This paper provides an updated review on fast pyrolysis of biomass for production of a liquid usually referred to as bio-oil. The technology of fast pyrolysis is described including the major reaction systems. The primary liquid product is characterised by reference to the many properties that impact on its use. These properties have caused increasingly extensive research to be undertaken to address properties that need modification and this area is reviewed in terms of physical, catalytic and chemical upgrading. Of particular note is the increasing diversity of methods and catalysts and particularly the complexity and sophistication of multi-functional catalyst systems. It is also important to see more companies involved in this technology area and increased take-up of evolving upgrading processes. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Review of fast pyrolysis of biomass and product upgrading

Technology development for the production of biobased products from biorefinery carbohydrates—the US Department of Energy’s “Top 10” revisited

Renewable Resources Robert-Jan van Putten,†,‡ Jan C. van der Waal,† Ed de Jong,*,† Carolus B. Rasrendra,‡,⊥ Hero J. Heeres,*,‡ and Johannes G. de Vries* †Avantium Chemicals, Zekeringstraat 29, 1014 BV Amsterdam, the Netherlands ‡Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands DSM Innovative Synthesis BV, P.O. Box 18, 6160 MD Geleen, the Netherlands Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Ganesha 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia

Hydroxymethylfurfural, A Versatile Platform Chemical Made from Renewable Resources

Furfural offers a promising, rich platform for lignocellulosic biofuels. These include methylfuran and methyltetrahydrofuran, valerate esters, ethylfurfuryl and ethyltetrahydrofurfuryl ethers as well as various C(10)-C(15) coupling products. The various production routes are critically reviewed, and the needs for improvements are identified. Their relative industrial potential is analysed by defining an investment index and CO(2) emissions as well as determining the fuel properties for the resulting products. Finally, the most promising candidate, 2-methylfuran, was subjected to a road trial of 90,000 km in a gasoline blend. Importantly, the potential of the furfural platform relies heavily on the cost-competitive production of furfural from lignocellulosic feedstock. Conventional standalone and emerging coproduct processes-for example, as a coproduct of cellulosic ethanol, levulinic acid or hydroxymethyl furfural-are expensive and energetically demanding. Challenges and areas that need improvement are highlighted. In addition to providing a critical review of the literature, this paper also presents new results and analysis in this area.

Furfural—A Promising Platform for Lignocellulosic Biofuels

Biomass can be utilized to produce bio-oil, a promising alternative energy source for the limited crude oil. There are mainly two processes involved in the conversion of biomass to bio-oil: flash pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction. The cost of bio-oil production from biomass is relatively high based on current technologies, and the main challenges are the low yield and poor bio-oil quality. Considerable research efforts have been made to improve the bio-oil production from biomass. Scientific and technical developments towards improving bio-oil yield and quality to date are reviewed, with an emphasis on bio-oil upgrading research. Furthermore, the article covers some major issues that associated with bio-oil from biomass, which includes bio-oil basics (e.g., characteristics, chemistry), application, environmental and economic assessment. It also points out barriers to achieving improvements in the future.

Bio-oil production and upgrading research: A review

In Indonesia, growing cassava based food production significant amount of cassava peel wastes which has huge potential to cause significant environmental and health problems. Studies had showed the ability of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larva (Hermetia illucens) to live in various type organic wastes made them as one of potential biological agents for bioconversion of household, industrial, and agricultural organic wastes. wastes. In order to apply this insect as bioconverter of cassave peel wastes, some growth variabels of BSF fed on cassave peel wastes were measured. In this study, two hundreds 6-day-old larvae were fed on cassava peel with a variation of 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/larva/day, replicated three times, until pupation. Results showed negative relation betweenfeeding rate and proportion of substrat consumption while negative relation recorded between feeding rate with efficiency of feed conversion. Highest propotion of feed used for metabolism recorded at lowest feeding rate. Best waste reduction index (2.79 ± 0.15), development time to pupation, and feeding duration recorded on feeding rate of 100 mg/larvae/day. Based on this study, it could be concluded best feeding rate for growth of BSF larvae is 100 mg/larvae/day.

https://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2016/vol4issue6/PartC/4-5-120-950.pdf

Growth of black soldier larvae fed on cassava peel wastes, An agriculture waste

A series of epoxidized oils were prepared from rubber seed, soybean, jatropha, palm, and coconut oils The epoxy content varied from 003 to 74 wt %, in accordance with the degree of unsaturation of the oils (lowest for coconut, highest for rubber seed oil) Bulk polymerization/curing of the epoxidized oils with triethylenetetramine (in the absence of a catalyst) was carried out in a batch setup (1 : 1 molar ratio of epoxide to primary amine groups, 100 degrees C, 100 rpm, 30 min) followed by casting of the mixture in a steel mold (180 degrees C, 200 bar, 21 h) and this resulted in cross-linked resins The effect of relevant pressing conditions such as time, temperature, pressure, and molar ratio of the epoxide and primary amine groups was investigated and modeled using multivariable nonlinear regression Good agreement between experimental data and model were obtained The rubber seed oil-derived polymer has a T-g of 111 degrees C, a tensile strength of 172 MPa, and strain at break of 182% These values are slightly higher than for commercial epoxidized soybean oil (T-g of 69 degrees C, tensile strength of 111 MPa, and strain at break of 1457%) However, the comparison highlights the potential for these novel resins to be used at industrial/commercial level (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc J Appl Polym Sci 2015, 132, 42591

