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Renewable Energy, Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024 | Viewed by 6543

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhuozhi Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
Interests: biomass upgradation; solid waste; thermal conversion; co-utilization; carbon-neutral fuel
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Boxiong Shen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
Interests: solid waste; NOx reduction; petroleum engineering; catalyst characterization; SCR
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The emphasis of this Special Issue, titled “Renewable Energy, Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass”, is on exploring the diverse applications of chemistry in the deriving of renewable energy, fuels, and chemicals from biomass resources.

Key themes:

  1. Advanced biomass conversion technologies: using efficient methodologies (such as catalysis, pyrolysis, and torrefaction) to convert a variety of biomass into renewable energy, fuels, and high-value chemicals;
  2. Biofuel synthesis: innovations in the production of renewable biofuels, including bioethanol, biodiesel, and novel bio-based fuels, and other sustainable energy;
  3. Catalytic processes for biomass transformation: investigating catalytic pathways that can transform biomass components into valuable chemicals;
  4. Biotechnological advancements: emphasizing the role of biotechnology in enabling sustainable biomass transformations, including enzyme engineering, the metabolic pathway, and synthetic biology applications.

We welcome researchers in this field to contribute original research, reviews, and communications that push the boundaries of our knowledge about deriving renewable energy, fuels, and chemicals from biomass. This Special Issue provides a platform for addressing challenges and presenting breakthroughs in the chemistry of biomass conversion. 

Dr. Zhuozhi Wang
Prof. Dr. Boxiong Shen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomass conversion technologies
  • renewable energy
  • biofuel synthesis
  • catalytic biomass transformation
  • bioethanol
  • biodiesel
  • green/sustainable chemistry
  • biotechnological applications

