BACKGROUND The lignocellulose biorefinery based on the sugar platform usually focuses on polysaccharide bioconversion, while lignin is only burned for energy recovery. Pyrolysis can provide a novel route for the efficient utilization of residual lignin obtained from the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose. The pyrolysis characteristics of residual lignin are usually significantly affected by...

The effects of different activated carbon (AC) catalysts based on various carbon sources on products yield and chemical compositions of upgraded pyrolysis oils were investigated using microwave pyrolysis of Douglas fir sawdust pellets. Results showed that high amounts of phenols were obtained (74.61% and 74.77% in the upgraded bio-oils by DARCO MRX (wood based) and DARCO 830 (lignite coal based...

The pyrolysis of hazelnut shell, polyethylene oxide and their blends were carried out catalytically at 500 and 650 oC. Potassium dichromate was chosen according to its oxidative characteristics and decomposition temperature (500 oC) where decomposition products are CrO3 and K2CrO4. As a main effect, a remarkable increase in gasification was observed using this catalyst for pure components and b...

With the rapid development of global economy, there is an ever-growing demand for energy. The excessive use of traditional fossil fuel exposes the human to multiple environmental issues. As a promising technology, thermochemical conversion of biomass is able to provide not only environmental-friendly substitute fuel, but also other value-added chemicals. However, the complex composition and poo...

Interest in recovering and valorizing agricultural biomass residues has increased in recent years in response to emerging economic opportunities and the potential for more sustainable use of renewable and nonrenewable resources. Agricultural crop residues are a major source of lignocellulose, with considerable potential for use as a renewable resource and lignin’s polyphenolic structure makes i...

Avoiding irreversible climate change requires >50% reduction in anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by the year 2050 and the net removal of GHGs from the atmosphere by the end of the 21st century. This challenge is particularly daunting given that energy derived from fossil fuels is at the core of all modern economies and some sectors of the economy, such as transportation, will be alm...

For a sustainable municipal sewage sludge management, not only the available technology, but also other parameters, such as policy regulations and socio-economic issues should be taken in account. In this study, the current status of both European and Greek Legislation on waste management, with a special insight in municipal sewage sludge, is presented. A SWOT analysis was further developed for...

This study investigated catalytic microwave pyrolysis of Douglas fir sawdust pellets using carbon catalysts produced from corn stover. The effects of catalyst to biomass ratio on the bio-oil, syngas, and biochar yields were determined. Functional groups (carbonyls, phenolics, lactones, carboxyls) of carbon catalysts and GC/MS analysis were used to study the catalytic pyrolysis of Douglas fir sa...

The environmental performance of industrial anaerobic digestion (AD), pyrolysis, and integrated system (AD sequence with pyrolysis) on food waste treatment were evaluated using life cycle assessment. The integrated treatment system indicated similar environmental benefits to AD with the highest benefits in climate change and water depletion in addition to the increased energy generation potenti...