Journal Description
Biomass
Biomass
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on biomass conversion and biorefinery published quarterly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, EBSCO, and other databases.
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 24.1 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 13.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
- Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q2 (Forestry)
- Recognition of Reviewers: APC discount vouchers, optional signed peer review, and reviewer names published annually in the journal.
Latest Articles
Fatty Acid Bioconversion and Scaling-Up Effects of Swine Manure Treatment with Black Soldier Fly Larvae
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 1031-1046; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030058 - 9 Sep 2024
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Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) treatment offers a promising avenue for manure valorization. However, there is a lack of larval density studies and ton-scale exploration in swine manure bioconversion. This study delves into the efficiency of larval fatty acid (FA) bioconversion, examining the
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Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) treatment offers a promising avenue for manure valorization. However, there is a lack of larval density studies and ton-scale exploration in swine manure bioconversion. This study delves into the efficiency of larval fatty acid (FA) bioconversion, examining the impact of larval density on a kilogram scale and extending the analysis to a ton scale. Across a range of 50 to 600 larvae/kg, the larval FA content decreased from 15.3% to 7.85%. The peak larval FA yield, at 3.04% (based on manure dry matter), occurred at a density of 200 larvae/kg. Both low (50 larvae/kg) and high (600 larvae/kg) densities adversely affected BSFL bioconversion performance. Dominant larval FAs included C12:0 (39.7%), C16:1 (24.2%), C18:1 (17.5%), and C16:0 (8.3%). The scaling-up process maintained a consistent larval FA content and composition but resulted in decreased larvae FA yield due to increased larval mortality. Ultimately, each ton of swine manure yielded 12.4 kg of fresh larvae or 0.71 kg of larval FA components, corresponding to a 1.14% larval FA yield. This study underscores the feasibility of upscaling swine manure treatment using BSFL for FA bioconversion and emphasizes the necessity for large-scale studies to enhance larval survivorship and bioconversion efficiency.
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Open AccessArticle
Sorghum Biomass as an Alternative Source for Bioenergy
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Marina Moura Morales, Aaron Kinyu Hoshide, Leticia Maria Pavesi Carvalho and Flavio Dessaune Tardin
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 1017-1030; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030057 - 5 Sep 2024
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Alternative biomass for energy can reduce fossil fuel use and environmental impacts, providing energy security in semi-arid areas with shallow soils that are not ideal for agro-forestry. The densification of sorghum biomass (SB) brings its energetic characteristics closer those of wood. Higher heating
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Alternative biomass for energy can reduce fossil fuel use and environmental impacts, providing energy security in semi-arid areas with shallow soils that are not ideal for agro-forestry. The densification of sorghum biomass (SB) brings its energetic characteristics closer those of wood. Higher heating value (HHV) represents the heat produced by a given quantity of fuel. This Brazilian research tested different mixtures of SB, eucalyptus wood (W), and eucalyptus bio-oil (Bo) as briquettes for HHV and least ash. Compressed mixtures of SB+B were compared to W+Bo and SB+W+Bo. The concentrations of bio-oil added to SB/W were 1%, 3%, 4%, and 5%. SB+W+Bo composites’ W content was 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, with Bo as 3% of the weight. Sorghum biomass’ HHV is equivalent to W at 3%Bo. Bo doses of 4% and 5% had the same HHV as 3%. Eucalyptus wood did not have a significantly greater HHV with any amount of Bo. SB+W+3%Bo had the same HHV as W when W was at least 50% of the mixture. At greater than 36%W, the ash content was lower than 3%, meeting the EN-B international standard. The optimal composite mixture was 64%SB+36%W+3%Bo for HHV and ash content. SB briquettes can be more widely adopted given sorghum’s prevalence in semi-arid environments.
