Search

Modification of lignin in feedstocks via genetic engineering aims to reduce biomass recalcitrance to facilitate efficient conversion processes. These improvements can be achieved by expressing exogenous enzymes that interfere with native biosynthetic pathways responsible for the production of the lignin precursors. In planta expression of a bacterial 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase in poplar trees reduced lignin content and altered the monomer composition, which enabled higher yields of sugars after cell wall polysaccharide hydrolysis. Understanding how plants respond to such genetic modifications at the transcriptional and metabolic levels is needed to facilitate further improvement and field deployment. In this work, we acquired fundamental knowledge on lignin-modified poplar expressing 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase using RNA-seq and metabolomics. The data clearly demonstrate that changes in gene expression and metabolite abundance can occur in a strict spatiotemporal fashion, revealing tissue-specific responses in the xylem, phloem, or periderm. In the poplar line that exhibited the strongest reduction in lignin, we found that 3% of the transcripts had altered expression levels and ~19% of the detected metabolites had differential abundance in the xylem from older stems. The changes affected predominantly the shikimate and phenylpropanoid pathways as well as secondary cell wall metabolism, and resulted in significant accumulation of hydroxybenzoates derived from protocatechuate and salicylate.

With the expansion in agro-industrial operations there is an urgent need to solve the challenge of dealing with the products waste. Today, an overwhelming portion of this waste ends up in industrial waste disposal sites. Wherefore, anaerobic co-digestion (ACoD) emerges as an effective technique for waste treatment, being environmentally and economically viable, since a microbial community converts by-products into renewable energy in the form of biogas, with high levels of hydrogen and other gases. ACoD has proven effective in the management of organic waste from agro-industry. However, mastering the biochemistry of the process, especially when varying the mixtures of waste used, is essential for controlling biological reactors and optimizing energy production. Even though separate studies have evaluated the anaerobic digestion of rice parboiling effluent and peach processing residue, co-digestion of both are scarcely investigated. The knowledge and mastery of the process parameters using this mixture are essential to ensure effective operational control of anaerobic reactors with maximum energy generation. Therefore, this research evaluated the biogas production from ACoD of rice parboiling effluent and waste of peaches processing. The experiment followed a batch regime based on a 22-factorial arrangement. The factors used were the peach percentage in the substrate (P), which varied from 2.5 to 5%, and the substrate-inoculum ratio (S/I), which was alternated between 1.5 and 2.5 gCOD/gVSS. The average Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal efficiency of the reactors was 82.1% and, after the digestion process, the pH of the reactors remained neutral, showing that anaerobic digestion is a suitable method for treating the assessed wastes. In the analyzed proportions, the higher the peach percentage in the substrate, the lower the total methane production, whereas the S/I demonstrated the opposite effect. Reactors III (S/I = 2.5 and P = 2.5%), presented the most durable and the highest production, being the best combination of the factorial studied. Finally, it can be said that for the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the largest rice and peach producer in Brazil, ACoD of the wastes assessed in this research represents a significantly relevant option, enabling the development of the circular economy, the industrial symbiosis, and the sustainable production in the State. [Display omitted] • An analysis of converting by-products into renewable energy in a low-carbon brazilian agroindustry. • The COD removal efficiency of the reactors was high with potential biofuels generation. • Circular economy and sustainable development prospects towards an agroindustrial symbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion constitutes a sustainable method for waste management and renewable energy generation, addressing significant environmental and societal challenges. The growing global waste crisis and the increasing momentum toward sustainable energy solutions emphasize the critical need to enhance anaerobic digestion technology for improved efficiency and environmental advantages. This process mitigates waste accumulation, enhances energy security, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, providing a feasible solution within the framework of a circular bioeconomy. Here, we review the principles of anaerobic digestion and biogas production, focusing on agricultural waste and the utilization of biogas for energy within a sustainable framework. We specifically explore biogas applications in rural and industrial settings, assess the environmental impacts, and discuss the regulatory landscape with insights from China and Europe. This study reveals that the strategic implementation of anaerobic digestion can markedly improve energy yield and sustainability, demonstrating how focused policies and advanced technological practices can optimize biogas utilization. The review enhances comprehension of environmental impacts, emphasizing insights from China and Europe as key examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coppice plantations have gained a high interest for biofuel production and carbon uptake in short rotation cycles. There is a limited knowledge how such intensive coppice management affects soil fertility and nutrients supply to maintain carbon sink. We studied ecosystem carbon and nutrients balance and allocation during a 5-year period in hybrid aspen coppice under different thinning methods in hemiboreal Estonia. The benchmark value for the changes was defined before the coppice emerged after the clear-cut of the previously planted hybrid aspen plantation. The studied systematical thinning treatments were as follows: corridor thinning with removal of 67% of the trees (CT), cross-corridor thinning with removal of 89% of the trees (CCT), and unthinned (UT) coppice. The UT and CT treatments resulted in a positive carbon balance at the ecosystem level. In all treatments, a decrease of soil acidity, organic C, total N, K, Mg and Mn contents, and an increase of soil Cu and B contents were observed in the 0–20-cm deep layer. The concentrations of leaf N, P, and K were higher in UT than in the two thinning treatments, indicating that the aspens had not entirely recovered from the changed root to shoot ratio 2 years after thinning, whereas the leaf mass fraction of medium- and small-sized trees had already increased. Bioenergy harvest from the UT site in a 5-year rotation would cause 5–18% removal of NPK from the total ecosystem pool. Overall, hybrid aspen coppice showed positive ecosystem carbon balance after the first 5-year period; however, further monitoring of soil properties is needed as we found decrease of soil organic C and nutrients concentrations in short term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial amounts of expired dairy products (EDP) are generated due to their high perishability. These wastes are rich in organic matter, and their landfill disposal negatively impacts the environment. An alternative to reducing and recovering this waste would be to use it as a substrate in anaerobic digestion (AD) to produce biogas. This study investigated methane (CH4) production using different concentrations of EDP co-digested with synthetic domestic wastewater (SDW). Five anaerobic batch reactors (1000 mL) were assembled with different concentrations of EDP in SDW (500 mL working volume), namely (1) 0%, (2) 5.0%, (3) 7.5%, (4) 10.0%, and (5) 15.0% (v/v). COD removals were 81%, 84%, 80%, 89%, and 14% for assays 1 to 5, respectively. The cumulative CH4 productions were (mL/L) 717, 3354, 5327, 6584, and 1156 for assays 1 to 5, respectively. Assay 5 (15% EDP) was inhibited by volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation. However, assays 2, 3, and 4 (with 5.0–10.0% EDP) showed high CH4 yields (mLCH4/gVSadd) of 319, 333, and 317, respectively, demonstrating the feasibility of anaerobic co-digestion of EDP with SDW. In assays 3 and 4, a similar archaeal community structure was observed, dominated by the genera Methanosaeta, Methanolinea, Methanoregula, and Methanobacterium. In assay 2, the archaeal community demonstrated lower dominance due to insufficient substrate adaptation. This study confirms the viability of using EDP in AD systems to generate CH4, suggesting future sustainable applications for this residue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The single-pass, split-stream harvest of corn grain and stover has been extensively studied. Challenges for these systems include the logistics and economics of handling