Development and Utilization of Biomass, Coal and Organic Solid Wastes

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 2718

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
Interests: biomass; solid waste; thermal conversion; emission; resource

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Energy and Power Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410114, China
Interests: solid wastes utilization; pollutant generation mechnisms and control technology; biomass; pyrolysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biomass, coal, and solid wastes (organic) are relevant to society’s development, and it is known that their amounts are large. Biomass, coal, and solid wastes (organic) are typically composed of the elements C, H, O, N, S, and others, and they are regarded as carriers of energy and resources. In addition, their use is related to CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions. Therefore, the development and utilization of three resources with high efficiency and low emissions are promising for the future.

Combustion, gasification, and pyrolysis are developing and valuable utilization methods for biomass, coal, and solid wastes (organic). Besides, there are still novel and valuable research projects in the energy and chemistry fields to develop relevant technologies.

This Special Issue on “Development and Utilization of Biomass, Coal and Organic Solid Wastes” intends to present examples of the treatment and utilization of biomass, coal and organic solid wastes. Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Composition analysis of biomass, coal, and organic solid wastes;
  • Treatment method and mechanism;
  • Utilization method and mechanism;
  • Reactor design and optimization;
  • Process analysis and optimization;
  • Economic analysis and guidance;
  • Product utilization and mechanism;
  • Biochar and pyrolytic char of coal and organic solid waste.

Dr. Qiangqiang Ren
Dr. Mengxia Qing
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • biomass
  • coal
  • organic solid waste
  • treatment
  • utilization
  • products
  • emission