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Open AccessArticle
Enhancing the Release of Ellagic Acid from Mexican Rambutan Peel Using Solid-State Fermentation
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Nadia D. Cerda-Cejudo, José J. Buenrostro-Figueroa, Leonardo Sepúlveda, L. E. Estrada-Gil, Cristian Torres-León, Mónica L. Chávez-González, Cristóbal N. Aguilar and J. A. Ascacio-Valdés
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 1005-1016; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030056 - 2 Sep 2024
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This work describes research focused on the recovery of ellagic acid (EA) using solid-state fermentation-assisted extraction (SSF) with Aspergillus niger GH1 and Mexican rambutan peel as support. Several culture conditions (temperature, initial moisture, levels of inoculum, and concentration of salts) were evaluated using
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This work describes research focused on the recovery of ellagic acid (EA) using solid-state fermentation-assisted extraction (SSF) with Aspergillus niger GH1 and Mexican rambutan peel as support. Several culture conditions (temperature, initial moisture, levels of inoculum, and concentration of salts) were evaluated using a Placket–Burman design (PBD) for screening culture factors followed by a central composite design (CCD) for enhancing the EA. Antioxidant activity and polyphenol content were evaluated in SSF. Temperature (28.2 °C), inoculum (2 × 107 spores/g), and NaNO3 (3.83 g/L) concentration were identified as a significant parameter for EA in SSF. This enhancing procedure resulted in an increase in EA recovery [201.53 ± 0.58–392.23 ± 17.53 mg/g] and, with two steps of purification, [396.9 ± 65.2 mg/g] of EA compound was recovered per gram of recovered powder. Fermentation extracts reflect inhibition of radicals and the presence of polyphenol content. This work proposes to identify the ideal conditions of fermentation in order to obtain a higher yield high-quality compound from agro-industrial wastes through SSF.
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Open AccessArticle
Valorisation of Tomato Waste as a Source of Cutin for Hydrophobic Surface Coatings to Protect Starch- and Gelatine-Blend Bioplastics
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Marta Mroczkowska, David Culliton, Kieran J. Germaine, Manasa Hegde, Edmond F. Tobin and Adriana Cunha Neves
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 990-1004; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030055 - 2 Sep 2024
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The valorisation of food by-products is an important step towards sustainability in food production. Tomatoes constitute one of the most processed crops in the world (160 million tonnes of tomatoes are processed every year), of which 4% is waste. This translates to 6.4
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The valorisation of food by-products is an important step towards sustainability in food production. Tomatoes constitute one of the most processed crops in the world (160 million tonnes of tomatoes are processed every year), of which 4% is waste. This translates to 6.4 million tonnes of tomato skins and seeds. Currently, this waste is composted or is used in the production of low-value animal feed; higher value can be achieved if this waste stream is re-appropriated for more advanced purposes. Plant cuticle is a membrane structure found on leaves and fruit, including tomatoes, and is mainly composed of cutin. The main function of plant cuticle is to limit water loss from the internal tissue of the plant. Cutin, which can be recovered from the tomato skins by pH shift extraction, has hydrophobic (water repellent) properties and is therefore an ideal raw material for the development of a novel water-resistant coating. In this study, biomass-based bioplastics were developed. Unfortunately, although these bioplastics have good mechanical properties, their hydrophilic nature results in poor water barrier properties. To mitigate this, a very effective water-resistant coating was formulated using the cutin extracted from tomato peels. The water vapour permeability rates of the bioplastics improved by 74% and the percentage swelling of the bioplastic improved by 84% when treated with the cutin coating. With physicochemical properties that can compete with petroleum-based plastics, these bioplastics have the potential to address the growing market demand for sustainable alternatives for food packaging. Using ingredients generated from by-products of the food processing industries (circular economy), the development of these bioplastics also addresses the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP).
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Materials: Synthesis, Functionalisation, and Applications)
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Open AccessArticle
Characterization of Spent Mushroom Compost and Evaluation of Its Potential for Thermochemical Valorization through Ash Reduction Treatments
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Carolina Restrepo Londoño, Pedro Alvarado Torres, Andrés Moreno and Alexander Giraldo Gil
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 978-989; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030054 - 2 Sep 2024
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This study focuses on applying ash reduction treatments in order to explore the potential for industrial-scale thermochemical utilization of Spent Mushroom Compost (SMC). SMC is a waste byproduct generated by the mushroom industry. Typically, for every kilogram of produced mushrooms, five kilograms of
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This study focuses on applying ash reduction treatments in order to explore the potential for industrial-scale thermochemical utilization of Spent Mushroom Compost (SMC). SMC is a waste byproduct generated by the mushroom industry. Typically, for every kilogram of produced mushrooms, five kilograms of SMC are discarded, with current disposal methods involving landfills or incineration, causing environmental problems. Utilizing SMC effectively presents challenges due to the inherent properties of this biomass type, characterized by high moisture and ash content, low fixed carbon content, and material heterogeneity. These attributes create difficulties when employing a thermochemical valorization route due to the low carbon content and mineral treatments involved. The results have unveiled the heterogeneous nature of the material and its individual components when physically separated. Among the three identified fractions (agglomerated, woody, and fines), the woody fraction showed the highest potential for thermochemical utilization. Notably, when subjected to washing with distilled water and citric acid treatments, it resulted in up to 66% ash reduction, a significant outcome. Other fractions of the material may find potential applications in agriculture. The effective utilization of such high-volume waste biomasses demands diverse and innovative approaches, underlining the urgency and complexity of the problem and the need to employ the principles of a circular economy.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Systems for Biomass Crop Production and Use)
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Open AccessFeature PaperReview
Recent Advances in Characterization and Valorization of Lignin and Its Value-Added Products: Challenges and Future Perspectives
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Shehbaz Ali, Abida Rani, Mudasir A. Dar, Muther Mansoor Qaisrani, Muhammad Noman, Kamaraj Yoganathan, Muhammad Asad, Ashenafi Berhanu, Mukul Barwant and Daochen Zhu
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 947-977; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030053 - 2 Sep 2024
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Lignin, the earth’s second-most abundant biopolymer after cellulose, has long been relegated to low-value byproducts in the pulp and paper industry. However, recent advancements in valorization are transforming lignin into a sustainable and versatile feedstock for producing high-value biofuels, bioplastics, and specialty chemicals.