separate grain and stover streams. Single-pass, single-stream processes have been explored using a self-propelled forage harvester to collect whole-plant corn as a biomass feedstock. However, due to the processing done by the self-propelled forage harvester, a significant portion of the grain fraction is damaged during harvest limiting its marketability. To evaluate an alternative system, a combine harvester was modified with a rear blower to collect corn stover, facilitating the collection of the grain and stover fractions into the same wagon, creating an aggregate, whole-plant corn material. Utilizing this system, a plot study was conducted to compare it to a self-propelled forage harvester. Parameters studied for system performance were yield, grain damage, and geometric mean particle size. While the combine system reduced grain damage (p < 0.001) by 18 percentage points compared to the self-propelled forage harvester and had a similar whole plant particle size (p = 0.11), it collected 1.86 Mg DM ha−1 less biomass (p < 0.001). The combine harvester with a stover collection system provides a method to collect whole-plant corn as a biomass feedstock that maintains a large portion of the grain integrity but decreases dry matter yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of the energy potential from agro-industrial waste of Mangifera indica L. in the city of Zamora, Michoacán is presented, considering its use through solid biofuels. This research is composed of three stages: (a) the qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of the waste disposal of M. indica, spatiotemporally (b) the physicochemical characterization of the waste collected from 14 processing companies using characterization techniques, as well as proximal analysis of the moisture content, ash, volatiles, fixed carbon, and calorific value, and (c) estimation of the energy potential to spatially and temporally define the final energy disposition and possible use of the analyzed waste. The results show the ash content of mango residues below 3.5%, while the volatile material was 82.9%, the fixed carbon content was below 17%, and the polymeric compounds showed 27.24% cellulose, 10.46% for hemicellulose, and for lignin 5.78%. The presence of carbon was also identified in the order of 44.61%, hydrogen in 6.53%, oxygen in 48.11%, nitrogen of 0.74%, and the sulfur recorded was below the range of 0.01%. The calorific value was estimated from 17.5 to 19.28 MJ/kg; the available energy potential on the order of 0.5 TJ/day for 4 months. This proposal not only shows a case study of the bioenergy potential available, but it can also encourage addressing future research related to the use and valuation of agro-industrial waste, which, like in the Zamora region, there are many more in Mexico, and they are so diverse and productive that the energy potential is relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Roots are important in agricultural and natural systems for determining plant productivity and soil carbon inputs. Sometimes, the amount of roots in a sample is too much to fit into a single scanned image, so the sample is divided among several scans, and there is no standard method to aggregate the data.Here, we describe and validate two methods for standardizing measurements across multiple scans: image concatenation and statistical aggregation. We developed a Python script that identifies which images belong to the same sample and returns a single, larger concatenated image. These concatenated images and the original images were processed with RhizoVision Explorer, a free and open‐source software. An R script was developed, which identifies rows of data belonging to the same sample and applies correct statistical methods to return a single data row for each sample. These two methods were compared using example images from switchgrass, poplar, and various tree and ericaceous shrub species from a northern peatland and the Arctic.Most root measurements were nearly identical between the two methods except median diameter, which cannot be accurately computed by statistical aggregation.We believe the availability of these methods will be useful to the root biology community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to estimate the correlations among traits in biomass sorghum, estimate the direct and indirect effects, and check for a cause/effect relationship of the traits on the theoretical calorific value (TCV) through pathway analysis. An additional aim is to provide a complementary technique for analysis of the traits and orientation of breeding programs of biomass sorghum through data mining. A total of 25 hybrids of biomass sorghum were evaluated in a triple square lattice design. The following traits were measured: flowering (FLOW); plant height (PH); fresh biomass yield of the stalk (FBYs), of leaves, and of panicles; dry matter of the stalk and of the leaves (DMl); neutral detergent fiber of the stalk and of the leaves; acid detergent fiber of the stalk and of the leaves; lignin of the stalk and of the leaves; hemicellulose of the stalk and of the leaves; cellulose concentration of the stalk and of the leaves; and the TCV. The data were placed under exploratory analysis, the mixed model approach, pathway analysis based on genotypic correlations, and the regression tree technique. The traits FLOW, PH, FBYs, DMl, and LIG were considered the main determinants of the changes in the TCV and, therefore, with potential for use in indirect selection. The technique of data mining allowed better visualization of the relationships among the traits, assisting in some explanations regarding the effect of the traits on the TCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management in developing nations, particularly Ethiopia, faces considerable issues, including high generation and low collection rates, unsafe disposal practices, and inadequate reuse and recycling efforts. This review looks into the current status of these challenges and possibilities for valorizing the potential of the organic fraction of MSW through composting and bioenergy. Aligned with global sustainability goals and emphasizing the promotion of resource efficiency and waste reduction, this review aims to identify the major challenges of MSW management in Ethiopia and valorize the MSW organic fraction to describe sustainable waste management solutions. The review process comprised a systematic approach through a comprehensive literature search of credible databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed from 2012 to 2023. To ensure relevance and reduce bias, 63 relevant studies were selected from an initial pool of 200 papers via a rigorous screening process utilizing the PRISMA protocol. The assessment of study quality with the AMSTAR‐2 improved the accuracy and reliability of the review's conclusions. The authors reviewed various challenges associated with MSW in Ethiopia, including MSW generation and collection rates, composition issues, and disposal technologies. A lack of community awareness and cooperation were identified as significant barriers to successful waste management practices in Ethiopia. This review also evaluated the viability of valorizing the organic fraction of MSW through bioenergy production and community‐level composting as sustainable alternatives. The findings of this review provide valuable insights and evidence‐based recommendations for addressing MSW concerns in Ethiopia. The findings can also serve to shape policy formulation, research goals, and practical interventions focused on enhancing solid waste management practices in developing nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tangible effects of climate change and the influence of environmental factors on climate have driven a shift towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. This study investigates the effects of biochar and zeolites in the anaerobic digestion (AD) and co-digestion processes of cassava wastewater (CW) with livestock manure, aiming to assess their impact on methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) production, as well as process stability. The study employs design of experiments, analysis of variances, design parameter sensitivity, and differential analysis to explore how varying concentrations of biochar and zeolites influence key production parameters and optimize the overall process. Results indicate that increasing biochar and zeolite concentrations produce alternating effects on CO2 and CH4 generation, with CW significantly contributing to CH4 production. Livestock manure shows similar effects on both gases, necessitating calculated trade-offs in prioritizing one over the other. Findings provide insights into enhancing biogas production and waste management, contributing to sustainable bioenergy and wastewater treatment practices. Numerical results demonstrate that increased biochar concentrations in the co-digestion mixtures increased CO2 and CH4 production rates respectively by an approximate factor of 2, contributing 18% and 5% overall effects respectively. Similarly, zeolite concentrations contributed 9% and 5% overall effects to