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Sugarcane bagasse (SB) is a widely available agro-industrial waste residue in China that has the potential to be converted into a cost-effective and renewable adsorbent. In this study, activated carbon (AC) was prepared from SB by microwave vacuum pyrolysis using H3PO4 as the activator. To enhance the sorption selectivity and yield, the pyrolysis process of SB-activated carbon (SBAC) should be well-designed. Central composite design was employed as an optimized experiment design, and response surface methodology was used to optimize the process parameters for maximized SBAC yield and its iodine number. The results showed that the optimized parameters obtained for the SBAC are 2.47 for the impregnation ratio (IR), 479.07 W for microwave power (MP), 23.86 mm for biomass bed depth, and 12.96 min for irradiation time, with responses of 868.7 mg/g iodine number and 43.88% yield. The anticipated outcomes were substantiated, revealing a marginal 5.4% variance in yield and a mere 1.9% discrepancy in iodine number from the forecasted values. The synthesized adsorbents underwent comprehensive characterization through instrumental methodologies, including FT-IR, BET, and SEM. The SBAC produced by the pyrolysis method contained a regular and homogeneous porous structure with a specific surface area of up to 1697.37 m2/g and a total 1.20 cm 3/g volume, which has favorable adsorption of toxic and harmful substances in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biofloc technology (BFT) system has been widely applied in the shrimp and fish culture industry for its advantages in water-saving, growth improvement, and water quality purification. However, The BFT system usually takes a long time to establish, and the extra carbon source input increases the maintenance cost of the system. In this study, we aimed to develop a low-cost and high-efficient BFT system for Litopenaeus vannamei by applying bacteria that could promote the formation of BFT and utilize cheap carbon sources. Three bioflocculant-producing bacteria strains (M13, M15, and M17) have been screened from a cellulolytic strain collection. All three strains have been identified as Bacillus spp. and can use sugarcane bagasse (SB) as a carbon source, which is a cheap byproduct of the sucrose industry in the tropic area of China. Compared to sucrose, the addition of SB and the three strains could improve the biofloc formation rate, biofloc size distribution, ammonia removal rate, and the growth performance of the shrimps. These results suggest that the bioflocculant and cellulase-producing bacteria strains could promote the biofloc formation and the growth of shrimps by using SB as an economic substitute carbon source in the BFT shrimp culture system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large amounts of plastic film residues in soil have posed a negative impact on the crops and environment. Alternatively, the sugarcane bagasse has widely been used as inexpensive, abundant, easily available, and sustainable raw material. In this study, a biodegradable film was developed to treat the sugarcane bagasse, in order to reduce the pollution of plastic film and the seasonal drought in the spring in Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau of South China. A Box-Behnken experiment was designed, where the sizing agent components of sodium silicate, soluble starch, and silicone oil content were chosen as the independent variables, whereas, the response values were the degradation rate, tensile strength, soil temperature, and soil moisture. Field experiments were conducted in the School of Modern Agricultural Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, China from September to November 2017, where ten mulching times (10, 19, 27, 34, 40, 45, 49, 52, 62, and 72 d) were designed. Taking the no film mulching as a control (CK), the influence of the film was determined on the degradation rate, tensile strength of two mulching modes, as well as soil temperature and moisture. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the fiber structure of biodegradation film under two mulching modes during the test period. A bagasse biodegradable film was verified to regulate the degradation cycle for the high soil temperature and moisture, particularly for the better soil environment of sowing in spring. The results showed that the degradation rate and the intensity of the underground film were higher than that of the surface film after 72 days of mulching, where the mass-loss rates of the two mulching modes were 86.41% and 70.44%, respectively. Under the surface biodegradable film mulching, the average degradation rate in test group 1 was the lowest during the entire degradation period, which was 20.1%. The tensile strength in the surface test groups decreased to 9.77-21.97 N/m after 72 days of degradation, whereas, the mechanical properties in the underground tests group were close to 0 N/m after 49 days. The fiber of the mulch film was outstandingly dispersed, where the short fibers were appeared in the SEM images, indicating an excellent consistence with the biodegradable film holes and the gradual decline in the quality during degradation. There was no significant difference in the daily accumulated temperature of the soil in the two mulching modes (P>0.05), compared with the CK, but the significant differences in the accumulated temperature of the soil in the morning, noon, and evening. In the case of ground surface mulching, the thermal preservation performance in test group 1 was the best, where the accumulated temperature in the morning and evening was higher by 6.1% and 5.4%, respectively, and that lower by 7.9% at noon, compared with the CK. The soil moisture content in each test group was significantly higher than that of the CK (P<0.05) during the entire experimental period. In addition, the water retention capacity in test group 1 was the highest. It infers that the capacity of water retention decreased with the degradation of biodegradable film. However, the soil water content in test group 1 was 11.36%, which was significantly higher by 