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Lignin, the earth’s second-most abundant biopolymer after cellulose, has long been relegated to low-value byproducts in the pulp and paper industry. However, recent advancements in valorization are transforming lignin into a sustainable and versatile feedstock for producing high-value biofuels, bioplastics, and specialty chemicals. This review explores the conversion of lignin’s complex structure, composed of syringyl (S), guaiacyl (G), and p-hydroxyphenyl (H) units, into value-added products. We critically assess various biochemical and analytical techniques employed for comprehensive lignin characterization. Additionally, we explore strategies for lignin upgrading and functionalization to enhance its suitability for advanced biomaterials. The review emphasizes key areas of lignin valorization, including catalytic depolymerization methods, along with the associated challenges and advancements. We discuss its potential as a feedstock for diverse products such as biofuels, bioplastics, carbon fibers, adhesives, and phenolic compounds. Furthermore, the review briefly explores lignin’s inherent properties as a UV protectant and antioxidant, alongside its potential for incorporation into polymer blends and composites. By presenting recent advancements and case studies from the literature, this review highlights the significant economic and environmental benefits of lignin valorization, including waste reduction, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and decreased reliance on non-renewable resources. Finally, we address future perspectives and challenges associated with achieving large-scale, techno-economically feasible, and environmentally sustainable lignin valorization.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Biomass for Energy, Chemicals and Materials)
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Open AccessArticle
Analysis of Multispectral Indices as a Tool for Segmenting and Quantifying the Seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii in a Commercial Cultivation System
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Marcel M. Innocentini, Ellen F. Rodrigues, Juliano K. Mathion, Edilson Carlos Caritá, Lisandro Simão and Mozart Marins
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 933-946; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030052 - 2 Sep 2024
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The red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii is an economically important gelling agent κappa carrageenan source. Phytochemical analysis has pointed to the presence of various other inorganic and organic compounds, which are expanding the application of biomass as a biostimulant in the agroindustry and as
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The red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii is an economically important gelling agent κappa carrageenan source. Phytochemical analysis has pointed to the presence of various other inorganic and organic compounds, which are expanding the application of biomass as a biostimulant in the agroindustry and as a source of new bioactive molecules in the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. Native to Southeast Asia, K. alvarezii has been introduced as an exotic species in Brazil for commercial large-scale farming. Nowadays, legal farming areas are located in the South and on the South-East coast, but with initiatives to be authorized in the country’s Northeast. The biomass yield in a large-scale farming system can be affected by cultivation techniques and environmental stressors, such as temperature, salinity, water quality, disease, and predators. The use of high-resolution images obtained with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV or drones) is becoming a popular technology in agriculture, and it has the potential to be employed in seaweed farming to extract a variety of variables and features to predict biomass yield throughout the cultivation period. The present study was conducted to analyze and select multispectral indices obtained from images collected by drone for the detection and quantification of K. alvarezii in a commercial cultivation environment in Brazil. Frequency analysis of pixel values, statistical analyses, and visual interpretations for 24 pre-selected indices was applied according to scores attributed to the efficiency of image segmentation. This analysis resulted in the selection of four indices (ABDI1, ABDI2, CIG, and GNDVI) as the best ones for the segmentation of images in the K. alvarezii commercial farms analyzed. The data obtained are the first step in improving the analysis process of images generated by drones, which will facilitate decision-making and better management, and help scale-up K. alvarezii farming in Brazil.