the production rates of CO2 and CH4 respectively, boosting production rates by factors of 1 and −2. The study's significance lies in its potential to improve biogas yield and process efficiency, fostering advancements in renewable energy and environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardoon is considered an interesting raw material to obtain second-generation biofuels, due to its perennial culture condition and its rare use as food. In addition, cardoon, being a rustic species, requires few inputs and has fast growth and high lignocellulosic biomass production. However, despite its large genetic variability worldwide, both cardoon botanical varieties were subject only to few (cultivated cardoon)/zero (wild cardoon) breeding programs. The aims of this study were (I) to characterize biomass quality and quantity of genotypes of wild and cultivated cardoon in order to produce different types of biofuels and (II) to identify the most promising accessions to be included in breeding programs for bioenergy characteristics or to be incorporated in the local agro-productive system. The performance of twelve Cynara cardunculus L. accessions (six cultivated cardoons and six wild cardoons) was compared through biometric, chemical, and energetic characteristics. Moreover, the potential bioethanol and biomethane yields and the energy potentially generated from direct combustion were calculated for each botanical variety. Significant differences were found between botanical varieties for several biometric traits, but not in chemical traits except for ash content. Results indicate that cardoon biomass, especially cultivated cardoon, has characteristics that make this species a promising candidate to be grown for energy purposes under very low crop inputs in the local edapho-climatic conditions. In addition, our screening identified an accession that stands out based on yield, biomass composition, and potential to produce different types of biofuels/bioenergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus obliquus, and Monoraphidium sp were cultivated in effluent from the household appliance industry as an alternative medium for bioremediation due to the high variability of chemical and biological substances in wastewater. The experiments were carried out using biological effluent (BE), chemical effluent (CE), and a combination of the two (MIX). The results showed a maximum biomass yield of 1056 mg/L (± 0.216) in the BE cultivation of the microalga Scenedesmus obliquus, 969 mg/L (± 0.20) in the BE of the microalga Monoraphidium sp. and 468 mg/L (± 0.46) in the CE of Chlorella vulgaris. In addition, they showed N O 3 - removal (100%) in the CE and MIX for cultivation with Chlorella vulgaris and 100% BE and 75% MIX with Monoraphidium sp. For the P O 3 4 - (75.3%, 99% e 97.9%) in the cultures with C. vulgaris BE, CE, and MIX respectively, with Monoraphidium sp. 58% in BE and 42% in CE and MIX. With S. obliquus, 100% removal was observed in all 3 treatments. Metal removal was also observed. The C. vulgaris culture showed lipid contents of 16%, 12%, and 17% for BE, CE, and MIX, respectively. For Monoraphidium sp., 14.5% for BE, 16% for CE, and 14% for MIX. In the culture of S. obliquus, 17%, 15.5%, and 16.5% for BE, CE, and MIX, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct a compartmentalized nanoarchitecture to regulate bioenergy level. Glucose dehydrogenase, urease and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide are encapsulated inside through liquid‐liquid phase separation. ATPase and glucose transporter embedded in hybrid liposomes are attached at the surface. Glucose is transported and converted to gluconic acid catalyzed by glucose dehydrogenase, resulting in an outward proton gradient to drive ATPase for ATP synthesis. In parallel, urease catalyzes hydrolysis of urea to generate ammonia, which leads to an inward proton gradient to drive ATPase for ATP hydrolysis. These processes lead to a change of the direction of proton gradient, thus achieving artificial ATP oscillation. Importantly, the frequency and the amplitude of the oscillation can be programmed. The work explores nanoarchitectonics integrating multiple components to realize artificial and precise oscillation of bioenergy level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to analyse the potential for obtaining biomass for energy purposes and tall wheatgrass (TWG) seeds grown under conditions of varying pre-sowing fertilisation with compost and mineral fertilisation with nitrogen on sandy soils. Field trials were conducted between 2012 and 2015. The study factors were compost from municipal green areas with I-doses of 0, 10 and 20 Mg∙ha−1 added before sowing and nitrogen II-doses of 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg∙ha−1 added each year in the form of ammonium nitrate. During the experiment conducted on sandy soils, a favourable effect of fertilisation on the morphological parameters of above-ground vegetative and generative parts was found. The experiment resulted in high dry matter yields (DMYs) in the range of 9.08–31.38 Mg∙ha−1 and high seed yields (SYs) (635 kg∙ha−1 to as much as 2397 kg∙ha−1), which depended on the applied fertilisation variant. The applied levels of compost fertilisation had a positive effect on the obtained dry matter yields (DMYs) and SY. Analysing the effect of the applied doses of mineral nitrogen fertilisation (40, 80 and 120 kg∙ha−1) on the dry matter yield of TWG under sandy soil conditions, it should be noted that this factor significantly increased the DMY and SY in all years of the study. At the same time, the response of plants to this factor of the study over the years varied and depended on weather conditions. The high energy yield (192.50 GJ∙ha−1–408.93 GJ∙ha−1) closely related to the high DMY indicates the high suitability of TWG as a new grass species under temperate climate conditions grown for biomass energy production and the possibility to harvest seeds when adequately cultivated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify and select superior biomass sorghum genotypes for second-generation ethanol production through multi-environment trials and multiple traits. The efficiency of different selection strategies using the FAI-BLUP index in multi-environment trials (MET) was assessed. Twenty-five biomass sorghum genotypes were evaluated in triple square lattice experiments in three locations in the 2018/2019 agricultural year. Evaluated traits included flowering time (FLOW), plant height (PH), fresh biomass yield (FBY), dry matter content (DM), moisture content (M), dry biomass yield (DBY), as well as the contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin (LIG), hemicellulose (HEM), and cellulose (CC). Each location and MET performed single-trait analyses. Five strategies were performed for selecting superior genotypes using the FAI-BLUP index. Strategy E1 considered BLUPs of genotypes within location, while Strategy E2 used BLUPs of genotype's main effects from MET analyses. Strategy E3 used BLUPs of genotypes within locations (genotype main effects plus genotype by environment interaction—G + GE) from MET analyses. Strategies E4 and E5 used BLUPs from E1 and E3, respectively, assuming traits evaluated at different locations as different traits. Regardless of the strategy, the FAI-BLUP index aimed to enhance the phenotypic expression of FLOW, PH, FBY, DM, DBY, NDF, ADF, HEM, and CC while reducing M and LIG traits to achieve the desired ideotype. Genotypes 4, 13, 17, and 18 exhibited superior performance, predictability, and genotypic adaptability, indicating their potential for second-generation ethanol production. Strategies E2 and E3 emerged as the most effective for selecting superior genotypes using the FAI-BLUP index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torrefaction was applied to enhance the fuel properties of sawdust (SD) and bark wood (BW), biomass wastes from the rubberwood processing industry. Design Expert (DE) software was used in an experimental design to study the effects of affecting factors including torrefaction temperature and time as well as the biomass size towards the desirable properties such as HHV, mass yield, fixed carbon content, and eco-efficiency values. Promising results showed that the HHVs of the torrefied SD (25 MJ/kg) and BW (26 MJ/kg) were significantly increased when compared to preheated SD (17 MJ/kg) and preheated BW (17 MJ/kg) and in a range similar to that of coal (25–35 MJ/kg). The TGA, FTIR, biomass compositions, and O/C ratios suggested that thermochemical reactions played a significant role in the torrefaction at which thermal degradation coupled with possible in situ chemical reactions took place, to some extent. The optimal conditions of the torrefaction were identified at 320 °C and 30 min for SD, and 325 °C and 30 min for BW. The maximum HHVs at the optimal condition were 22, 23, and 20 MJ/kg while the eco-efficiency values were 29.18, 27.89, and 13.72 kJ/kg CO2_eq*THB for torrefied SD, torrefied BW, and coal, respectively. The findings of this study indicate that torrefied rubberwood residues enhanced HHV, eco-efficiency, and