Industrial Bioresource Engineering

Management of Waste Wood in the Energy and Fertilizer Industries. Case Study of Poland

2024-06-13T11:02:20+08:00

The energy transition requires the provision of stable energy production, which can be ensured by the production of energy from waste biomass. Physicochemical analysis was carried out and the heat of combustion was determined for 11 different tree species. The moisture content of the biomass was within wide limits: from 9.41% for elderberry to 43.92% for sweet cherries. In turn, the ash content ranged from 0.77% for pine to 3.58% for elderberry. The lowest heat of combustion was found for oak biomass: 18.82 MJ/kg, and the highest for pine: 21.23 MJ/kg. A fertilizer called phytoash obtained from biomass combustion contains large amounts of fertilizing calcium and magnesium and has an alkaline reaction. Phytoash can be used as fertilizer in the fertilizer industry on acidic soils in Poland. The largest amounts of calcium and magnesium for fertilizer purposes can be used in the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship (2,023 Mg/year and 2.86 Mg/year), the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship (1,625 Mg/year and 2.30 Mg/year), and the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship (1,612 Mg/year and 2.29 Mg/year) and Lubuskie Voivodeship (1,609 Mg/year and 2.28 Mg/year). Calculations indicate a fairly large energy potential from waste biomass, which allows its use in the energy mix or industry, e.g. food, in Poland. The calculated amount of electricity from waste biomass would cover Poland's needs by 6% and heat by 20%.

Instantaneous Agricultural Waste Valorisation: A Novel Approach to Sustainable Organic Fertilization for Enhanced Maize Yield in Comparison to NPK Fertilizer

2024-07-26T08:52:08+08:00

Inorganic fertilizers are known for their environmental harm, leading to a search for sustainable alternatives. Global population growth demands sustainable agriculture, yet dependence on synthetic fertilizers risks soil degradation, pollution, and climate change. In Nigeria, agricultural waste management is challenging, with most waste burned, increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This study explores converting agricultural residues into organic fertilizers, offering an eco-friendly alternative. The effects on maize growth were compared to NPK 20:10:5 and rabbit manure. Three unique organic fertilizers were synthesized from a blend of eleven types of residual dry plant biomass. Impressively, maize plants treated with this synthesized fertilizer reached a maximum height of 171.45 cm, outperforming both NPK fertilizer (134.0 cm) and rabbit manure (121.92 cm). Moreover, maize yield was significantly enhanced with the synthesized fertilizer, particularly with fertilizer C boasting a weight of 287.38 g. Notably, this fertilizer exhibited both rapid and slow nutrient release dynamics, with 11% thiourea incorporation yielding superior results. This study demonstrates that a small amount of organic fertilizer can yield more than NPK, contrary to other reports. This highlights the potential of using agricultural residues for organic fertilization, offering sustainable waste management and soil fertility improvement. Organic fertilizers can reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, decrease environmental pollution, and promote sustainable agriculture. They enhance crop yields while minimizing environmental impacts, providing a viable alternative for farmers in Nigeria and similar regions. Future research should optimize biofertilizer formulation and application methods for diverse agricultural settings.

Optimization of Continuous Granular Flow in a Helical Screw Induced Rotation Fluidized Bed Reactor: Cold Test Insights on Multi Parameter Control