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Enhancement of Polypropylene Adhesion through Acetylated Kraft Lignin Incorporation
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Manuel Patricio da Silva Bisneto, Rogerio Ramos de Sousa Junior, Guilherme Elias Saltarelli Garcia and Demetrio Jackson dos Santos
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 920-932; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030051 - 2 Sep 2024
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Lignin, one of Earth’s most abundant biopolymers, is rich in phenolic and aliphatic functional groups, offering significant potential for chemical modification. Technical lignin, a byproduct of the kraft process, is produced in large quantities annually and can be used to enhance the properties
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Lignin, one of Earth’s most abundant biopolymers, is rich in phenolic and aliphatic functional groups, offering significant potential for chemical modification. Technical lignin, a byproduct of the kraft process, is produced in large quantities annually and can be used to enhance the properties of polymer matrices such as polypropylene (PP). PP, a widely used nonpolar polymer, suffers from low surface free energy, leading to poor adhesion properties. Combining PP with polar, renewable-source polymers like lignin can improve these properties. This study investigates the direct acetylation of kraft lignin (KL) to improve its dispersion in the PP matrix and enhance wettability and adhesion. The acetylation of KL was confirmed through FTIR and DSC analyses. PP and acetylated KL (AKL) were combined and processed via continuous extrusion. The blends’ thermal and mechanical properties, lignin dispersion, and wettability were evaluated. Additionally, PP and PP–lignin films were bonded to aluminized biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) for peel tests. Results showed increased surface free energy and improved adhesion, particularly in samples with AKL due to better dispersion. This direct acetylation route significantly enhances PP’s surface free energy and adhesion, presenting a sustainable alternative to fossil-based materials and promoting the use of lignin, a renewable and low-cost polymer.
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Open AccessArticle
Strategy Development for Hydrogen-Conversion Businesses in Côte d’Ivoire
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Kassé Jean Hugues Angbé, Yawovi Nougbléga, Satyanarayana Narra and Vidhi Singh
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 904-919; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030050 - 8 Aug 2024
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Côte d’Ivoire has substantially neglected crop residues from farms in rural areas, so this study aimed to provide strategies for the sustainable conversion of these products to hydrogen. The use of existing data showed that, in the Côte d’Ivoire, there were up to
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Côte d’Ivoire has substantially neglected crop residues from farms in rural areas, so this study aimed to provide strategies for the sustainable conversion of these products to hydrogen. The use of existing data showed that, in the Côte d’Ivoire, there were up to 16,801,306 tons of crop residues from 11 crop types in 2019, from which 1,296,424.84 tons of hydrogen could potentially be derived via theoretical gasification and dark fermentation approaches. As 907,497.39 tons of hydrogen is expected annually, the following estimations were derived. The three hydrogen-project implementation scenarios developed indicate that Ivorian industries could be supplied with 9,026,635 gigajoules of heat, alongside 17,910 cars and 4732 buses in the transport sector. It was estimated that 817,293.95 tons of green ammonia could be supplied to farmers. According to the study, 5,727,992 households could be expected to have access to 1718.40 gigawatts of electricity. Due to these changes in the transport, energy, industry, and agricultural sectors, a reduction of 1,644,722.08 tons of carbon dioxide per year could theoretically be achieved. With these scenarios, around 263,276.87 tons of hydrogen could be exported to other countries. The conversion of crop residues to hydrogen is a promising opportunity with environmental and socio-economic impacts. Therefore, this study requires further extensive research.
