unique position regarding the valorization of lignocellulosic biomass as they contain efficient enzyme systems capable of degrading this biomass. The ubiquitous nature of these microorganisms and their survival under extreme conditions have enabled their use as an effective producer of lignocellulolytic enzymes with improved biochemical features crucial to industrial bioconversion processes. These enzymes can prove to be an exquisite tool when it comes to the eco-friendly manufacturing of value-added products using waste material. This review focuses on highlighting the significance of lignocellulosic biomass, microbial sources of lignocellulolytic enzymes and their use in the formation of useful products.

A novel application of an aquaculture waste-derived nanocomposite as a sealant

The use of renewable resources has been gaining interest due to their high economic benefits. They are attractive as a sustainable alternative to conventional resources for producing useful and valuable materials. The paper focuses on using a composite of graphene-oxide and chitosan, an aquaculture waste-derived material, as a renewable feedstock for producing a sealant for healing micro-cracks in concrete. The sealant named Eco-Nanoseal is well characterised, and its interaction with concrete is studied. A possible binding mechanism of Eco-Nanoseal with concrete is also proposed. The nanofibrous film-forming composite can solidify in the concrete environment quickly without any external polymerising agent. The quick ability to form a solid plug and strong bonding with concrete surface makes Eco-Nano seal a potential candidate for healing micro-cracks in concrete. The novel application is demonstrated well in M25 grade concrete cube specimens. With low environmental factor (E-factor) and process mass intensity (PMI) values of 0.05 and nearly 1, respectively, the Eco-Nanoseal complies the critical parameters of materials’ sustainability indices. The Eco-Nanoseal is a promising and environmentally-friendly alternative to synthetic polymer-based adhesives.

Recent Advances in Biotechnological Itaconic Acid Production, and Application for a Sustainable Approach

Intense research has been conducted to produce environmentally friendly biopolymers obtained from renewable feedstock to substitute fossil-based materials. This is an essential aspect for implementing the circular bioeconomy strategy, expressly declared by the European Commission in 2018 in terms of “repair, reuse, and recycling”. Competent carbon-neutral alternatives are renewable biomass waste for chemical element production, with proficient recyclability properties. Itaconic acid (IA) is a valuable platform chemical integrated into the first 12 building block compounds the achievement of which is feasible from renewable biomass or bio-wastes (agricultural, food by-products, or municipal organic waste) in conformity with the US Department of Energy. IA is primarily obtained through fermentation with Aspergillus terreus, but nowadays several microorganisms are genetically engineered to produce this organic acid in high quantities and on different substrates. Given its trifunctional structure, IA allows the synthesis of various novel biopolymers, such as drug carriers, intelligent food packaging, antimicrobial biopolymers, hydrogels in water treatment and analysis, and superabsorbent polymers binding agents. In addition, IA shows antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activity. Moreover, this biopolymer retains qualities like environmental effectiveness, biocompatibility, and sustainability. This manuscript aims to address the production of IA from renewable sources to create a sustainable circular economy in the future. Moreover, being an essential monomer in polymer synthesis it possesses a continuous provocation in the biopolymer chemistry domain and technologies, as defined in the present review.