less contribution to CO2 emissions compared to fossil fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide expansion of the meat industry generated tremendous amounts of animal-based waste. Discarded beef tallow (DBT) is one of those prevalent lipid-rich wastes disposed of by slaughterhouses, meat processing units, and tanneries. The current study utilized the advanced technology of supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) to extract lipid content from DBT for biodiesel production through transesterification. The effects of SC-CO2 parameters on the extraction rate were investigated over ranges of (32–80°C) for temperature, (10–50 MPa) for pressure, and (15–150 min) for treatment time. Using response surface methodology (RSM), both processes of SC-CO2 and transesterification were optimized. The highest extraction rate was 86.10%, obtained at the experimental conditions of 60°C for temperature, 30 MPa for pressure, and 120 min for treatment time. For the transesterification, the maximum yield of biodiesel was 95.15%, obtained at the reaction conditions of 1:7.5, 1.16 wt%, 58°C, and 72 min for lipid to methanol molar ratio, catalyst ratio, temperature, and time, respectively. The outcomes of the kinetic and thermodynamic analyses showed that the SC-CO2 extraction was an endothermal, unspontaneous, and temperature-dependent process. The characteristics of the synthesized biodiesel largely comply with the ASTM D6751 and EN 14,214 standards. The findings of the current study confirm the viability of SC-CO2 to extract lipids from DBT as a low-cost feedstock for biodiesel production. HIGHLIGHTS: Lipids were extracted from discarded beef tallow using supercritical CO2. Kinetics & thermodynamics analyses were conducted for the lipid extraction. Dependent and independent variables were optimized by RSM. Biodiesel fuel was synthesized from the separated lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biomass has played an important role in the India's energy requirement since ages. Followed by China and the US, India is the world's third-largest producer in terms of biomass energy. Nowadays, there is a visible increasing trend in the energy production from biomass. The primary causes for this are due to fewer options for alternative fuels and rising power demand in urban as well as rural areas. This review attempts to gather the different biomass resources from forests and other industries that are present and their ability to produce bioenergy. To utilize biomass into different energy products, a broad range of conversion technologies have been developed over time which has been overviewed in this review. The environmental, socio-economic and other impacts due to the use of bioenergy are also outlined in this review. Furthermore, it provides an overview of India's present bioenergy situation and the steps the government has taken to meet future demand for biomass-to-energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green growth aims to foster economic development while ensuring environmental sustainability by optimizing resource use and reducing pollution. Despite growing attention, the nexus between forest trade, bioenergy, and green growth remains underexplored. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to investigate the impact of forest trade and bioenergy on green growth. To that end, we apply cross-sectional autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) using 33 global economies. The findings of the CS-ARDL show that forest trade helps enhance green growth both in the short- and long run. However, bioenergy significantly boosts green growth only in the long run, while the short-run estimate of bioenergy is insignificant. The estimates of the regional analysis signify that forest trade and bioenergy enhance green growth in both developed and developing economies only in the long run. Policymakers in both developed and emerging economies should focus on boosting forestry trade and promoting bioenergy production to stimulate green growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an evaluation of the environmental impact of forestry based on landscape theory. It has been argued that this type of forestry offers a positive impact on the climate because there is a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and the absorption of these gases within an entire forested area. However, this analysis will demonstrate that the arrangement and composition of managed forests are linked to a significant carbon debt. This debt represents the disparity between the carbon that would typically be stored in a natural forest and the actual amount of carbon stored in the managed forest. While this excess carbon remains in the atmosphere rather than being sequestered, it contributes to the greenhouse effect. Using Swedish forestry as an example, the carbon debt is estimated to be comparable in scale to the total accumulated fossil fuel emissions of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise control of operational parameters in anaerobic digestion reactors is crucial to avoid imbalances that could affect biomethane production and alterations in the microbiota. Restoring the methanogenic microbiota after a failure is essential for recovering methane production, yet no published strategies exist for this recovery. In this study, we restored the methanogenic microbiota in an anaerobic SBR reactor that operates with both biofilm and suspended biomass simultaneously, aiming to treat tequila vinasses. Four strategies were evaluated for restoring the methanogenic microbiota: reducing the initial vinasse concentration, increasing the reaction time (RT), adjusting the carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and progressively increasing the initial vinasse concentration. Among these, adjusting the C/N ratio emerged as a critical parameter for restoring organic matter removal efficiency and reestablishing methanogenic microbiota. The operational conditions under which the methanogenic activity and microbiota were restored were as follows: Operating the A-SBR with an initial vinasse concentration of 60%, an RT of 168 h, a pH of 6.9 ± 0.2, a temperature of 35 ± 2 °C, and a C/N ratio adjusted to 100/1.9 resulted in stable COD removal efficiency of 93 ± 3% over a year and a high percentage of methanogenic microorganisms in both the suspended microbiota (69%) and biofilm (52%). The normalized methane production (0.332 NL CH4/g CODr) approached the theoretical maximum value (0.35 L CH4/g CODr) after restoring the population and methanogenic activity within the reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to explore the potential of available renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, biomass and ocean energy and select the best suitable renewable energy resource considering technical, economic, environmental, and social constraints as the main criteria. Five sub-criteria are considered for each main criterion, and these twenty sub-criteria are considered for ranking renewable energy resources using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The investment cost of the system having the relative weight of 57.94%. Hence it is recommended to choose the renewable energy source having higher value over the economic aspect. The results also showed that the efficiency of the system is the first prioritized criteria among the technical sub criteria with a relative weight of 38.86%. Similarly, land requirement for the implementation of renewable energy system is the first prioritized criteria (43.38%) among the five environmental sub criteria.The overall results from the AHP showed that economic criteria are the more important aspect with a relative weight of 45.04% followed by Technical, environmental and social criteria with relative weights of 22.5%, 14.16% and 12.62% respectively.For Prioritization of renewable energy resources, the study region divided into nine smaller blocks for investigation using AHP and the hierarchical results showed that solar energy is of highest priority in block 2 whereas wind energy potential is higher in blocks 5 and 9. Due to the dense population and widespread agricultural plantations, Bioenergy has average priority over the entire study region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on analyzing the physical composition of municipal solid waste (MSW) and the physicochemical characterization of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) in a city in Northeast Mexico to propose an adequate treatment and valorization system. Diverse samples were analyzed over 5 months at the city of Saltillo landfill, where the daily discarded MSW was classified into household (HW), central market waste (CMW), and public areas and parks waste (PPW). For the HW and CMW, the fraction with the highest proportion was the organic residues from food products, with 22.15 and 25.78%, followed by other organic wastes (manure, yard waste, leaves, etc.) at 12.58 and 10.24%, respectively. Furthermore, the organic fraction was segregated from the rest of the MSW and classified into four subtypes, and their physical composition and