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Open AccessArticle
Ionic Liquid Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Sugarcane Cellulose to Produce Reducing Sugar
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Ruihuan Liu, Jiying Li, Enming Liu, Ahmad Ali, Zicheng Li and Shun Yao
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 886-903; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030049 - 7 Aug 2024
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As the most abundant bioenergy raw material in nature, cellulose can be converted into sugar by hydrolysis, which can be further degraded to produce downstream chemicals, such as polyols. Hydrolysis technology is one of the key steps in the development and utilization of
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As the most abundant bioenergy raw material in nature, cellulose can be converted into sugar by hydrolysis, which can be further degraded to produce downstream chemicals, such as polyols. Hydrolysis technology is one of the key steps in the development and utilization of cellulosic biomass resources. In this study, the ionic liquid (IL)-catalyzed hydrolysis of sugarcane cellulose into reducing sugar was studied. Firstly, the hydrolysis of sugarcane cellulose in different ionic liquids (including benzothiazolomethane sulfonate, [HBth][CH3SO3] and 1-methyl-3-(3-sulfopropyl)-imidazolium hydrogen sulfate, [C3SO3Hmim]HSO4) in heterogeneous and homogeneous systems to produce reducing sugar was studied. In a homogeneous system, the catalytic effect of an ionic liquid on sugarcane cellulose was explored. The pretreatment, IL dosage (0.1~1.0 g), reaction temperature (100~180 °C), addition of water (0~500 μL), and time (1~6 h) were all discovered as key conditions for hydrolysis. The acidity of an acidic ionic liquid is a key factor affecting the hydrolysis of sugarcane cellulose; meanwhile, effective pretreatment and water are also important. As a comparison, the catalytic effect of [C3SO3Hmim]HSO4 in heterogeneous systems (the maximum yield of 5.98% for total reducing sugars, TRS) was not as good as that of [HBth][CH3SO3] in homogeneous systems (33.97%). A higher temperature does not necessarily lead to an increased TRS yield, but it will make the maximum TRS appear earlier. At last, 732 cationic ion exchange resin was used to investigate the separation of reducing sugar and ionic liquid, and the recovery of ionic liquid was investigated by an adsorption–desorption experiment. The ionic liquid can be well separated from TRS in the [HBth][CH3SO3] and reused at least five times.
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Open AccessArticle
Waste Biomass Pretreatments for Biogas Yield Optimization and for the Extraction of Valuable High-Added-Value Products: Possible Combinations of the Two Processes toward a Biorefinery Purpose
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Jessica Di Mario, Nicolò Montegiove, Alberto Maria Gambelli, Monica Brienza, Claudia Zadra and Giovanni Gigliotti
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 865-885; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030048 - 6 Aug 2024
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Second- and third-generation biorefineries enable the sustainable management of biomasses within the framework of circular economy principles. This approach aims to minimize waste biomass while generating high-value molecules and bio-energy, such as biogas. Biogas production is achieved via anaerobic digestion, a process where
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Second- and third-generation biorefineries enable the sustainable management of biomasses within the framework of circular economy principles. This approach aims to minimize waste biomass while generating high-value molecules and bio-energy, such as biogas. Biogas production is achieved via anaerobic digestion, a process where microorganisms metabolize organic compounds in the absence of oxygen to primarily produce CO2 and CH4. The efficiency of this process is closely linked to the composition of the biomass and, sometimes, characteristics of the initial matrix can impede the process. To address these challenges, various pretreatments are employed to enhance digestion efficiency and mitigate issues associated with biomass complexity. However, the implementation of pretreatments can be energy-intensive and costly. The extraction of valuable molecules from biomass for various applications can represent a form of pretreatment. This extraction process selectively removes recalcitrant molecules such as lignin and cellulose, which can hinder biodegradation, thereby adding new value to the biomass. These extracted molecules not only contribute to improved anaerobic digestion efficiency but also offer potential economic benefits by serving as valuable inputs across diverse industrial sectors. This article presents a detailed state of the art of the most widespread biomass pretreatments and specifies when biomass is pretreated to improve the biogas yield and, in contrast, when it is treated to extract high-added-value products. Finally, in order to define if the same treatment can be simultaneously applied for both goals, an experimental section was dedicated to the production of biogas from untreated olive mill wastewater and the same biomass after being freeze-dried and after the extraction of polyphenols and flavonoids. The use of pretreated biomass effectively improved the biogas production yield: the untreated olive mill wastewater led to the production of 147 mL of biogas, while after freeze-drying and after polyphenols/flavonoids extraction, the production was, respectively, equal to 169 mL and 268 mL of biogas.
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Open AccessArticle
Comprehensive Environmental Impact Analysis of Dry Processing Methods for Specialty Coffee Beans in Bondowoso, Indonesia Using Life Cycle Assessment
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Andik Irawan, Harifara Rabemanolontsoa and Benjamin C. McLellan
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 843-864; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030047 - 2 Aug 2024
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Smallholders play a key role in specialty coffee production. Implementing industrial ecology coffee (IEC) practices is crucial for sustainable coffee production (SCP), aiming to add value, achieve zero waste, and respect the environment. For that purpose, this study used life cycle assessment (LCA)
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Smallholders play a key role in specialty coffee production. Implementing industrial ecology coffee (IEC) practices is crucial for sustainable coffee production (SCP), aiming to add value, achieve zero waste, and respect the environment. For that purpose, this study used life cycle assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of coffee production, specifically focusing on the global warming potential (GWP) of dry methods (DMs). Data were collected from pilot plant operations in Bondowoso, Indonesia, covering the process from cherry beans (CBs) to coffee powder (CP). A unique aspect of this study is assessing the impact of the DMs: Natural, Anaerobic, Hydro honey, Lactic, and Carbonic Maceration, which were often overlooked in previous research. Observations and experimental results served as primary data for input calculations in LCA. As a result, it was found that for the studied DMs, inputting 150 kg per batch of CBs produced approximately 22.4–22.8 kg of CP. The LCA revealed that for one kg of CP produced by the DMs, GWP ranged from 0.676 kg to 1.168 kg of CO2-eq, with Natural being the least polluting and Lactic having the highest environmental impact. This study also suggests potential improvements in by-products for novel food and fuel applications.
