The global energy demand is projected to rise by almost 28% by 2040 compared to current levels. Biomass is a promising energy source for producing either solid or liquid fuels. Biofuels are alternatives to fossil fuels to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Nonetheless, policy decisions for biofuels should be based on evidence that biofuels are produced in a sustainable manner. To this end, life cycle assessment (LCA) provides information on environmental impacts associated with biofuel production chains. Here, we review advances in biomass conversion to biofuels and their environmental impact by life cycle assessment. Processes are gasification, combustion, pyrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis routes and fermentation. Thermochemical processes are classified into low temperature, below 300 °C, and high temperature, higher than 300 °C, i.e. gasification, combustion and pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is promising because it operates at a relatively lower temperature of up to 500 °C, compared to gasification, which operates at 800–1300 °C. We focus on 1) the drawbacks and advantages of the thermochemical and biochemical conversion routes of biomass into various fuels and the possibility of integrating these routes for better process efficiency; 2) methodological approaches and key findings from 40 LCA studies on biomass to biofuel conversion pathways published from 2019 to 2021; and 3) bibliometric trends and knowledge gaps in biomass conversion into biofuels using thermochemical and biochemical routes. The integration of hydrothermal and biochemical routes is promising for the circular economy.

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Conversion of biomass to biofuels and life cycle assessment: a review

Recent progress on porous carbon and its derivatives from plants as advanced electrode materials for supercapacitors

https://uws.pure.elsevier.com/files/35301304/2022_02_27_Olabi_et_al_Supercapacitors_accepted.pdf

Supercapacitors as next generation energy storage devices: Properties and applications

Biomass derived functional carbon materials for supercapacitor applications

Pyrolysis has created many (and will open more) possibilities for high-value utilization of biomass. To obtain the optimal amount of desired pyrolysis products, especially high-quality bio-oil, a g...

Yujie Dai

Papers

A Review of Recent Advances in Biomass Pyrolysis

A novel approach for preparing in-situ nitrogen doped carbon via pyrolysis of bean pulp for supercapacitors