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1831 KiB  
Article
Insights into the Synergistic Effect and Inhibition Mechanism of Composite Conditioner on Sulfur-Containing Gases during Sewage Sludge Pyrolysis
by Shan Cheng, Lianghui Chen, Shaoshuo Wang, Kehui Yao and Hong Tian
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4110; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174110 - 29 Aug 2024
Viewed by 319
Abstract
Sewage sludge odorous gas release is a key barrier to resource utilization, and conditioners can mitigate the release of sulfur-containing gases. The gas release characteristics and sulfur compound distribution in pyrolysis products under both single and composite conditioning strategies of CaO, Fe2 [...] Read more.
Sewage sludge odorous gas release is a key barrier to resource utilization, and conditioners can mitigate the release of sulfur-containing gases. The gas release characteristics and sulfur compound distribution in pyrolysis products under both single and composite conditioning strategies of CaO, Fe2O3, and FeCl3 were investigated. This study focused on the inhibition mechanisms of these conditioners on sulfur-containing gas emissions and compared the theoretical and experimental sulfur content in the products to evaluate the potential synergistic effects of the composite conditioners. The findings indicated that at 650 °C, CaO, Fe2O3, and FeCl3 inhibited H2S release by 35.8%, 23.2%, and 9.1%, respectively. Notably, the composite of CaO with FeCl3 at temperatures ranging from 350 to 450 °C and the combination of Fe2O3 with FeCl3 at 650 °C were found to exert synergistic suppression on H2S emissions. The strongly alkaline CaO inhibited the metathesis reaction between HCl, a decomposition product of FeCl3, and the sulfur-containing compounds within the sewage sludge, thereby exerting a synergistic suppression on the emission of H2S. Conversely, at temperatures exceeding 550 °C, the formation of Ca-Fe compounds, such as FeCa2O4, appeared to diminish the sulfur-fixing capacity of the conditioners, resulting in increased H2S emissions. For instance, the combination of CaO and FeCl3 at 450 °C was found to synergistically reduce H2S emissions by 56.3%, while the combination of CaO and Fe2O3 at 650 °C synergistically enhances the release of H2S by 23.6%. The insights gained from this study are instrumental in optimizing the pyrolysis of sewage sludge, aiming to minimize its environmental footprint and enhance the efficiency of resource recovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy, Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass)
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18 pages, 2891 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Combustion and NO/SO2 Emission Characteristics during the Co-Combustion Process of Torrefied Biomass and Lignite
by Xu Yang, Wenkun Zhu, Zhaoming Li, Li Xu, Shujun Zhu, Jilin Tian, Zhuozhi Wang and Boxiong Shen
Molecules 2024, 29(12), 2728; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122728 - 7 Jun 2024
Viewed by 619
Abstract
This paper investigates the combustion characteristics and pollutant emission patterns of the mixed combustion of lignite (L) and torrefied pine wood (TPW) under different blending ratios. Isothermal combustion experiments were conducted in a fixed bed reaction system at 800 °C, and pollutant emission [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the combustion characteristics and pollutant emission patterns of the mixed combustion of lignite (L) and torrefied pine wood (TPW) under different blending ratios. Isothermal combustion experiments were conducted in a fixed bed reaction system at 800 °C, and pollutant emission concentrations were measured using a flue gas analyzer. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and BET (nitrogen adsorption) experiments, it was found that torrefied pine wood (TPW) has a larger specific surface area and a more developed pore structure, which can facilitate more complete combustion of the sample. The results of the non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis show that with the TPW blending ratio increase, the entire combustion process advances, and the ignition temperature, maximum peak temperature, and burnout temperature all show a decreasing trend. The kinetic equations of the combustion reaction process of mixed gas were calculated by Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) kinetic equations. The results show that the blending of TPW reduces the activation energy of the combustion reaction of the mixed fuel. When the TPW blending ratio is 80%, the activation energy values of the mixed fuel are the lowest at 111.32 kJ/mol and 104.87 kJ/mol. The abundant alkali metal ions and porous structure in TPW reduce the conversion rates of N and S elements in the fuel to NO and SO2, thus reducing the pollutant emissions from the mixed fuel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy, Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass)
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15 pages, 3179 KiB  
Article
Reactive Force Field Molecular Dynamics Investigation of NH3 Generation Mechanism during Protein Pyrolysis Process
by Shuai Guo, Yu Wang, Shujun Zhu, Hongwei Qu, Deng Zhao, Xingcan Li and Yan Zhao
Molecules 2024, 29(9), 2016; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29092016 - 27 Apr 2024
Viewed by 733
Abstract
The mechanism of ammonia formation during the pyrolysis of proteins in biomass is currently unclear. To further investigate this issue, this study employed the AMS 2023.104 software to select proteins (actual proteins) as the model compounds and the amino acids contained within them [...] Read more.
The mechanism of ammonia formation during the pyrolysis of proteins in biomass is currently unclear. To further investigate this issue, this study employed the AMS 2023.104 software to select proteins (actual proteins) as the model compounds and the amino acids contained within them (assembled amino acids) as the comparative models. ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to explore the nitrogen transformation and NH3 generation mechanisms in three-phase products (char, tar, and gas) during protein pyrolysis. The research results revealed several key findings. Regardless of whether the model compounds are actual proteins or assembled amino acids, NH3 is the primary nitrogen-containing product during pyrolysis. However, as the temperature rises to higher levels, such as 2000 K and 2500 K, the amount of NH3 decreases significantly in the later stages of pyrolysis, indicating that it is being converted into other nitrogen-bearing species, such as HCN and N2. Simultaneously, we also observed significant differences between the pyrolysis processes of actual proteins and assembled amino acids. Notably, at 2000 K, the amount of NH3 generated from the pyrolysis of assembled amino acids was twice that of actual proteins. This discrepancy mainly stems from the inherent structural differences between proteins and amino acids. In proteins, nitrogen is predominantly present in a network-like structure (NH-N), which shields it from direct external exposure, thus requiring more energy for nitrogen to participate in pyrolysis reactions, making it more difficult for NH3 to form. Conversely, assembled amino acids can release NH3 through a simpler deamination process, leading to a significant increase in NH3 production during their pyrolysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy, Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass)
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18 pages, 4982 KiB  
Article
An Optimized Method for Evaluating the Preparation of High-Quality Fuel from Various Types of Biomass through Torrefaction
by Shuai Guo, Xiaoyan Deng, Deng Zhao, Shujun Zhu, Hongwei Qu, Xingcan Li and Yan Zhao
Molecules 2024, 29(8), 1889; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29081889 - 21 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1165
Abstract
The pretreatment for torrefaction impacts the performance of biomass fuels and operational costs. Given their diversity, it is crucial to determine the optimal torrefaction conditions for different types of biomass. In this study, three typical solid biofuels, corn stover (CS), agaric fungus bran [...] Read more.
The pretreatment for torrefaction impacts the performance of biomass fuels and operational costs. Given their diversity, it is crucial to determine the optimal torrefaction conditions for different types of biomass. In this study, three typical solid biofuels, corn stover (CS), agaric fungus bran (AFB), and spent coffee grounds (SCGs), were prepared using fluidized bed torrefaction. The thermal stability of different fuels was extensively discussed and a novel comprehensive fuel index, “displacement level”, was analyzed. The functional groups, pore structures, and microstructural differences between the three raw materials and the optimally torrefied biochar were thoroughly characterized. Finally, the biomass fuel consumption for household heating and water supply was calculated. The results showed that the optimal torrefaction temperatures for CS, AFB, and SCGs were 240, 280, and 280 °C, respectively, with comprehensive quality rankings of the optimal torrefied biochar of AFB (260) > SCG (252) > CS (248). Additionally, the economic costs of the optimally torrefied biochar were reduced by 7.03–19.32%. The results indicated that the displacement level is an index universally applicable to the preparation of solid fuels through biomass torrefaction. AFB is the most suitable solid fuel to be upgraded through torrefaction and has the potential to replace coal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy, Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass)
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17 pages, 3997 KiB  
Article
Turn Waste Golden Tide into Treasure: Bio-Adsorbent Synthesis for CO2 Capture with K2FeO4 as Catalytic Oxidative Activator
by Huijuan Ying, Chenglin Jia, Ganning Zeng and Ning Ai
Molecules 2024, 29(6), 1345; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29061345 - 18 Mar 2024
Viewed by 839
Abstract
Converting Sargassum horneri (SH)—a harmful marine stranding that can cause golden tide—to highly porous bio-adsorbent material (via one-step catalytic oxidative pyrolysis with K2FeO4) can be a strategically useful method for obtaining low-cost materials suitable for CO2 capture. In [...] Read more.
Converting Sargassum horneri (SH)—a harmful marine stranding that can cause golden tide—to highly porous bio-adsorbent material (via one-step catalytic oxidative pyrolysis with K2FeO4) can be a strategically useful method for obtaining low-cost materials suitable for CO2 capture. In this manuscript, the behavior of different mass ratios of K2FeO4/SH precursor acting on the surface physicochemical properties of carbon materials are reported. The results suggest that specific surface area and total pore volume first increased to the mass ratio of K2FeO4/carbon precursor, then decreased. Among the samples prepared, the highest specific surface area was obtained with a K2FeO4/SH precursor ratio of 1:4 (25%-ASHC), and the CO2 adsorption performance was significantly increased and faster compared with the original biochar. The fitted values of the three kinetic models showed that the double exponential model provided the best description of carbon adsorption, indicating both physical and chemical adsorption; 25%-ASHC also exhibited excellent cyclic stability. The improved CO2 adsorption performance observed after K2FeO4 activation is mainly due to the increase in material porosity, specific surface area, and the enrichment of nitrogen and oxygen functional groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy, Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass)
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13 pages, 4274 KiB  
Article
Exploring Deactivation Reasons of Biomass-Based Phosphorus-Doped Carbon as a Metal-Free Catalyst in the Catalytic Dehydroaromatization of n-Heptane
by Fei Yu, Siyuan Liu and Bo Liu
Molecules 2024, 29(6), 1288; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29061288 - 14 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 839
Abstract
Catalytic dehydroaromatization of n-alkanes into high-value aromatics has garnered extensive interest from both academia and industry. Our group has previously reported that phosphorus-doped carbon materials exhibit high selectivity for C-H bond activation in the dehydroaromatization of n-hexane. In this study, using [...] Read more.
Catalytic dehydroaromatization of n-alkanes into high-value aromatics has garnered extensive interest from both academia and industry. Our group has previously reported that phosphorus-doped carbon materials exhibit high selectivity for C-H bond activation in the dehydroaromatization of n-hexane. In this study, using n-heptane as a probe, we synthesized biomass-based phosphorus-doped carbon catalysts to investigate the impact of hydrogen heat treatment and carbon deposition on catalyst structure. Despite achieving an initial conversion of n-heptane at approximately 99.6%, with a toluene selectivity of 87.9%, the catalyst activity fell quickly. Moreover, longer hydrogen treatment time and higher hydrogen concentrations were found to accelerate catalyst deactivation. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and N2 adsorption measurements (BET) indicated that a small amount of coke deposition was not the primary cause of catalyst deactivation. Temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia gas (NH3-TPD) revealed a significant decrease in acid-active functional groups. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and solid-state 31P NMR spectroscopy confirmed the reduction of active central phosphorus species. These results suggest that catalyst deactivation primarily arises from the decrease in acidity and the partial reduction of phosphorus-containing groups, leading to a substantial loss of active sites. This work contributes new perspectives to understanding the properties and design improvements of metal-free carbon catalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy, Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass)
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Review