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Open AccessArticle
Optimizing the Extraction Process of Bioactive Compounds for Sustainable Utilization of Vitis vinifera and Citrus sinensis Byproducts
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Nestor Everardo Aranda-Ledesma, Israel Aguilar-Quintero, Claudia Lizeth Robledo-Jiménez, Pedro Aguilar-Zárate, Romeo Rojas and Guillermo Cristian Guadalupe Martínez-Ávila
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 826-842; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030046 - 2 Aug 2024
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The objective of this work was to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction process of bioactive compounds from byproducts of V. vinifera and C. sinensis using the Taguchi methodology. Moreover, the flavonoid content and the subsequent evaluation of the antioxidant potential through three different assays
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The objective of this work was to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction process of bioactive compounds from byproducts of V. vinifera and C. sinensis using the Taguchi methodology. Moreover, the flavonoid content and the subsequent evaluation of the antioxidant potential through three different assays (ABTS∙+ radical inhibition, ferric-reducing power (FRAP), and OH• radical inhibition) were determined. Furthermore, the potential of these metabolites to inhibit the α-amylase enzyme and their protective effect to inhibit the hemolysis due to oxidative processes was assessed. In addition, functional group analysis was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The Taguchi L9 statistical model enabled the increase in bioactive compound yields by evaluating factors such as particle size, temperature, time, and solvent concentration. The samples were found to contain flavonoid-type compounds, which translated into their ability to inhibit free radicals (ABTS∙+ and OH•) and act as reducing agents (FRAP). They exhibited inhibitory effects on the α-amylase enzyme involved in the assimilation of starch and its derivatives, along with providing over 50% protection to erythrocytes in the presence of free radicals generated by AAPH. Furthermore, FTIR analysis facilitated the identification of characteristic functional groups of phenolic compounds (O–H, C–H, C=C, C–C, C=O). These findings suggest that the analyzed byproducts can effectively serve as sources of bioactive compounds with potential applications in the formulation of functional foods and medicines. However, it is necessary to conduct compound identification and toxicity analysis to ensure the safety of these bioactive compounds.
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Open AccessReview
From Waste to Resource: Evaluating the Impact of Biosolid-Derived Biochar on Agriculture and the Environment
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Hailey Mcintyre and Simeng Li
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 809-825; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030045 - 2 Aug 2024
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The escalating production of biosolids from wastewater treatment plants presents significant environmental and health challenges due to the presence of pathogens, trace organic pollutants, and heavy metals. Transforming biosolids into biochar through pyrolysis offers a sustainable solution, enhancing soil fertility and mitigating greenhouse
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The escalating production of biosolids from wastewater treatment plants presents significant environmental and health challenges due to the presence of pathogens, trace organic pollutants, and heavy metals. Transforming biosolids into biochar through pyrolysis offers a sustainable solution, enhancing soil fertility and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This review critically evaluates the pyrolysis processes (slow, fast, and flash) for biosolid conversion and examines the impact of biosolid-derived biochar on soil nutrient retention, crop productivity, and greenhouse gas emissions. Findings from various studies demonstrate that BDB can significantly reduce emissions of N2O, CH4, and CO2 while improving soil health. However, challenges such as standardizing production methods, addressing heavy metal content, and ensuring economic feasibility must be overcome. Future research should focus on optimizing pyrolysis conditions, developing regulatory frameworks, and conducting comprehensive economic analyses to support the large-scale implementation of BDB in sustainable agriculture.
