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Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Bioenergy
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Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Bioenergy

A topical collection in Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This collection belongs to the section "Biomass Catalysis".

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Editors

Dr. Sergio Nogales Delgado

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering and Physical Chemistry, University of Extremadura, Avda. De Elvas s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Interests: biomass; biodiesel; biolubricants; oxidative stability; fatty acid methyl esters; catalyst; pyrolysis; gasification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Juan Félix González

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Applied Physics, E.I.I., Extremadura University, Avenida de Elvas s/n, 06071 Badajoz, Spain
Interests: biomass; bioenergy; combustion; pyrolysis; hydrothermal carbonization; biodiesel
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Simona M. Coman

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Catalysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: heterogeneous catalysis; asymmetric catalysis; organocatalysis; green chemistry; biomass valorization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Taking into account the current challenges related to gradual environmental degradation, the replacement of traditional processes to obtain energy (many of them focused on petroleum-based industry) is becoming more and more important. Thus, processes that contribute to green chemistry, a circular economy, or sustainability are a clear future trend and an alternative for the abovementioned polluting processes. Considering this idea, the present Topic Collection (TC) is mainly devoted to the conversion of biomass to bioenergy through different methods where the role of catalysts is essential. Indeed, the competitiveness of these processes is considerably improved by the use of catalysts, which is an important step when translating successful laboratory-scale processes to the industrial or semi-industrial scale. Thus, in this context, for this TC, studies about the catalytic conversion of biomass to bioenergy are welcome, including interesting aspects such as catalytic performance, reusability, durability, characterization, etc. In other words, studies devoted to investigating the contribution of catalysts to the sustainable generation of energy are highly sought after.

If you would like to submit papers to this Topic Collection or have any questions, please contact the in-house editor, Mr. Ives Liu (ives.liu@mdpi.com).

Dr. Sergio Nogales Delgado
Prof. Dr. Juan Félix González
Prof. Dr. Simona M. Coman
Collection Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomass
  • bioenergy
  • bioproducts
  • energy conversion
  • sustainability
  • heterogeneous catalysts

Published Papers (6 papers)

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2025

Jump to: 2024

12 pages, 1467 KiB  
Article
Conversion of Cellulose to γ-Valerolactone over Raney Ni Catalyst Using H2O as a Hydrogen Source
by Yalin Guo, Zhuang Ma, Binbin Jin, Limin Ma and Guodong Yao
Catalysts 2025, 15(6), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15060530 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 198
Abstract
The sustainable valorization of lignocellulosic biomass into high-value platform chemicals presents a crucial pathway for reducing reliance on fossil resources. Gamma (γ)-valerolactone (GVL) has gained recognition as a versatile bio-derived compound with broad applications in renewable energy systems and green chemical synthesis. While [...] Read more.
The sustainable valorization of lignocellulosic biomass into high-value platform chemicals presents a crucial pathway for reducing reliance on fossil resources. Gamma (γ)-valerolactone (GVL) has gained recognition as a versatile bio-derived compound with broad applications in renewable energy systems and green chemical synthesis. While conventional GVL production strategies from carbohydrate biomass typically depend on noble metal catalysts paired with high-pressure hydrogen gas, these approaches face substantial technical barriers including catalyst costs, hydrogen storage requirements, and operational safety concerns in large-scale applications. This work develops an innovative catalytic system utilizing earth-abundant iron for in situ hydrogen generation through water splitting, integrated with Raney Ni as the hydrogenation catalyst. The designed two-stage process enables direct conversion of cellulose—first through acid hydrolysis to levulinic acid (LA) followed by catalytic hydrogenation to GVL without intermediate purification. Through systematic parameter optimization, a remarkable 61.9% overall GVL yield from cellulose feedstock was achieved. Furthermore, the methodology’s versatility was demonstrated through wheat straw conversion experiments, yielding 24.6% GVL. This integrated methodology explores a technically feasible pathway for direct cellulose-to-GVL conversion utilizing abundant water as the hydrogen source, effectively overcoming the critical limitations associated with conventional hydrogenation technologies regarding hydrogen infrastructure and process safety. Full article
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15 pages, 2034 KiB  
Article
Synthesis Gas Production from Co-Pyrolysis of Straw Biomass and Polyethylene Agricultural Film and Kinetic Analysis
by Zhen Zhao and Lei Wang
Catalysts 2025, 15(6), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15060517 - 23 May 2025
Viewed by 289
Abstract
The co-pyrolysis of straw biomass and polyethylene film at different mass ratios was carried out in a small fixed-bed reactor with CaO as catalyst. The resulting synthesis gas production, liquid and solid products, and pyrolysis kinetics were studied by gas chromatography and thermogravimetric [...] Read more.
The co-pyrolysis of straw biomass and polyethylene film at different mass ratios was carried out in a small fixed-bed reactor with CaO as catalyst. The resulting synthesis gas production, liquid and solid products, and pyrolysis kinetics were studied by gas chromatography and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that with increasing proportion of plastic in the feedstock, co-pyrolysis had a synergistic effect on the CH4 yield, reaching as high as 3.124 mol CH4/kg feedstock, while the H2 and CO yields continuously decreased. Comparing the experimental and theoretical yields of synthesis gas, the trends for CO and CH4 were consistent, but those of H2 and CO2 differed widely. Examining the influence of element mass ratios in the feedstock on the synthesis gas composition, it was found that the biomass and plastics affected the formation of oxygen- and hydrogen-containing gases, respectively. The activation energy and pre-exponential factor showed increasing and decreasing trends, respectively, when the feedstock proportions and heating rate changed. Fitted linear correlation coefficients for all pyrolysis stages exceeded 0.99. Full article
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2024