2025-05-06T17:17:37+08:00

This study investigates the Residence Time Distribution (RTD) behavior in a Helical Screw Reactor (HSR) by analyzing key performance indicators, including Mean Residence Time (MRT), average outlet flow rate (Ave_out), and Reynolds number (N_Re). Using a structured Design of Experiments (DOE) approach integrated with Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the influence of Feed Rate Speed (FRS) and Helical Screw Rotation Speed (HSRS) on reactor behavior was statistically examined. Results reveal that FRS has a significant effect on Ave_out (F = 873.24, p < 0.0001), whereas HSRS shows negligible influence (p = 0.3673). Interaction effects (FRS × HSRS) were statistically insignificant (p = 0.5966). A notable quadratic effect was observed for FRS (F = 9.67, p = 0.0171), indicating nonlinearity in its influence on Ave_out. The MRT model was statistically significant (F = 4.55, p = 0.0363), confirming that the selected factors sufficiently explain MRT variability. N_Re was strongly impacted by experimental parameters (F = 132.66, p < 0.0001), highlighting their critical role in reactor hydrodynamics. Perturbation plots demonstrated MRT and N_Re high sensitivity to FRS variations compared to HSRS. Model validation through diagnostic plots (normal Q-Q and residuals vs. factors) confirmed good model fit and random error distribution. These findings underscore the capability to finetune HSR reactor performance by optimizing FRS and HSRS, thereby enhancing mass transfer, mixing efficiency, and biomass feed consistency in thermochemical applications. This predictive modeling approach offers a valuable optimization framework for advancing continuous biomass conversion systems and improving the sustainability and efficiency of energy processes.

Exploring Microwave Hydrodiffusion and Gravity as an Eco extraction Protocol for Phenolic Extraction from Lettuce: A Step Towards Green Sustainable Processes

2025-07-28T09:44:43+08:00

The current work portraits an innovative approach in the field of botanical extraction using a zero solvent concept of phenolic extraction by implementing microwave hydrodiffusion and the gravity method. Lactuca sativa leaves were used for phenolic extraction without using any solvent and firing microwave power at different power levels (170-510 W). Total phenolic content was chosen as the performance evaluation parameter. Results indicated that a 340 W power level using the Microwave Hydrodiffusion and Gravity (MHG) protocol, comprising of 20 min of microwaving, produced a highly enriched phenolic extract (3,436.55 µg GAE/g of dried extract) when compared to a 24 h Soxhlet extract (496.36 µg GAE/g of dried extract). Phenolic profiling also revealed the richness of the extract produced from the MHG protocol. Improved biological potency by more than 48% in terms of antioxidant activity was observed in the extract produced from MHG. High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) chromatograms revealed no formation of any undesirable adduct as well. The work is an innovative attempt in the field of green sustainable processes, which is the need of the hour for industries.

Scale-Up and Enzymatic Characterization of Trichoderma koningiopsis Fermented on a Microalgal Consortium from Domestic Sewage Treatment

2025-12-02T16:31:03+08:00

The increasing demographic growth and urbanization pose significant challenges for sanitation and pollution control. This study evaluated the feasibility of scaling up a fermentation process using microalgae cultivated in domestic sewage as a substrate and Trichoderma koningiopsis as the fermentative agent to produce enzymes of environmental relevance. Microalgae were grown in wastewater from the Candeia Sewage Treatment Plant (Bauru, SP, Brazil), and fermentations were carried out at both small and bench-scale, the latter conducted in an airlift bioreactor under previously optimized conditions. The methodology involved characterizing the microalgal biomass and quantifying a broad enzymatic profile. The results showed that Trichoderma koningiopsis effectively utilized biomass as a substrate, thereby promoting enzyme production. The transition to large-scale production was positive, maintaining significant enzyme production and validating the robustness of the process under expanded conditions. Among the enzymes evaluated (amylase, cellulase, lipase, protease, peroxidase, laccase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide reductase), catalase exhibited the highest activity, reaching 7,344.83 U/mL in condition C1. These findings confirm that microalgal biomass derived from domestic wastewater is a viable resource for biotechnological applications, supporting the development of sustainable, scalable processes for producing industrial enzymes.

