Exploring the prospective of weeds (Cannabis sativa L., Parthenium hysterophorus L.) for biofuel production through nanocatalytic (Co, Ni) gasification

Performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of bio-oil produced by in situ catalytic pyrolysis of polypropylene using spent FCC

Plastic waste is a rich source of hydrocarbons that can be converted into bio-oil through pyrolysis. In this study, bio-oil was produced by pyrolysis of waste-polypropylene using spent FCC catalyst. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that catalytically produced oil has the majority of compounds in the hydrocarbon range of C6-C18. The catalytic pyrolysis oil was blended with conventional fuel (diesel) to extensively investigate its suitability as a fuel substitute in a single-cylinder, four-stroke, 3.5 kW, diesel internal combustion (IC) engine. Furthermore, four fuels, i.e., CF100PO00 (pure diesel), CF90PO10 (10% v/v pyrolysis oil blended with diesel), CF85PO15 (15% v/v pyrolysis oil blended with diesel), and CF80PO20 (20% v/v pyrolysis oil blended with diesel), were tested in IC diesel engine for performance, combustion, and exhaust emission analysis at 1500 rpm. The tests were carried out at five loads, i.e., 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 Nm. It was found that CF90PO10 produced 6.61% higher brake thermal efficiency (BTE), whereas CO2 exhaust emission decreased by 20% for CF80PO20 with respect to the pure diesel. Diesel blends with plastic pyrolysis oil can be a promising biofuel to improve engine performance and combustion characteristics without any significant engine modification.

A paradigm shift towards production of sustainable bioenergy and advanced products from Cannabis/hemp biomass in Canada

The global cannabis (Cannabis sativa) market was 17.7 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach up to 40.6 billion by 2024. Canada is the 2nd nation to legalize cannabis with a massive sale of $246.9 million in the year 2021. Waste cannabis biomass is managed using disposal strategies (i.e., incineration, aerobic/anaerobic digestion, composting, and shredding) that are not good enough for long-term environmental sustainability. On the other hand, greenhouse gas emissions and the rising demand for petroleum-based fuels pose a severe threat to the environment and the circular economy. Cannabis biomass can be used as a feedstock to produce various biofuels and biochemicals. Various research groups have reported production of ethanol 9.2-20.2 g/L, hydrogen 13.5 mmol/L, lipids 53.3%, biogas 12%, and biochar 34.6% from cannabis biomass. This review summarizes its legal and market status (production and consumption), the recent advancements in the lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) pre-treatment (deep eutectic solvents (DES), and ionic liquids (ILs) known as "green solvents") followed by enzymatic hydrolysis using glycosyl hydrolases (GHs) for the efficient conversion efficiency of pre-treated biomass. Recent advances in the bioconversion of hemp into oleochemicals, their challenges, and future perspectives are outlined. A comprehensive insight is provided on the trends and developments of metabolic engineering strategies to improve product yield. The thermochemical processing of disposed-off hemp lignin into bio-oil, bio-char, synthesis gas, and phenol is also discussed. Despite some progress, barricades still need to be met to commercialize advanced biofuels and compete with traditional fuels.

The Expansion of Lignocellulose Biomass Conversion Into Bioenergy via Nanobiotechnology

Lignocellulosic biomass has arisen as a solution to our energy and environmental challenges because it is rich in feedstock that can be converted to biofuels. Converting lignocellulosic biomass to sugar is a complicated system involved in the bioconversion process. There are indeed a variety of techniques that have been utilized in the bioconversion process consisting of physical, chemical, and biological approaches. However, most of them have drawbacks when used on a large scale, which include the high cost of processing, the development of harmful inhibitors, and the detoxification of the inhibitors that have been produced. These constraints, taken together, hinder the effectiveness of current solutions and demand for the invention of a new, productive, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable technique for LB processing. In this context, the approach of nanotechnology utilizing various nanomaterials and nanoparticles in treating lignocellulose biomass and bioenergy conversion has achieved increased interest and has been explored greatly in recent times. This mini review delves into the application of nanotechnological techniques in the bioconversion of lignocellulose biomass into bioenergy. This review on nanotechnological application in biomass conversion provides insights and development tools for the expansion of new sectors, resulting in excellent value and productivity, contributing to the long-term economic progress.