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1856 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Biodiesel Production from Turkish Coffee Waste Oil: A Comparative Study with Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysts
by Ayse Hilal Ulukardesler
Processes 2025, 13(4), 1002; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041002 - 27 Mar 2025
Viewed by 300
Abstract
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel obtained from vegetable or animal oils and a good alternative to fossil fuels. Since the raw material cost constitutes much of the total biodiesel production cost, cheaper waste oils are potential substitutes for vegetable oils in biodiesel production. [...] Read more.
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel obtained from vegetable or animal oils and a good alternative to fossil fuels. Since the raw material cost constitutes much of the total biodiesel production cost, cheaper waste oils are potential substitutes for vegetable oils in biodiesel production. Coffee is the product with the second-highest trade volume in the world after oil, at approximately 1.5–2 million tons annually, and results in a huge amount of waste. Recycling such waste into fuels is a promising way to solve the waste problem and this waste is potential raw material for biodiesel production. In this study, biodiesel was produced from the oil extracted from Turkish coffee waste, which has approximately 10–15% oil. The molar ratio of methanol to Turkish coffee waste oil (12, 15, 20), catalyst concentration (1, 1.5, 2 wt.%), and time (60, 120 min.) were the studied parameters. Potassium hydroxide and ion exchange resin were used as catalysts in the experiments. The highest biodiesel yield was obtained with potassium hydroxide catalyst, while the results obtained by using ion exchange resin may be improved. After the parametric study was completed for biodiesel production, the physical and chemical properties of the produced biodiesel were compared with the international biodiesel standards. The values of properties were at an acceptable level and are suitable for improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Utilization of Biomass, Coal and Organic Solid Wastes)
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12 pages, 1361 KiB  
Article
Analysis and Joint Correlation Models on Pore Structures of Graphitized Phenolic Resin Char Under Ni-Zn-B Catalytic Effect
by Qiangqiang Ren, Jing Zhou, Renhua Huang, Wulin Li, Changsong Zhou, Hao Wu and Hongmin Yang
Processes 2025, 13(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13010014 - 25 Dec 2024
Viewed by 604
Abstract
Phenolic resin plastic is mainly composed of phenolic resin and pyrolysis is often used to perform the important task of treating it. While there are large quantities of char generating, the char can be graphitized for upgrading under Ni-Zn-B catalytic effect. Pore structure [...] Read more.
Phenolic resin plastic is mainly composed of phenolic resin and pyrolysis is often used to perform the important task of treating it. While there are large quantities of char generating, the char can be graphitized for upgrading under Ni-Zn-B catalytic effect. Pore structure is an important index for evaluating graphitic carbon. In this study, the phenolic resin char was graphitized with Ni-Zn-B at low temperature based on orthogonal rules (graphitization temperature: 1300 °C, 1400 °C, 1500 °C; retention time: 60 min, 120 min, 180 min; catalyst additive ratio: 5%, 10%, 15%), and their pore structures were determined by N2 adsorption and desorption method. The graphitized phenolic resin chars were porous carbon materials whose specific surface areas were commonly between 110 to 160 m2/g; they also mainly consisted of wholly equivalent micropores and mesopores. The effects of the graphitization conditions on pore structures of GPRCs were analyzed; this revealed that the increase in graphitization temperature destroyed micropores to form mesopores, with a longer retention time leading to the production of small quantities of micropores and mesopores, some micropore spaces were occupied and mesopore skeletons were destroyed to from large pores with more Ni-Zn-B addition. The correlation models of the pore structures and reaction parameters were built; it was found that the multiple linear regression model showed an advantage in predicting micropore structures and the built artificial neural network model was better at predicting the total pore and mesopore. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Utilization of Biomass, Coal and Organic Solid Wastes)
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16 pages, 5220 KiB  
Article
Modification of Sulfur Cake—Waste from Sulfuric Acid Production
by Yerdos Ongarbayev, Yerbol Tileuberdi, Aigul Baimagambetova, Yerzhan Imanbayev, Yernar Kanzharkan, Ainur Zhambolova, Aliya Kenzhegaliyeva and Aksaule Kydyrali
Processes 2024, 12(9), 2048; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12092048 - 22 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1176
Abstract
In the production of sulfuric acid, sulfur cake—a waste product of the sulfur purification process—is formed in large quantities, which requires its disposal and use. For its use in composite materials, modification is necessary to convert sulfur into a polymer form. The aim [...] Read more.
In the production of sulfuric acid, sulfur cake—a waste product of the sulfur purification process—is formed in large quantities, which requires its disposal and use. For its use in composite materials, modification is necessary to convert sulfur into a polymer form. The aim of the study was to develop a method for modifying sulfur cake—a waste product of sulfuric acid production—for its disposal. Available reagents—styrene, glycerol, and oleic acid—were tested as modifiers in the work. The sample compositions consisted of 100% sulfur cake (no. 1) and its mixtures: 97% sulfur cake + 3% styrene (no. 2), 97% sulfur cake + 3% glycerol (no. 3), 97% sulfur cake + 3% oleic acid (no. 4), 95% sulfur cake + 3% styrene, 1% glycerol, and 1% oleic acid (no. 5). Modification of sulfur cake was carried out at a temperature of 140 °C for 30 min. The composition, crystal structure, and thermal properties of the samples of the original and modified sulfur cake were studied using X-ray phase and X-ray structural analyses, IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis. The optimal modifier for sulfur cake was a mixture of styrene, glycerol, and oleic acid, which led to the formation of acetal (polyoxymethylene) and an improvement in the structure due to a decrease in the content of impurities. Modification of sulfur cake with styrene resulted in the appearance of a CAr–S bond band at 571 cm−1, and modification with oleic acid a C–S band in the region of 694 cm−1 in the IR spectra. The results of differential scanning calorimetric analysis showed an increase in the heat of fusion of sulfur by 12.45 J/g in the samples of sulfur cake modified with glycerol and styrene. Modification of sulfur cake with oleic acid and a mixture of reagents resulted in the appearance of a third peak with maxima at 244.2 and 264.0 °C, which demonstrated a significant effect of the indicated additives on the thermal behavior of the sulfur cake. Proposed schemes for modifying sulfur cake with styrene and oleic acid are presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Utilization of Biomass, Coal and Organic Solid Wastes)
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