Sustainability metrics of pretreatment processes in a waste derived lignocellulosic biomass biorefinery

Lignocellulosic biomass is a promising alternative to petroleum oil for producing energy and chemicals, owing to its abundance and sustainability. In the past decades, extensive research has applied a wide range of thermo-chemical technologies for converting biomass into value-added products. Among them, hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is regarded to be one of the most effective techniques to produce bio-fuels and bio-based chemicals. However, there are still several technical barriers that must be addressed before the industrialization of HTL technology. Although many previous reviews have summarized the reaction mechanism, properties of liquefaction products, and various operating parameters, few articles have discussed the potential applications of HTL products and the techno-economic problems facing by the industrialization of HTL. Therefore, in this review, the possible applications of HTL products (bio-crude, aqueous phase, solid residue, and gas) were thoroughly discussed. In addition, the current challenges of HTL treatment, especially for the continuous operation, to produce bio-based fuel and chemicals is reviewed. Finally, the possible future directions and the main conclusions are covered.

Hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass to fuels and value-added chemicals: Products applications and challenges to develop large-scale operations

The liquefaction of biomass and carbonaceous wastes using hydro-pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction or liquefaction using water and hydrocarbon solvents are promising thermochemical methods for producing renewable fuels and chemicals. New combinations of unit operations and possibly novel reactors will likely be required to economically convert biomass feedstock into partially upgraded bio-crudes. While some techno-economic assessments show that biofuels from fast pyrolysis may be competitive with petroleum fuels in future, conventional pyrolysis produces a poor quality bio-crude and is only suitable for dry, homogenous feedstock such as woody biomass, agricultural waste (corn stoves, wheat stalk, and rice husk). It is desirable to produce high-quality bio-crudes and to be able to process high-moisture feedstock such as algae, organic waste (food residues), bio-solids and bio-sludge into transportation fuels using the liquefaction approaches. Increased awareness of the environmental damage from burning fossil fuels is driving national and international reduction targets for on CO2 emissions. Liquefaction technologies aimed at producing alternatives to fossil-based transportation fuels/hydrocarbons are likely to receive continued support in the future and the most promising ones could be developed to full commercial scale. This review provides a summary of the current state of development of these technologies and also some of the challenges faced to develop commercially viable transportation fuels via liquefaction routes. This review compares liquefaction routes and provides a summary of techno-economic analyses where data is available and discusses the challenges and opportunities associated with commercial scale-up.

Recent advances in liquefaction technologies for production of liquid hydrocarbon fuels from biomass and carbonaceous wastes

Hydrothermal liquefaction of lignocellulose for value-added products: Mechanism, parameter and production application.

Hydrothermal liquefaction of Scenedesmus abundans biomass spent for sorption of petroleum residues from wastewater and studies on recycling of post hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater.

Effects of liquefaction parameters of cellulose in supercritical solvents of methanol, ethanol and acetone on products yield and compositions.

The Adsorption and Desorption Behavior of Bisphenol A on Five Microplastics Under Simulated Gastrointestinal Conditions

Studies on competitive adsorption characteristics of bisphenol A and 17α-ethinylestradiol on thermoplastic polyurethane by site energy distribution theory

Jiao Sun

Papers

Effects of liquefaction parameters of cellulose in supercritical solvents of methanol, ethanol and acetone on products yield and compositions.

The Adsorption and Desorption Behavior of Bisphenol A on Five Microplastics Under Simulated Gastrointestinal Conditions

Studies on competitive adsorption characteristics of bisphenol A and 17α-ethinylestradiol on thermoplastic polyurethane by site energy distribution theory