Jump to: 2025

14 pages, 4800 KiB  
Article
Co-Carbonization of Straw and ZIF-67 to the Co/Biomass Carbon for Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction
by Jingwen Yu, Yongchao Du, Shuaiqi Liu, Yunliang Liu, Yaxi Li, Yuanyuan Cheng, Peng Cao, Xinyue Zhang, Xinya Yuan, Naiyun Liu, Yixian Liu and Haitao Li
Catalysts 2024, 14(11), 817; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14110817 - 13 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1133
Abstract
Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction enables the recovery of nitrate from water under mild conditions and generates ammonia for nitrogen fertilizer feedstock in an economical and green means. In this paper, Co/biomass carbon (Co/BC) composite catalysts were prepared by co-carbonization of straw and metal–organic framework [...] Read more.
Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction enables the recovery of nitrate from water under mild conditions and generates ammonia for nitrogen fertilizer feedstock in an economical and green means. In this paper, Co/biomass carbon (Co/BC) composite catalysts were prepared by co-carbonization of straw and metal–organic framework material ZIF-67 for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction using hydrothermal and annealing methods. The metal–organic framework structure disperses the catalyst components well and provides a wider specific surface area, which is conducive to the adsorption of nitrate and the provision of more reactive active sites. The introduction of biomass carbon additionally enhances the electrical conductivity of the catalyst and facilitates electron transport. After electrochemical testing, Co/BC-100 exhibited the best performance in electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia, with an ammonia yield of 3588.92 mmol gcat.−1 h−1 and faradaic efficiency of 97.01% at −0.5 V vs. RHE potential. This study provides a promising approach for the construction of other efficient cobalt-based electrocatalysts. Full article
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17 pages, 6258 KiB  
Article
Catalytic Biolubricant Production from Canola Oil Through Double Transesterification with Methanol and Neopentyl Glycol
by Manuel Acevedo-Serrano, Sergio Nogales-Delgado and Juan Félix González González
Catalysts 2024, 14(11), 748; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14110748 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1162
Abstract
In the current environmental scenario, the proposal of alternatives for petroleum-based products has considerably increased, with the aim of looking for bioproducts with interesting properties such as biodegradability, sustainability and efficiency, among others. In this sense, the role of biolubricants is promising, offering [...] Read more.
In the current environmental scenario, the proposal of alternatives for petroleum-based products has considerably increased, with the aim of looking for bioproducts with interesting properties such as biodegradability, sustainability and efficiency, among others. In this sense, the role of biolubricants is promising, offering a wide range of possibilities through different methods and operating conditions. Specifically, double transesterification could be a suitable process in a biorefinery context. The aim of this work was to produce a biolubricant through double transesterification with methanol and neopentyl glycol (NPG) under different reaction conditions by using homogeneous catalysis (sodium methoxide). Different catalyst concentrations, among other changes in reaction conditions (temperature ranging between 100 and 140 °C and NPG/FAME ratios between 0.5 and 2), were used, obtaining high conversion values (96%) and a final product with a high viscosity (20.7 cSt), which allows for its use as engine oil (SAE 5W). In conclusion, biodiesel and biolubricant production was feasible through homogeneous catalysis, proving the feasibility of this process at the laboratory scale. Further studies, including the use of different heterogeneous catalysts, as well as the implementation of this process at a semi-industrial scale, are recommended. Full article
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21 pages, 4318 KiB  
Article
Upgrading of Rice Straw Bio-Oil Using 1-Butanol over ZrO2-Fe3O4 Bimetallic Nanocatalyst Supported on Activated Rice Straw Biochar to Butyl Esters
by Alhassan Ibrahim, Islam Elsayed and El Barbary Hassan
Catalysts 2024, 14(10), 666; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14100666 - 27 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2233
Abstract