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Open AccessReview
From Citrus Waste to Valuable Resources: A Biorefinery Approach
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Nancy Medina-Herrera, Guillermo Cristian Guadalupe Martínez-Ávila, Claudia Lizeth Robledo-Jiménez, Romeo Rojas and Bianca Sherlyn Orozco-Zamora
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 784-808; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030044 - 1 Aug 2024
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Typically, citrus waste is composted on land by producers or used as livestock feed. However, the biorefinery approach offers a sustainable and economically viable solution for managing and valorizing these agricultural residues. This review examines research from the period 2014 to 2024. Citrus
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Typically, citrus waste is composted on land by producers or used as livestock feed. However, the biorefinery approach offers a sustainable and economically viable solution for managing and valorizing these agricultural residues. This review examines research from the period 2014 to 2024. Citrus waste can be utilized initially by extracting the present phytochemicals and subsequently by producing value-added products using it as a raw material. The phytochemicals reported as extracted include essential oils (primarily limonene), pectin, polyphenolic components, micro- and nano-cellulose, proteins, and enzymes, among others. The components produced from the waste include bioethanol, biogas, volatile acids, biodiesel, microbial enzymes, and levulinic acid, among others. The review indicates that citrus waste has technical, economic, and environmental potential for utilization at the laboratory scale and, in some cases, at the pilot scale. However, research on refining pathways, optimization, and scalability must continue to be an active field of investigation.
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Open AccessArticle
Can Foraging for Earthworms Significantly Reduce Global Famine in a Catastrophe?
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Henry Miller, James Mulhall, Lou Aino Pfau, Rachel Palm and David C. Denkenberger
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 765-783; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030043 - 16 Jul 2024
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Earthworms are a resilient group of species thriving in varied habitats through feeding on decaying organic matter, and are therefore predicted to survive an abrupt sunlight reduction scenario, e.g., a nuclear winter. In this study, the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of foraging earthworms to
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Earthworms are a resilient group of species thriving in varied habitats through feeding on decaying organic matter, and are therefore predicted to survive an abrupt sunlight reduction scenario, e.g., a nuclear winter. In this study, the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of foraging earthworms to reduce global famine in such a scenario with or without global catastrophic infrastructure loss was considered. Previously reported earthworm extraction methods (digging and sorting, vermifuge application, worm grunting, and electroshocking) were analysed, along with scalability, climate-related barriers to foraging, and pre-consumption processing requirements. Estimations of the global wild earthworm resource suggest it could provide three years of the protein needs of the current world human population, at a median cost of USD 353·kg−1 dry carbohydrate equivalent or a mean cost of USD 1200 (90% confidence interval: 32–8500)·kg−1 dry carbohydrate equivalent. At this price, foraging would cost a median of USD 185 to meet one person’s daily caloric requirement, or USD 32 if targeted to high-earthworm-biomass and low-labour-cost regions; both are more expensive than most existing resilient food solutions. While short-term targeted foraging could still be beneficial in select areas given its quick ramp-up, earthworms may bioaccumulate heavy metals, radioactive material, and other contaminants, presenting a significant health risk. Overall, earthworm foraging cannot be recommended as a scalable resilient food solution unless further research addresses uncertainties regarding cost-effectiveness and food safety.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass for Resilient Foods)
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Microalgae Isolated from Singapore Mangrove Habitat as Promising Microorganisms for the Sustainable Production of Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic Acid
by
Glen Kai Bin Kua, Shik Nie Kong, Hongfang Zhang and Giang Kien Truc Nguyen
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 751-764; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030042 - 10 Jul 2024
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Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) is an omega-3 fatty acid with beneficial effects for human health. In view of its increasing demand, DHA traditionally produced by marine fisheries will be insufficient, and an alternative sustainable source is urgently required. Here, we report the isolation
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Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) is an omega-3 fatty acid with beneficial effects for human health. In view of its increasing demand, DHA traditionally produced by marine fisheries will be insufficient, and an alternative sustainable source is urgently required. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of four novel microalgae strains, PLU-A, B, C and D, with a high DHA content of up to 45% from decayed mangrove samples collected from a coastal area in Singapore. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these isolates were clustered with Schizochytrium sp. TK6 (OK244290.1) and were identified as Schizochytrium sp. strains. A medium optimization with Schizochytrium sp. PLU-D found a glucose-to-yeast extract ratio of 4:1 to be optimal for high biomass and lipid accumulation of up to 70% in shake flasks. In fed-batch fermentation scale-up with the Schizochytrium sp. PLU-D strain, this translates to 175 g/L dry biomass, 94 g/L lipid and 36.2 g/L DHA. Accordingly, the DHA titer obtained is superior to most of the scale-up production reported thus far, while the DHA content is comparable to two other commercially available DHA algae oils. These results suggest that Schizochytrium sp. PLU-D has high potential to be applied for the sustainable production of DHA.