physicochemical characteristics were determined. The results contribute to laying the foundations for the proper treatment of the OFMSW not just in the studied region but also in cities with similar conditions. Moreover, the OFMSW's feasibility in treating via bioenergy technologies is revealed, and this research proposes a biorefinery treatment pathway through dark fermentation followed by high solids anaerobic digestion generating bioenergy and diverse bioproducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical characterization is a crucial step and decision tool before any application of fruit crop residues. This study aims to evaluate the applicability of traditional chemical characterization methods for banana pseudostem, guava seed, and orange bagasse. An analysis of extractives removal time and sugar solubilization during this process was performed. The residues were evaluated based on the cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, extractives, and ash contents, in addition to the holocellulose and α-cellulose fractions, followed by FTIR spectroscopy. Acid-soluble lignin was evaluated by UV–visible spectrophotometry with different extinction coefficients and wavelengths. The results showed that extractives' removal for 4 h was sufficient for all materials, and a varied composition was observed among the biomasses. The guava seed had the highest lignin content, 41.66%, banana pseudostem had 33.97% cellulose, and orange bagasse had a high extractive content, 60.78%. The mass balance for all biomasses was above 92%, which suggests the applicability of such chemical characterization methods for fruit residues. A significant influence of different parameters in the determination of soluble lignin was observed. Thus, the present study serves as a basis for future research on the use and application of fruit residues, since there are no specific and complete studies on its characterization; including the evaluation of a greater number of plant varieties to obtain more representative results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food waste (FW) is a valuable resource for anaerobic digestion (AD) due to its biochemical composition. This study aimed to optimize AD using two widely used optimization methods: Response Surface Methodology with Box–Behnken Design (RSM-BBD) and Taguchi orthogonal array L9. Organic load, oxidation–reduction potential, pH, and hydraulic retention time were evaluated for biogas production and volatile solids removal (VSr). The Taguchi method assessed responses based on the signal-to-noise ratio, resulting in optimal conditions for AD. After numerical optimization, the predicted biogas production was 440 mL, and VSr was 19.5%. However, the experimental observations of biogas production were 850 mL, and VSr was 41%. The RSM-BBD method, calculated based on analysis of variance, resulted in optimal conditions for AD, and after numerical optimization, the predicted biogas production was 852 mL, and VSr was 43%. However, the experimental observations of biogas production were 906 mL, and VSr was 44. Despite these results, the study found that Taguchi's design provided approximate optimization response values and did not allow parameter interaction. In contrast, RSM-BBD provided precise optimal values and details on the impact of individual and combined parameters, making RSM-BBD the preferred choice for optimizing AD systems for better prediction accuracy and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactic acid fermentation (LAF) has recently been considered a promising strategy to store food waste (FW) prior to dark fermentation (DF), as it can stabilize organic matter with no negative impact on biohydrogen potential (BHP). However, concentrations can affect LAF and its subsequent impact on BHP is not known. This novel study evaluates the impact of storing FW by LAF at 1%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% total solids (TS), at 35 °C and 23 °C, subsequently converted to biohydrogen through DF. Storing FW in LAF at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% TS has no impact on its BHP (88 ± 23 mL/gVS). Storing at 1% TS increases variability of metabolic pathways, with replicates undergoing butyric fermentation instead of LAF, resulting in 33 mL/gVS and 13 mL/gVS of BHP, compared to the total average of all conditions at 84 ± 25 mL/gVS. Microbial analysis shows Lactobacillus sp. and Weissella sp. as the main genera selected during storage. The concentrations affect the relative abundance of various remaining genera, such as Burkholderia-Paraburkholderia sp. at 20% TS and Lactococcus sp. at 1% TS. Except at low TS, LAF is a robust storage strategy of FW prior to DF, preserving its BHP without the need for conventional refrigeration. [Display omitted] • Lactic acid fermentation (LAF) was investigated as storage for food waste (FW). • FW stored in LAF was converted to biohydrogen through dark fermentation (DF). • FW stored in LAF produced an average of 84 ± 25 mL/gVS of hydrogen in subsequent DF. • Storage at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% TS preserved biohydrogen potential (BHP) of FW. • Storage at 1% TS increased variability of metabolic pathways, resulting in BHP loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic biomass offers substantial potential as an ideal feedstock for dark fermentative hydrogen production due to its sustainability and cost-effectiveness. The current study examined the influence of furfural on fermentative hydrogen production using lignocellulosic hydrolysate in the presence of furfural. Synthetic lignocellulosic hydrolysate, consisting primarily of 76% xylose, 10% glucose, 9% arabinose, and a mixture of other sugars such as galactose and mannose (85% pentose sugars and 15% hexose sugars), was employed as the substrate. Various substrate concentrations ranging from 2 to 32 g/L were tested, along with furfural concentrations of 0, 1, and 2 g/L. The investigation aimed to assess the effects of initial substrate concentration, initial furfural concentration, furfural-to-biomass ratio (F/B), and furfural-to-substrate ratio (F/S) on biohydrogen production yields. The maximum specific substrate utilization rates at different substrate concentrations were effectively characterized using Haldane's substrate inhibition model. Among the tested concentrations, the 16 g/L emerged as the optimal substrate concentration. The initial furfural concentration was identified as the most significant parameter impacting biohydrogen production, with complete inhibition observed at a furfural concentration of 2 g/L. Higher F/S ratios at substrate concentrations ranging from 2 to 16 g/L resulted in reduced maximum specific hydrogen production rates (MSHPR) and hydrogen yields. Substrate inhibition was observed at 24 g/L and 32 g/L. Lactate was the predominant metabolite in all batches containing 2-g/L furfural, as well as in batches with 1-g/L furfural and substrate concentrations of 24 and 32 g/L. Furfural at a concentration of 1 g/L was not inhibitory in any of the batches. Overall, the mixed cultures in this study could efficiently produce hydrogen from lignocellulosic hydrolysates and degrade furfural, providing new insights into fermentative hydrogen-producing bacteria with furfural tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation of Lantana camara biomass for potential bioenergy generation integrates invasive species (IS) management with the unabated demand for bio-energy. In the present investigation, L. camara was used to produce bio-oil by thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis). The resultant product evinced energy yield of 62.58% with 64.95% of elemental carbon (C) content and endorsed the suitability of L. camara bio-oil for biofuel applications and value addition. Thermogravimetric (TG-DTG) analysis revealed a short thermal degradation profile, whereas spectroscopic analyses detected a host of organic compounds such as esters, phenols, ketones, aldehydes, aliphatics, and aromatics. The economic analysis of L. camara biomass conversion technology carried out in this study proved to be commercially competitive and viable versus petroleum refining. Antimicrobial and antioxidant assays with bio-oil evinced highest zone of inhibition (ZOI) against Candida albicans (31.02 mm), and displayed strong antioxidant property (DPPH IC50 value 233.72 ± 0.2 μg/ml). The bio-oil exhibited rheological characteristics of shear thinning and pseudoplastic fluid, particularly at low and intermediate shear rates. The present study highlights the multifaceted advantages of utilizing L. camara biomass, which include environmental remediation via waste management, bioenergy generation, and the feasibility of generating value-added products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of the characteristics and properties of biocoke fuel from several biomass wastes were carried out to determine the energy potential of the fuel. Biocoke production in this research uses heating and pressure methods simultaneously under constant conditions. Experimental results using thermogravimetric analysis show that biocoke empty-fruit-bunches (EFB) have a higher energy potential of 26.57 MJ/kg. Meanwhile, mangrove biocoke recorded the lowest ash content at 1.81% compared to EFB at 5.09%. The carbon content of mangrove biocoke is 58.02%, slightly higher than that of EFB, 56.70%, but EFB is higher than that of other biomass. Overall, the energy content recorded in biocoke increased significantly compared to raw biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beyond the technical challenge of using biomass to achieve net zero, non-technical factors also impact the likelihood of biomass succeeding in displacing fossil fuel use, such as social, environmental, and economic challenges. The political bioeconomy in the United Kingdom (UK) has supported a small but significant role for biomass within the country's energy mix, with policy determining who benefits, and who will continue to benefit, from its use. The revised UK Biomass Strategy of 2023 signalled how the government perceives biomass looking forward, and the commitment to a cross-sectoral sustainability framework has the potential to support a redistributive policy that creates new winners in the UK biomass sector. Maximising the redistributive effects of policy is hindered by the siloed nature of policymaking around biomass and undermined by a lack of social legitimacy, both of which must be addressed to enable biomass to contribute towards decoupling the UK's economy from fossil fuels and to ensure a sustainable transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of perennial flowering wild plant species like common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.) seems promising for increasing biodiversity friendliness in rather monotonous bioenergy cropping systems in Central Europe, particularly on marginal sites. However, it is still unclear for which types of marginal agricultural land common tansy would be suitable and where; as a result, low-risk indirect land-use change biomass production through common tansy could be considered. Therefore, the aim of this study was to gather initial insights into the suitability of common tansy for sandy sites by means of a 6 L-pot experiment. For this purpose, five replicates of three substrates were prepared: Luvisol topsoil (control) from a field site near the University of Hohenheim, Germany; and admixtures of 50 and 83.4weight(wt)% of sand to the control (M1, and M2), respectively. This resulted in varying sand contents of the substrates of 4.7 (control), 53.3 (M1), and 83.0wt% (M2). In autumn 2021, common tansy seeds were collected from mother plants bearing the breeder's indentifier 'Z.8TAV 85/78'. These plants were part of a long-term field trial initiated at Hohenheim in 2014, where common tansy was grown as part of a wild plant mixture. In June 2022, 0.5 g of the seeds were sown in each pot. The pots were placed in outdoor conditions, arranged in a randomized complete block design and watered evenly as required. At harvest in July 2023, significant differences between the substrates in terms of the above- (shoots) and belowground (roots) development of the common tansy seedlings were observed. In M1, common tansy provided notable biomass growth of 56.6% of the control, proving to be potentially suitable for low-input cultivation under sandy soil conditions. However, an even higher share of sand and low nutrient contents in M2 resulted in minor plant development (14.4% of the control). Hence, field trials on sandy soils of about 50wt% of sand in the texture under tailored fertilization and various climatic conditions are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to most energy demand forecasts, woody biomass has the potential to become an important source of renewable energy, especially during the transitional period of energy transition. The aim of this article was to estimate the energy potential of the biomass from the forest and the biomass generated by the mechanical processing of wood raw material and also to show the spectrum of possibilities for the potential use of the biomass for energy production in Poland. This research used available statistical and literature data on the species structure of harvested wood and the qualitative and assortment structures of woody biomass. The basic parameters of the raw material were evaluated in accordance with the EU classification of energy wood. This study confirmed the relationship between the energy potential of woody biomass and energy demand in Poland. The correlation coefficient for these variables was r = 0.984. This correlation was reflected in the significant shares of biomass in the production of electricity (more than 9%) or heat (almost 14%). Energy wood resources in Poland are smaller than in other European Union countries, which affects the scale of the potential use of woody biomass for energy purposes. Nevertheless, the use of such a biomass is fully justified from the point of view of possible development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of sugarcane, a tropical high‐yielding feedstock, will likely reshape the Southeastern United States (SE US) bioenergy landscape. However, the sustainability of sugarcane, particularly as it displaces grazed pastures, is highly uncertain. Here, we investigated how pasture conversion to sugarcane in subtropical Florida impacts net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) and net ecosystem carbon (C) balance (NECB). Measurements were made over three full growth cycles (> 3 years) in sugarcane—plant cane, PC; first ratoon cane, FRC; second ratoon cane, SRC—and in improved (IM) and semi‐native (SN) pastures, which make up ca. 37% of agricultural land in the region. Immediately following conversion, PC was a stronger net source of CO2 than pastures, indicating the importance of CO2 losses related to land disturbance. Sugarcane, however, shifted to a strong net sink of CO2 after first regrowth, and overall sugarcane was a stronger net CO2 sink than pastures. Both stand age and low water availability during cane emergence and tillering substantially decreased its potential gross CO2 uptake. Accounting for all C gains and removals (i.e., NECB), greater frequency of burn events and repeated harvest increased removals and overall made sugarcane a stronger C source relative to pastures despite substantial C inputs from the previous land use and a stronger CO2 sink strength. Time since conversion substantially reduced C losses from sugarcane, and the NECB of SRC was similar to that of IM pasture but lower than that of SN pasture, indicating a rapid shift in the NECB of cane. We conclude that the C‐balance implications following conversion will depend on the proportion of IM versus SN pastures converted to sugarcane. Furthermore, our findings suggest that no‐burn harvest management strategies will be critical to the development of a sustainable bioenergy landscape in SE US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry trees, known for their rapid growth and high biomass yield, offer a sustainable alternative to traditional fuel woods and energy sources. With the depletion of fossil fuels and increasing environmental concerns, the transition to renewable energy becomes crucial. Mulberry's substantial biomass potential, marked by high density, calorific value, and fixed carbon content, makes it an attractive bioenergy crop. This paper explores mulberry's role in reducing carbon emissions and its adaptability to various agroclimatic conditions, positioning it as a viable option for bioenergy production. Utilizing mulberry biomass through thermochemical conversion technologies such as pyrolysis and gasification provides a renewable solution to future energy demands while aiding in climate change mitigation. The paper emphasizes the need for continued research and investment to fully leverage mulberry's potential as a bioenergy source, calling for collaborative efforts to establish supportive frameworks for a sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to assess the effect of water variation on bioethanol production from cassava peels (CP) using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast as the ethanologenic agent. Design/methodology/approach: The milled CP was divided into three treatment groups in a small-scale flask experiment where each 20 g CP was subjected to two-stage hydrolysis. Different amount of water was added to the fermentation process of CP. The fermented samples were collected every 24 h for various analyses. Findings: The results of the fermentation revealed that the highest ethanol productivity and fermentation efficiency was obtained at 17.38 ± 0.30% and 0.139 ± 0.003 gL−1 h−1. The study affirmed that ethanol production was increased for the addition of water up to 35% for the CP hydrolysate process. Practical implications: The finding of this study demonstrates that S. cerevisiae is the key player in industrial ethanol production among a variety of yeasts that produce ethanol through sugar fermentation. In order to design truly sustainable processes, it should be expanded to include a thorough analysis and the gradual scaling-up of this process to an industrial level. Originality/value: This paper is an original research work dealing with bioethanol production from CP using S. cerevisiae microbe. Highlights: Hydrolysis of cassava peels using 13.1 M H2SO4 at 100 oC for 110 min gave high Glucose productivity Highest ethanol production was obtained at 72 h of fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae Optimal bioethanol concentration and yield were obtained at a hydration level of 35% agitation Highest ethanol productivity and fermentation efficiency were 17.3%, 0.139 g.L−1.h−1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the application of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) system integrated with freshwater microalgae Chlorella sp. TSU-FF67 for wastewater treatment, electricity generation, and bio-oil production. The MFC with Chlorella sp. TSU-FF67 achieved a significantly higher open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 413.67 ± 15.67 mV compared to the control (13.33 ± 6.38 mV), indicating enhanced bioelectrocatalytic activity. The system also demonstrated efficient organic matter removal from palm oil mill effluent (POME) with a maximum color removal of 95.12 ± 3.50%. Furthermore, Chlorella sp. TSUFF67 recovered from the PMFC exhibited a remarkable docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) yield of 1,932.28 ± 88.69 µg/mL (1.93 ± 0.08 mg/mL), highlighting its potential as a feedstock for bio-oil production. This work presents a promising approach for sustainable wastewater treatment while simultaneously generating bioelectricity and bio-oil using microalgae-MFC integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is considered a modern technology used for treating wastewater and recovering electrical energy. In this study, a new dual technology combining MFC and a specialized biofilter was used. The anodic materials in the system were crushed graphite, either without coating (UFB-MFC) or coated with nanomaterials (nano-UFB-MFC). This biofilter served as a barrier to retain and remove turbidity and suspended solids, while also facilitating the role of bacteria in the removal of organic pollutants, phosphates, nitrates, sulfates, oil and greases. The results demonstrated that both systems exhibited high efficiency in treating kitchen wastewater, specifically greywater and dishwashing wastewater with high detergent concentrations. The removal efficiencies of COD, oil and grease, suspended solids, turbidity, nitrates, sulfates, and phosphates in first UFB-MFC were found to be 88, 95, 89, 86, 87, 75, and 94%, respectively, and in Nano-UFB-MFC were 86, 99, 95, 91, 81, 88, and 95%, respectively, with a high efficiency in recovering bioenergy reaching a value of 1.8 and 1.5 A m−3, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate the potential for developing MFC and utilizing it as a domestic system to mitigate pollution risks before discharging wastewater into the sewer network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seaweeds are essential autotrophs in the marine environment, resembling submerged forests near shorelines that provide habitats for various organisms. They have now become a significant source of numerous bio-products and are cultivated and harvested in various regions worldwide, contributing to the burgeoning blue economy. Environmentally friendly utilization of marine resources is one solution to meet the increasing demand for bioenergy and bio-products in the advancing blue economy. In this study, we investigated the bioenergy potential of the brown macroalgae Dictyota dichotoma using the slow pyrolysis technique. The pyrolysis process was conducted at three different heating rates (5, 10, and 20 °C min−1) in an inert nitrogen gas atmosphere, starting from room temperature and reaching 800 °C. Four valorization stages were identified, and the data obtained were fitted to various model-free iso-conversional methods, namely Friedman, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose, and Starink. The calculated activation energies ranged from 157.32 to 185.71 kJmol−1. The pre-exponential factor, determined from the kinetic compensation effect for the valorization processes, fell within the range of 4.8 × 108 to 6.5 × 1017 min−1. This range demonstrated the thermal conversion of both bioorganic and inorganic molecules, encompassing the relevant reactions throughout the entire process. Analysis using a master plot indicated that the pyrolysis of brown macroalgae primarily follows a diffusion-based process. The reproducibility of the data was further confirmed by fitting the experimental parameters obtained during the simulation process. The thermodynamic analysis revealed values of enthalpy (ΔH) ranging from 146.85 to 179.72 kJmol−1 and values of Gibbs free energy (ΔG) ranging from 143.91 to 288.19 kJmol−1. These findings demonstrate the endothermic and non-spontaneous behavior of seaweed biomass pyrolysis reactions. The entropic values indicated the formation of more ordered molecules during the latter three-pyrolysis stages. Overall, the results highlight the suitability of Dictyota seaweed biomass as a promising feedstock for bioenergy generation, contributing to the development of the blue economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) are starchy tuberous crops that represent the world's fourth most important crop. According to the "Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations," 376 million metric tonnes of potatoes were produced globally in 2021. It is anticipated that around 8000 kilotons of potato peel waste might be generated in 2030, with related greenhouse gas emissions of 5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Waste generated throughout the food supply chain, from potato farms to forks, contributes considerably to global warming. Apart from animal feed, technical processes in the potato processing industry generate waste organic residues with high amounts of bioactive compounds and carbohydrates, and thus extraction and bioconversion processes can produce high-value products. These include the isolation of functional ingredients for the formulation of nutraceuticals and pharma products, bioenergy-related products, enzymes, and fertilizers for the market, hence contributing to a more responsible production and consumption and, overall, circular economy. This review focuses on studies involving potato waste from industries such as pulp, processed water, peels, and mash showing the great prospects of the by-products from this crop for value-added supply chains and the reduction of undesired environmental effects. This work attempts to adhere upon several Sustainable Development Goals, specifically goals 7, 12, and 13, while also contributing to long-term growth targets and reducing negative environmental consequences produced by the food sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of co-culturing the photobiont and mycobiont in the microbial fuel cell (MFC) cathode on biomass production, lipid generation, and power output. Chlorella vulgaris provides oxygen and nutrients for the yeast Cystobasidium oligophagum JRC1, while the latter offers CO2 and quench oxygen for higher algal growth. The MFC with co-culture enhanced the lipid output of biomass by 28.33%, and the total yield and productivity were 1.47 ± 0.18 g/l and 0.123 g/l/day, respectively. Moreover, with co-culture, the open circuit voltage of 685 ± 11 mV was two times higher than algae alone. The specific growth rate (day−1) at the cathode was 0.367 ± 0.04 in co-culture and 0.288 ± 0.05 with C. vulgaris only. The power density of the system was 5.37 ± 0.21 mW/m2 with 75.88 ± 1.89% of COD removal. The co-culture thus proved beneficial at the MFC cathode in terms of total energy output as 11.5 ± 0.035 kWh/m3, which was 1.4-fold higher than algae alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTThe agricultural sugarcane residues, bagasse and straws, can be used for second-generation ethanol (2GE) production by the cellulose conversion into glucose (saccharification). However, the lignin content negatively impacts the saccharification process. This polymer is mainly composed of guaiacyl (G), hydroxyphenyl (H), and syringyl (S) units, the latter formed in the ferulate 5-hydroxylase (F5H) branch of the lignin biosynthesis pathway. We have generated transgenic lines overexpressing ShF5H1 under the control of the C4H (cinnamate 4-hydroxylase) rice promoter, which led to a significant increase of up to 160% in the S/G ratio and 63% in the saccharification efficiency in leaves. Nevertheless, the content of lignin was unchanged in this organ. In culms, neither the S/G ratio nor sucrose accumulation was altered, suggesting that ShF5H1 overexpression would not affect first-generation ethanol production. Interestingly, the bagasse showed a significantly higher fiber content. Our results indicate that the tissue-specific manipulation of the biosynthetic branch leading to S unit formation is industrially advantageous and has established a foundation for further studies aiming at refining lignin modifications. Thus, the ShF5H1 overexpression in sugarcane emerges as an efficient strategy to improve 2GE production from straw.