Bio-oil produced via fast pyrolysis, irrespective of the biomass source, faces several limitations, such as high water content, significant oxygenated compound concentration (35–40 wt.%), a low heating value (13–20 MJ/kg), and poor miscibility with fossil fuels. These inherent drawbacks hinder the bio-oil’s desirable [...] Read more.
Bio-oil produced via fast pyrolysis, irrespective of the biomass source, faces several limitations, such as high water content, significant oxygenated compound concentration (35–40 wt.%), a low heating value (13–20 MJ/kg), and poor miscibility with fossil fuels. These inherent drawbacks hinder the bio-oil’s desirable properties and usability, highlighting the necessity for advanced processing techniques to overcome these challenges and improve the bio-oil’s overall quality and applicability in energy and industrial sectors. To address the limitations of bio-oil, a magnetic bimetallic oxide catalyst supported on activated rice straw biochar (ZrO2-Fe3O4/AcB), which has not been previously employed for this purpose, was developed and characterized for upgrading rice straw bio-oil in supercritical butanol via esterification. Furthermore, the silica in the biochar, combined with the Lewis acid sites provided by ZrO2 and Fe3O4, offers Brønsted acid sites. This synergistic combination enhances the bio-oil’s quality by facilitating esterification, deoxygenation, and mild hydrogenation, thereby reducing oxygen content and increasing carbon and hydrogen levels. The effects of variables, including time, temperature, and catalyst load, were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal reaction conditions were determined using a three-factor, one-response, and three-level Box-Behnken design (BBD). The ANOVA results at a 95% confidence level indicate that the results are statistically significant due to a high Fisher’s test (F-value = 37.07) and a low probability (p-value = 0.001). The minimal difference between the predicted R² and adjusted R² for the ester yield (0.0092) suggests a better fit. The results confirm that the optimal reaction conditions are a catalyst concentration of 1.8 g, a reaction time of 2 h, and a reaction temperature of 300 °C. Additionally, the catalyst can be easily recycled for four reaction cycles. Moreover, the catalyst demonstrated remarkable reusability, maintaining its activity through four consecutive reaction cycles. Its magnetic properties allow for easy separation from the reaction mixture using an external magnet. Full article
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10 pages, 2068 KiB  
Article
Catalytic Effect of Alkali Metal Ions on the Generation of CO and CO2 during Lignin Pyrolysis: A Theoretical Study
by Xiaoyan Jiang, Yiming Han, Baojiang Li, Ji Liu, Guanzheng Zhou, Xiaojiao Du, Shougang Wei, Hanxian Meng and Bin Hu
Catalysts 2024, 14(8), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14080537 - 18 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1159
Abstract
A density functional theory method was employed to conduct theoretical calculations on the pyrolysis reaction pathways of lignin monomer model compounds with an aldehyde or carboxyl group under the catalytic effect of alkali metal ions Na+ and K+, exploring their [...] Read more.
A density functional theory method was employed to conduct theoretical calculations on the pyrolysis reaction pathways of lignin monomer model compounds with an aldehyde or carboxyl group under the catalytic effect of alkali metal ions Na+ and K+, exploring their influence on the formation of the small molecular gaseous products CO and CO2. The results indicate that Na+ and K+ can easily bind with the oxygen-containing functional groups of the lignin monomer model compounds to form stable and low-energy complexes. Except for benzaldehyde and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, Na+ and K+ can facilitate the decarbonylation reactions of other benzaldehyde-based and phenylacetaldehyde-based lignin monomer model compounds during the pyrolysis process, thereby enhancing the generation of CO. When the characteristic functional groups on the benzene rings of benzaldehyde-based and phenylacetaldehyde-based lignin monomer model compounds are the same, the phenylacetaldehyde-based ones are more prone to undergo decarbonylation than the benzaldehyde-based ones. Additionally, both Na+ and K+ can inhibit the decarboxylation reactions of benzoic acid-based and phenylacetic acid-based lignin monomer model compounds, thereby restraining the formation of CO2. When the characteristic functional groups on the benzene rings of benzoic acid-based and phenylacetic acid-based lignin monomer model compounds are the same, the phenylacetic acid-based ones are more difficult to undergo decarboxylation than the benzoic acid-based ones. Full article
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