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Open AccessArticle
Analysis of Energy Potential of Switchgrass Biomass
by
Michael Ioelovich
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 740-750; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030041 - 8 Jul 2024
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In this research, the energy potential of switchgrass (SG) was analyzed to find promising directions for producing bioenergy from this biomass. The first direction is determining the thermal energy of bioethanol extracted from SG biomass after its pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis (saccharification), and fermentation
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In this research, the energy potential of switchgrass (SG) was analyzed to find promising directions for producing bioenergy from this biomass. The first direction is determining the thermal energy of bioethanol extracted from SG biomass after its pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis (saccharification), and fermentation of the resulting glucose. It was established that after a two-stage pretreatment of 1 ton of SG with dilute solutions of nitric acid and alkali, the largest amount of bioethanol can be extracted with an energy potential of 4.9 GJ. It is also shown that by the utilization of solid and liquid waste, the production cost of bioethanol can be reduced. On the other hand, the direct combustion of 1 ton of the initial SG biomass used as a solid biofuel provides an increased amount of thermal energy of 18.3 GJ, which is 3.7 times higher than the energy potential of the resulting bioethanol extracted from 1 ton of this biomass. Thus, if the ultimate goal is to obtain the maximum energy amount, then another direction for obtaining bioenergy from biomass should be implemented, namely, direct combustion, preferably after pelletizing. Studies have shown that fuel characteristics of SG pellets such as the gross thermal energy and density of thermal energy are lower than those of wood pellets, but they can be improved if the SG biomass is densified into pellets together with binders made from polymer waste.
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Open AccessReview
Biomass and Circular Economy: Now and the Future
by
Chen-Jie Hsiao and Jin-Li Hu
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 720-739; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030040 - 5 Jul 2024
Cited by 1
Abstract
Biomass is inherently organic and renewable, promoting a circular economy ecosystem. As global consumption patterns change, circular economy strategies have turned into sustainable net-zero strategies for developing countries and developed countries, and its value chain is now included in important biomass energy policies.
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Biomass is inherently organic and renewable, promoting a circular economy ecosystem. As global consumption patterns change, circular economy strategies have turned into sustainable net-zero strategies for developing countries and developed countries, and its value chain is now included in important biomass energy policies. Many countries are actively transforming their economic growth patterns, developing their own circular economy, targeting ecological sustainable development, and adjusting domestic industrial structures. The concept of a circular society, synergistic with the social economy and developed on the basis of the circular economy, has production and consumption at its core. This research aims to verify the important roles that biomass plays in the circular economy and to initiate a virtuous resource circulation model, promote material recycling and reuse, form a “resources-products-renewable resources” model, and promote better resource use efficiency. It discusses the important roles that the bioeconomy plays when achieving a circular economy and also proposes new economic and policy concepts. The key conclusions cover: (1) the biomass energy–circular economy business model; (2) recognizing the co-benefit of consumers and a prosumer circular economy; and (3) challenges to a renewable cycle under economic applications.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the "2nd European Congress on Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development—Energy Trends 2024")
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Open AccessReview
Unveiling the Potential of Spirulina Biomass—A Glimpse into the Future Circular Economy Using Green and Blue Ingredients
by
Monize Bürck, Camilly Fratelli, Marina Campos Assumpção de Amarante and Anna Rafaela Cavalcante Braga
Biomass 2024, 4(3), 704-719; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4030039 - 5 Jul 2024
Cited by 1
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The present work aims to explore Spirulina biomass’ functional and technological marvels and its components, such as C-phycocyanin (C-PC), in modern food systems from a circular economy perspective, evaluating a decade of insights and innovations. This comprehensive review delves into the pivotal studies
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The present work aims to explore Spirulina biomass’ functional and technological marvels and its components, such as C-phycocyanin (C-PC), in modern food systems from a circular economy perspective, evaluating a decade of insights and innovations. This comprehensive review delves into the pivotal studies of the past decade, spotlighting the vital importance of maintaining stability in various food matrices to unleash the full biological impacts. Through the lens of food science intertwined with circular economy principles, this analysis meets health and environmental requisites and explores the harmonious synergy between food systems, economy, and industry. While Spirulina has typically served as a supplement, its untapped potential as a fundamental food ingredient has been unveiled, showcasing its abundant nutritional and functional attributes. Technological hurdles in preserving the vibrant color of C-PC have been triumphantly surmounted through simple temperature control methods or cutting-edge nanotechnology applications. Despite the gap in sensory acceptance studies, the emergence of blue foods introduces groundbreaking functional and innovative avenues for the food industry.
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