Synthesis and properties of cross‐linked polymers from epoxidized rubber seed oil and triethylenetetramine

The synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) from sunflower oil and methanol was studied in a continuous centrifugal contactor separator (CCCS) using sodium methoxide as the catalyst. The effect of relevant process variables like oil and methanol flow rate, rotational speed and catalyst concentration was investigated and modelled using non-linear regression. Good agreement between experiments and model were obtained. At optimised conditions (oil flow rate of 31 mL/min, rotational speed of 34 Hz, catalyst concentration of 1.2%w/w and a methanol flow rate of 10 mL/min), the FAME yield was 94 mol% at a productivity of 2470 kg FAME/m3reactor.h. Proof of principle for the synthesis and subsequent refining of FAME in a cascade of two CCCS devices was also obtained. Relevant properties of the refined FAME obtained using this technology were determined and were shown to meet the ASTM specifications.



Practical application: Synthesis and refining of sunflower biodiesel was successfully performed in a cascade of two CSSS devices. Besides for large scale biodiesel production, this technology has particularly potential to be applied in small mobile biodiesel units due to the compact size, robustness, flexibility in operation, and high volumetric productivity of the CCCS devices.







Schematic representation of the process concept for continuous synthesis and refining of sunflower biodiesel synthesis in a cascade of continuous centrifugal contactor separators.

Synthesis and refining of sunflower biodiesel in a cascade of continuous centrifugal contactor separators

Microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. is a widely recognized renewable biodiesel feedstock. The ability of this microalgae to absorb CO2 constitutes an added value toward reducing global warming. However, the process of optimizing its growth still involves many challenges. Photoinhibition, which takes places during microalgae cultivation when using continuous lighting, constitutes an unresolved problem. Therefore, the optimum light/dark cycle method is considered necessary. The experiments were conducted using a designed, tubular airlift photobioreactor and blue, energy-saving, light-emitting diode (LED) lights for the purpose of internal illumination. We observed that a 45:15 min (light:dark) cycle increased the production of Nannochloropsis sp. biomass significantly, with a cell density, wet weight, and lipid content of 17 × 106 cell/ml, 7.11 g, and 10.1% dry weight, respectively. By using the blue LED lights, our designed, airlift photobioreactor increased cell growth by 70% compared to the growth of Nannochloropsis sp. in nature and produced 61 times higher lipid content compared to Nannochloropsis sp. that is exposed to natural light.

/pdf/enhanced-biomass-productivity-of-microalgae-nannochloropsis-5e4cl2jawq.pdf

Enhanced biomass productivity of microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. in an airlift photobioreactor using low-frequency flashing light with blue LED

Recently we developed a new type of open core moving bed rice husk gasifier for small scale application. Here, we present a chemical reaction engineering model to predict its performance as function of operating variables. The model is validated by experimental results. TIT rate of the rice husk was varied in the range of 50-300 kg/m2.h. and the air velocity from 50 to 500 Nm3/m2.h. The product gas had a lower heating value in the range of 2700-4700 kJ/Nm3.Gasification kinetics of rice husk char was investigated experimentally. The results could be modeled with an isothermal Modified Volume Reaction (MVR) model as developed by Kasaoka et.al. For simulation purposes the gasifier is divided into two separated zones where different processes occur. In the top zone: drying, pyrolysis, and oxidation occurs which are described by a thermodynamic Schlapfer model. The bottom zone (the reduction zone) is described by a non equilibrium chemical reaction engineering model. That model is based on mass and energy balances, reaction kinetics, transport rates, and fundamental thermodynamic relations. The simulated temperature, gas composition and carbon conversion profiles have been compared with those obtained from pilot plant experimental runs. The model can be used to predict the effects of changing operating parameters and feed properties on reactor performance data such as carbon conversion efficiency, producer gas yield and heating value. It also can predict the temperature, the carbon conversion, the gas composition and the producer gas lower heating value profiles within the reactor as a function of the distance from the grid.

Robert Manurung

Papers

Growth of black soldier larvae fed on cassava peel wastes, An agriculture waste

Synthesis and properties of cross‐linked polymers from epoxidized rubber seed oil and triethylenetetramine

Synthesis and refining of sunflower biodiesel in a cascade of continuous centrifugal contactor separators

Enhanced biomass productivity of microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. in an airlift photobioreactor using low-frequency flashing light with blue LED

Modeling and Simulation of an Open Core Down-Draft Moving Bed Rice Husk Gasifier