In response to escalating global energy demands and mounting environmental concerns, Microbial Fuel Cells have emerged as a groundbreaking technology, leveraging the unique abilities of microorganisms to harness bioenergy. This comprehensive review delves into the foundational principles governing MFCs, exploring mechanisms facilitating electron transfer and bioenergy generation while addressing factors influencing MFC performance. It further analyzes MFCs' multifaceted applications, from wastewater treatment to bioenergy recovery, and investigates their synergistic integration with other renewable energy systems. Despite these promising prospects, this review acknowledges the challenges of scalability, cost-effectiveness, and optimization, highlighting recent advancements aimed at enhancing efficiency, stability, and economic viability in MFC research. This review further offers a holistic perspective on the dynamic field of MFCs, assessing their potential to revolutionize bioenergy production while recognizing the hurdles to widespread adoption.

Sorghum bicolor is a promising bioenergy feedstock with high biomass production and unusual tolerance for stresses, such as water and nutrient limitation. Although the membership of the sorghum microbiome in response to stress has been explored, relatively little is known about how microbe–microbe networks change under water- or nutrient-limited conditions. This is important because network changes can indicate impacts on the functionality and stability of microbial communities. We performed network-based analysis on the core bacterial and archaeal community of an agronomically promising high biomass bioenergy genotype, Grassl, grown under nitrogen and water stress. Stress caused relatively minor changes in bacterial abundances within soil, rhizosphere, and endosphere communities but led to significant changes in bacterial network structure and modularity. We found a complete reorganization of network roles in all plant compartments, as well as an increase in the modularity and proportion of positive associations, which potentially could represent coexistence and cooperation in the sorghum bacterial/archaeal community under stress. Although stressors are often believed to be destabilizing, we found stressed networks were as or more stable than non-stressed networks, likely due to their redundancy and compartmentalization. Together, these findings support the idea that both sorghum and its bacterial/archaeal community can be resilient to future environmental stressors. [Figure: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

This study investigated the application of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) system integrated with freshwater microalgae Chlorella sp. TSU-FF67for wastewater treatment, electricity generation, and bio-oil production. The MFC with Chlorella sp. TSU-FF67achieved a significantly higher open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 413.67 ± 15.67 mV compared to the control (13.33 ± 6.38 mV), indicating enhanced bioelectrocatalytic activity. The system also demonstrated efficient organic matter removal from palm oil mill effluent (POME) with a maximum color removal of 95.12 ± 3.50%. Furthermore, Chlorella sp. TSU-FF67 recovered from the PMFC exhibited a remarkable docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) yield of 1,932.28 ± 88.69 µg/mL (1.93 ± 0.08 mg/mL), highlighting its potential as a feedstock for bio-oil production. This work presents a promising approach for sustainable wastewater treatment while simultaneously generating bioelectricity and bio-oil using microalgae-MFC integration.

Sewage sludge (SS) is a potential source of bioenergy, yet its management is a global concern. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is applied to effectively valorize SS by reclaiming energy in the form of methane. However, the complex floc structure of SS hinders hydrolysis during AD process, thus resulting in lower process efficiency. To overcome the rate-limiting hydrolysis, various pre-treatment methods have been developed to enhance AD efficiency. This review aims to provide insights into recent advancements in pre-treatment technologies, including mechanical, chemical, thermal, and biological methods. Each technology was critically evaluated and compared, and its relative worth was summarized based on full-scale applicability, along with economic benefits, AD performance improvements, and impact on digested sludge. The paper illuminates the readers about existing research gaps, and the future research needed for successful implementation of these approaches at full scale. HIGHLIGHTS AD offers sustainable sludge management by harnessing energy recovery.; Pre-treatment approaches for enhanced hydrolysis during AD.; Challenges and recent advances during sludge pre-treatments are discussed.; Further research on detailed characterization after pre-treatment is required.; The future outlook for pre-treated sewage sludge digestion has been discussed.;

Abstract Background Rapid monitoring of biomass conversion processes using techniques such as near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy can be substantially quicker and less labor-, resource-, and energy-intensive than conventional measurement techniques such as gas or liquid chromatography (GC or LC) due to the lack of solvents and preparation methods, as well as removing the need to transfer samples to an external lab for analytical evaluation. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of rapid monitoring of a biomass conversion process using NIR spectroscopy combined with multivariate statistical modeling, and to examine the impact of (1) subsetting the samples in the original dataset by process location and (2) reducing the spectral range used in the calibration model on model performance. Results We develop multivariate calibration models for the concentrations of soluble xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), monomeric xylose, and total solids at multiple points in a biomass conversion process which produces and then purifies XOS compounds from sugar cane bagasse. A single model using samples from multiple locations in the process stream showed acceptable performance as measured by standard statistical measures. However, compared to the single model, we show that separate models built by segregating the calibration samples according to process location show improved performance. We also show that combining an understanding of the sample spectra with simple multivariate analysis tools can result in a calibration model with a substantially smaller spectral range that provides essentially equal performance to the full-range model. Conclusions We demonstrate that real-time monitoring of soluble xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), monomeric xylose, and total solids concentration at multiple points in a process stream using NIR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate statistics is feasible. Segregation of sample populations by process location improves model performance. Models using a reduced spectral range containing the most relevant spectral signatures show very similar performance to the full-range model, reinforcing the importance of performing robust exploratory data analysis before beginning multivariate modeling.

Elephant grass (EG), or Pennisetum purpureum, is gaining attention as a robust renewable biomass source for energy production amidst growing global energy demands and the push for alternatives to fossil fuels. This review paper explores the status of EG as a sustainable bioenergy resource, integrating various studies to present a comprehensive analysis of its potential in renewable energy markets. Methods employed include assessing the efficiency and yield of biomass conversion methods such as pretreatment for bioethanol production, biomethane yields, direct combustion, and pyrolysis. The analysis also encompasses a technoeconomic evaluation of the economic viability and scalability of using EG for energy production, along with an examination of its environmental impacts, focusing on its water and carbon footprint. Results demonstrate that EG has considerable potential for sustainable energy practices due to its high biomass production and ecological benefits such as carbon sequestration. Despite challenges in cost competitiveness with traditional energy sources, specific applications like small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) systems and charcoal production show economic promise. Conclusively, EG presents a viable option for biomass energy, potentially playing a pivotal role in the biomass sector as the energy landscape shifts towards more sustainable solutions; although, technological and economic barriers need further addressing.