Modeling and Optimization of Solar-Powered Pyrolysis Reactor for Plastic Waste Conversion into Valuable Products

2026-01-27T16:01:59+08:00

The conversion of plastic waste into useful fuels and chemicals can mitigate landfill accumulation while offsetting fossil-derived energy demand. This study develops a low-cost solar-thermal approach for providing the high process temperatures required for plastic pyrolysis by modelling, fabricating, and experimentally evaluating a parabolic dish concentrator integrated with solar tracking. A theoretical framework is presented for solar radiation capture, concentrator geometry, concentration ratio, and receiver heat-loss-based thermal performance, alongside efficiency metrics commonly used to assess plastic-to-oil conversion (waste-reduction efficiency, conversion efficiency, and oil recovery). A prototype parabolic dish (rim angle 45°) was designed with key geometric parameters, including a 0.61 m diameter, a 0.06 m focal point, and an estimated concentration ratio of 100, selected to accommodate low-cost reflector materials. Three reflector preferences, including a Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) mirror, an emergency blanket, and a conventional mirror, were tested under comparable conditions using a dual-axis tracking structure. Experimental outcomes demonstrate that the dishes can achieve very high focal temperatures (up to ~ 817 °C for the emergency blanket and ~ 807 °C for the mirror configuration in the reported dataset), with maximum thermal power on the order of 361-389 W across configurations. When techno-economic indicators are included, the emergency blanket reflector exhibits the most favourable practicality, yielding the lowest mass-to-heat-power ratio (1.04 × 10^-3 kg·W^-1) and cost to-heat-power ratio (1.41 THB·W^-1). These results support the feasibility of lightweight, low-cost solar concentrators as a heat source for decentralised plastic waste pyrolysis. This study provides an experimental comparison of low-cost reflective materials and identifies key design considerations for lightweight solar parabolic dish concentrators.

Cottonseed Oil Biodiesel: Production, Properties, Engine Performance, Emissions, Tribological, and Life Cycle Assessment

2025-11-24T17:17:33+08:00

The growing depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the environmental impacts of their use in internal combustion engines have accelerated the search for cleaner, renewable alternatives. Biodiesel has emerged as a promising candidate; however, many feedstocks still face challenges related to production methods, engine performance, emissions, and tribological compatibility. Cottonseed oil has attracted increasing attention as a sustainable and efficient biodiesel feedstock. This review highlights the major production techniques applicable to cottonseed oil biodiesel and evaluates its physicochemical properties, which conform to international American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and European Norms (EN) standards. Studies have shown that cottonseed oil biodiesel blends offer improved environmental performance, with reduced emissions of Carbon monoxide (CO), Hydrocarbons (HC), and smoke opacity, although slightly elevated Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions are observed. Engine performance metrics such as Brake-Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) and Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) are analyzed and compared with those of petroleum diesel, revealing the potential for optimization. Moreover, the high content of unsaturated fatty acids in cottonseed oil contributes to enhanced tribological properties, which may extend the engine component life. In addition, studies indicate that Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a key tool for analyzing cottonseed biodiesel as a renewable energy source. Overall, cottonseed oil biodiesel has strong potential as a renewable, low-emission fuel with improved lubrication characteristics, making it a viable alternative for use in existing internal combustion engines.

Red Algae Phycocolloids: Functional Properties and Emerging Applications

2026-01-21T11:15:08+08:00

Phycocolloids obtained from red seaweeds, such as agar, carrageenan, and other sulphated polysaccharides, are increasingly valued for their diverse functionalities and broad industrial relevance. These ocean-derived biopolymers possess distinctive molecular structures and biological activities, making them suitable for applications across the food industry, medicine, cosmetics, and biomedical fields. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge on red algae phycocolloids, beginning with their biological origin, biosynthetic pathways, and ecological roles. It highlights recent advances in extraction and purification technologies, with a focus on improving yield, safety, and environmental sustainability. The review also explores emerging applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and green technologies, underscoring their potential in sustainable innovation. Key challenges, including regulatory constraints, scalability, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, are discussed, along with future directions for research and industrial development. This work aims to support the strategic integration of red algae phycocolloids into next-generation biotechnological solutions.