1.0. Introduction 4044 2.0. Biomass Chemistry and Growth Rates 4047 2.1. Lignocellulose and Starch-Based Plants 4047 2.2. Triglyceride-Producing Plants 4049 2.3. Algae 4050 2.4. Terpenes and Rubber-Producing Plants 4052 3.0. Biomass Gasification 4052 3.1. Gasification Chemistry 4052 3.2. Gasification Reactors 4054 3.3. Supercritical Gasification 4054 3.4. Solar Gasification 4055 3.5. Gas Conditioning 4055 4.0. Syn-Gas Utilization 4056 4.1. Hydrogen Production by Water−Gas Shift Reaction 4056

/pdf/synthesis-of-transportation-fuels-from-biomass-chemistry-3sckhzoqoz.pdf

Synthesis of transportation fuels from biomass: chemistry, catalysts, and engineering.

3.2.3. Hydroformylation 2467 3.2.4. Dimerization 2468 3.2.5. Oxidative Cleavage and Ozonolysis 2469 3.2.6. Metathesis 2470 4. Terpenes 2472 4.1. Pinene 2472 4.1.1. Isomerization: R-Pinene 2472 4.1.2. Epoxidation of R-Pinene 2475 4.1.3. Isomerization of R-Pinene Oxide 2477 4.1.4. Hydration of R-Pinene: R-Terpineol 2478 4.1.5. Dehydroisomerization 2479 4.2. Limonene 2480 4.2.1. Isomerization 2480 4.2.2. Epoxidation: Limonene Oxide 2480 4.2.3. Isomerization of Limonene Oxide 2481 4.2.4. Dehydroisomerization of Limonene and Terpenes To Produce Cymene 2481

Chemical Routes for the Transformation of Biomass into Chemicals

This critical review provides a processing-structure-property perspective on recent advances in cellulose nanoparticles and composites produced from them. It summarizes cellulose nanoparticles in terms of particle morphology, crystal structure, and properties. Also described are the self-assembly and rheological properties of cellulose nanoparticle suspensions. The methodology of composite processing and resulting properties are fully covered, with an emphasis on neat and high fraction cellulose composites. Additionally, advances in predictive modeling from molecular dynamic simulations of crystalline cellulose to the continuum modeling of composites made with such particles are reviewed (392 references).

/pdf/cellulose-nanomaterials-review-structure-properties-and-2z8x922p3v.pdf

Cellulose nanomaterials review: structure, properties and nanocomposites

Progress and recent trends in biodiesel fuels

Most of the carbon-based compounds currently manufactured by the chemical industry are derived from petroleum. The rising cost and dwindling supply of oil have been focusing attention on possible routes to making chemicals, fuels, and solvents from biomass instead. In this context, many recent studies have assessed the relative merits of applying different dedicated crops to chemical production. Here, we highlight the opportunities for diverting existing residual biomass--the by-products of present agricultural and food-processing streams--to this end.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/337/6095/695.full.pdf

Valorization of Biomass: Deriving More Value from Waste

Structural characterization of technical lignins for the production of adhesives: Application to lignosulfonate, kraft, soda-anthraquinone, organosolv and ethanol process lignins

Steam reforming model compounds of biomass gasification tars: conversion at different operating conditions and tendency towards coke formation

Analytical methods for determining functional groups in various technical lignins

Biodiesel is a clean renewable fuel with many environmental advantages. One of the most important is its good biodegradability and ability to dissolve crude oil and its derivatives. In this paper, we used the CO2 evolution test to study the biodegradability of biodiesel and its mixtures with fossil diesel fuel and gasoline. The biodegradability of biodiesel was higher than 98% after 28 days, while for diesel fuel and gasoline it was 50% and 56%, respectively. In all the cases, biodegradability increased with the addition of biodiesel. To evaluate the synergic effect, the experimental results for the mixtures were compared with a linear combination of the biodegradability values for the pure compounds. The synergic effect was positive in all the cases, demonstrating that biodiesel enhances the biodegradability of both diesel fuel and gasoline by means of cometabolism. The density and viscosity of the mixtures were also evaluated to determine the possibility of collecting them from an affected area. Although both properties increased with the addition of biodiesel, in all the cases the density was lower than that of water and the viscosity was low enough to allow pumpability.

Synergic effects of biodiesel in the biodegradability of fossil-derived fuels

The purpose of this study was to explore efficient methods of harvesting the microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Natural sedimentation experiments, performed at different light and temperature conditions, did not yield significant improvements in efficiency even after 1 week. When alkalinity-induced flocculation was performed, both the flocculation efficiency and the concentration factor dramatically improved at pH = 9.75 (0.5–0.7 units over the original pH of the culture) after 10 min settling time. Sedimentation rates are documented at pH ranging between pH 9.75 and 11.0. The results of the application of two conventional flocculants used in wastewater treatment, polyaluminium chloride and aluminium sulphate, are also presented. Chitosan was also used as a natural flocculating agent to improve possible contamination problems in the downstream process. pH was adjusted in order to determine optimum flocculation efficiency of chitosan in combination with a high concentration factor. Satisfactory results were found with chitosan at an adjusted pH of 9.9 using concentrations as low as 20 mg L−1, after testing a flocculant range of 5–200 mg L−1.

Joan Salvadó

Papers

Structural characterization of technical lignins for the production of adhesives: Application to lignosulfonate, kraft, soda-anthraquinone, organosolv and ethanol process lignins

Steam reforming model compounds of biomass gasification tars: conversion at different operating conditions and tendency towards coke formation

Analytical methods for determining functional groups in various technical lignins

Synergic effects of biodiesel in the biodegradability of fossil-derived fuels

Harvesting the microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum with polyaluminum chloride, aluminium sulphate, chitosan and alkalinity-induced flocculation