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11 pages, 990 KiB  
Review
Release Pattern of Light Aromatic Hydrocarbons during the Biomass Roasting Process
by Yaying Zhao, Yuqing Yan, Yuhang Jiang, Yang Cao, Zhuozhi Wang, Jiapeng Li, Chenshuai Yan, Danya Wang, Lu Yuan and Guangbo Zhao
Molecules 2024, 29(6), 1188; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29061188 - 7 Mar 2024
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 1129
Abstract
Roasting is an important step in the pretreatment of biomass upgrading. Roasting can improve the fuel quality of biomass, reduce the O/C and H/C ratios in the biomass, and provide the biomass with a fuel quality comparable to that of lignite. Therefore, studying [...] Read more.
Roasting is an important step in the pretreatment of biomass upgrading. Roasting can improve the fuel quality of biomass, reduce the O/C and H/C ratios in the biomass, and provide the biomass with a fuel quality comparable to that of lignite. Therefore, studying the structure and component evolution laws during biomass roasting treatment is important for the rational and efficient utilization of biomass. When the roasting temperature is 200–300 °C, the cellulose and hemicellulose in the biomass undergo a depolymerization reaction, releasing many monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with high reactivity. The proportion of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in biomass roasting products can be effectively regulated by controlling the reaction temperature, residence time, catalyst, baking atmosphere, and other factors in the biomass roasting process. This paper focuses on the dissociation law of organic components in the pretreatment process of biomass roasting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy, Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass)
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