158.77% than CK. To sum up, considering soil moisture, soil temperature, degradation rate of biodegradable film and tensile strength comprehensively, the sizing agent of test group 1 had the best performance among all test groups, and the contents of which were: sodium silicate 10%, soluble starch 20%, and silicone oil 15%. Therefore, the sugarcane bagasse biodegradable mulching film was feasible to increase the soil temperature and moisture, providing for promising application prospects in agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Integrating biomass energy generation with carbon capture will result in "carbon neutral" to "carbon negative" technology. Countries like India and China possess significant reserves of limestone. Calcium looping (CaL) technology can prove to be a promising option for carbon capture in these countries. The present work aims at improving the performance of CaL‐integrated biomass‐fired power plant (BFPP) by exploring different looping configurations. In this study, (i) standalone BFPP, (ii) conventional CaL (single stage), and (iii) double CaL‐integrated BFPP have been systematically evaluated. A comparative performance evaluation of these three plants in terms of energy, exergy and ecological assessment, has been carried out. A detailed parametric study and unit‐wise exergy analysis of the best configuration among the three are presented to identify the scope for further improvement in efficiency and energy savings. The assessment of sugarcane bagasse‐based energy generation with CO2 capture for India.Steady state simulation of double calcium looping‐integrated BFPP.Thermodynamic and ecological assessments of calcium looping‐integrated BFPP.Influence of carbonator temperature and organic fluid content on the performance of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 33 million tons of sugarcane bagasse are produced in China every year, and a large amount of this is wasted. Pelletization is an efficient method of utilizing excess bagasse. This study uses a specially designed pelletizing device to identify how process parameters and biomass characteristics affect the densification of sugarcane bagasse. We used four-factor Box-Behnken experimental design and response surface methodology (RSM) to predict pellet density, specific energy consumption, and the radial maximum pressure of bagasse pellets and how they were affected by temperature (100, 140, and 180 °C), feedstock moisture content (6, 9, and 12%), particle size (0.5, 1.0, and 1.4 mm), and holding time (2, 3, and 4 min). Our results demonstrated that both temperature and moisture content significantly affected all responses evaluated, and that these interactions significantly affected pellet density and specific energy consumption. Temperature is the crucial factor determining the quality of bagasse pellets. High temperatures (140–180 °C) resulted in homogeneous, smooth, and shiny pellet surfaces, which had no cracks. Scanning electron microscopy analysis demonstrated a close connection between fibers at high temperatures. Particle size affected all responses except pellet density, while the influence of holding time on pellet density and radial maximum pressure was significant. RSM models determined the following optimal parameters: temperature (180 °C), moisture content (9%), particle size (0.5 mm), and holding time (3 min). Under optimal conditions, the pellet density, specific energy consumption, and radial maximum pressure of sugarcane bagasse pellets could reach 1172 kg m−3, 7.1 kJ kg−1, and 2539.4 N, respectively. • The density of sugarcane bagasse pellets increased firstly and then decreased slightly as temperature rose from 100 to 180 °C. • Increase in temperature and moisture led to decrease in specific energy consumption of sugarcane bagasse pellets. • The interaction between temperature and moisture content strongly influenced properties of sugarcane bagasse pellets. • Scanning electron microscopy images showed a closer agglomeration of biomass particles at higher temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The pretreatment efficiency of SFUS was higher than FFUS. • Recommended conditions for SFUS + DES were 40 kHz, 60 min, ChCl-LA, 120 °C, 3 h. • The SFUS + DES pretreatment resulted in 85.62% LRR of SCB. • After SFUS + DES pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis of SCB yielded 86.76% glucose. • The hydrogen bonding of DES Cl- and lignin was responsible for lignin removal. Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is an abundant agricultural waste in China and the conversion of the waste into plethora of useful resources is very vital. To achieve this, fractionation of the waste is highly important in the biomass biorefinery. The present study aims at investigating the synergistic role of deep eutectic solvents (DES) with sweeping frequency ultrasound (SFUS) and fixed frequency ultrasound (FFUS) in the fractionation of SCB to enhance the enzymatic saccharification process. Therefore, the effects of ultrasound (US) and DES conditions on the pretreatment efficiency were investigated. Under optimum SCB pretreatment conditions, FFUS (40 kHz, 60 min) + DES (choline chloride (ChCl)-lactic acid (LA), 120 °C, 3 h) and SFUS (40 kHz, 60 min) + DES (ChCl-LA, 120 °C, 3 h), the lignin removal rates were 80.13 and 85.62%, respectively. The hemicellulose removal rates were 78.08 and 90.46%, respectively; and the contents of glucose, xylose and arabinose in the liquid fractions after FFUS + DES pretreatment were 7.07, 17.95 and 3.01%, respectively. However, the yield of glucose, xylose, and cellobiose after enzymatic hydrolysis of the SFUS + DES pretreated SCB were 86.76, 38.68, and 20.76%. Analytical studies revealed that the SFUS + DES pretreatment can effectively destroy the ultrastructure of SCB and reduce the crystallinity of cellulose. Furthermore, the mechanism of pretreatment with SFUS + DES was proposed, which confirmed the excellent performance of SFUS + DES. Thus, the application of SFUS + DES pretreatment was able to improve the removal of lignin and hemicellulose from SCBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]