Kraft lignin fast (catalytic) pyrolysis for the production of high value-added chemicals (HVACs): A techno-economic screening of valorization pathways

This paper presents a techno-economic analysis (TEA) of six (6) scenarios of the kraft lignin catalytic (CFP) and thermal (TFP) fast pyrolysis towards the production of high value-added chemicals (HVACs) and electric energy, based on experimental data from our previous work. ASPEN PLUS was used to simulate the proposed plants/scenarios and retrofitted custom-based economic models that were developed in Microsoft EXCEL. The results showed that scenarios 1 and 2 in which the produced bio-oil is used as fuel for electricity production are the most cost-deficient. On the other hand, scenarios 3 and 6 that utilize the light bio-oil fraction to recover distinct HVACs, along with the use of heavier fractions for electricity production, have showed a significant investment viability, since profitability measures are high. Furthermore, scenarios 4 and 5 that refer to the recovery of mixtures (fractions) of HVACs, are considered an intermediate investment option due to the reduced cost of separation. All the proposed scenarios have a substantial total capital investment (TCI) which ranges from 135 MM€ (scenario 4) to 380 MM€ (scenario 6) with a Lang factor of 6.08, which shows that the CAPEX results are within reason. As far as the comparison of lignin CFP and TFP goes, it is shown that lignin CFP leads to the production of aromatic and phenolic monomers which have a substantial market value, while TFP can lead to important value-added chemicals with a lower OPEX than CFP. A target of return of investment (ROI) of 32% has been set for the selling prices of the HVACs. In summary, this study aims at listing and assessing a set of economic indicators for industrial size plants that use lignin CFP and TFP towards the production of high value-added chemicals and energy production and to provide simulation data for comparative analysis of three bio-oil separation methods, i.e. distillation, liquid-liquid extraction and moving bed chromatography.

Kraft (Nano)Lignin as Reactive Additive in Epoxy Polymer Bio-Composites

The demand for high-performance bio-based materials towards achieving more sustainable manufacturing and circular economy models is growing significantly. Kraft lignin (KL) is an abundant and highly functional aromatic/phenolic biopolymer, being the main side product of the pulp and paper industry, as well as of the more recent 2nd generation biorefineries. In this study, KL was incorporated into a glassy epoxy system based on the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and an amine curing agent (Jeffamine D-230), being utilized as partial replacement of the curing agent and the DGEBA prepolymer or as a reactive additive. A D-230 replacement by pristine (unmodified) KL of up to 14 wt.% was achieved while KL-epoxy composites with up to 30 wt.% KL exhibited similar thermo-mechanical properties and substantially enhanced antioxidant properties compared to the neat epoxy polymer. Additionally, the effect of the KL particle size was investigated. Ball-milled kraft lignin (BMKL, 10 μm) and nano-lignin (NLH, 220 nm) were, respectively, obtained after ball milling and ultrasonication and were studied as additives in the same epoxy system. Significantly improved dispersion and thermo-mechanical properties were obtained, mainly with nano-lignin, which exhibited fully transparent lignin-epoxy composites with higher tensile strength, storage modulus and glass transition temperature, even at 30 wt.% loadings. Lastly, KL lignin was glycidylized (GKL) and utilized as a bio-based epoxy prepolymer, achieving up to 38 wt.% replacement of fossil-based DGEBA. The GKL composites exhibited improved thermo-mechanical properties and transparency. All lignins were extensively characterized using NMR, TGA, GPC, and DLS techniques to correlate and justify the epoxy polymer characterization results.

The key role of pretreatment for the one-step and multi-step conversions of European lignocellulosic materials into furan compounds

Nowadays, an increased interest from the chemical industry towards the furanic compounds production, renewable molecules alternatives to fossil molecules, which can be transformed into a wide range of chemicals and biopolymers. These molecules are produced following hexose and pentose dehydration. In this context, lignocellulosic biomass, owing to its richness in carbohydrates, notably cellulose and hemicellulose, can be the starting material for monosaccharide supply to be converted into bio-based products. Nevertheless, processing biomass is essential to overcome the recalcitrance of biomass, cellulose crystallinity, and lignin crosslinked structure. The previous reports describe only the furanic compound production from monosaccharides, without considering the starting raw material from which they would be extracted, and without paying attention to raw material pretreatment for the furan production pathway, nor the mass balance of the whole process. Taking account of these shortcomings, this review focuses, firstly, on the conversion potential of different European abundant lignocellulosic matrices into 5-hydroxymethyl furfural and 2-furfural based on their chemical composition. The second line of discussion is focused on the many technological approaches reported so far for the conversion of feedstocks into furan intermediates for polymer technology but highlighting those adopting the minimum possible steps and with the lowest possible environmental impact. The focus of this review is to providing an updated discussion of the important issues relevant to bringing chemically furan derivatives into a market context within a green European context.

Comparative Study of the U(VI) Adsorption by Hybrid Silica-Hyperbranched Poly(ethylene imine) Nanoparticles and Xerogels

Two different silica conformations (xerogels and nanoparticles), both formed by the mediation of dendritic poly (ethylene imine), were tested at low pHs for problematic uranyl cation sorption. The effect of crucial factors, i.e., temperature, electrostatic forces, adsorbent composition, accessibility of the pollutant to the dendritic cavities, and MW of the organic matrix, was investigated to determine the optimum formulation for water purification under these conditions. This was attained with the aid of UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), ζ-potential, liquid nitrogen (LN₂) porosimetry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results highlighted that both adsorbents have extraordinary sorption capacities. Xerogels are cost-effective since they approximate the performance of nanoparticles with much less organic content. Both adsorbents could be used in the form of dispersions. The xerogels, though, are more practicable materials since they may penetrate the pores of a metal or ceramic solid substrate in the form of a precursor gel-forming solution, producing composite purification devices.

Sub-Micro Organosolv Lignin as Bio-Based Epoxy Polymer Component: A Sustainable Curing Agent and Additive

Sub-micro organosolv lignin (OBs) isolated from beechwood biomass, comprising of sub-micro sized particles (570 nm) with low molecular weight and dispersity and relatively high total phenolic -OH content, is utilized for the production of bio-based epoxy polymer composites. OBs lignin is incorporated into the glassy epoxy system based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and aliphatic polyoxypropylene α,ω-diamine (Jeffamine D-230), being utilized both as a curing agent, partially replacing D-230, and as an additive, substituting part of both petroleum-derived components. Up to 12 wt % replacement of D-230 by OBs lignin is achieved, whereas approximately 17 wt % of OBs effectively replaces the conventional epoxy polymer. The incorporation of OBs lignin in the polymeric matrix is achieved without the use of any solvent or previous functionalization. Enhanced properties are obtained, with substantial increases in tensile strength, strain, stiffness, glass transition temperature, antioxidant activity, and resistance to solvents.

Composites of Lignin-Based Biochar with BiOCl for Photocatalytic Water Treatment: RSM Studies for Process Optimization

Textile effluents pose a massive threat to the aquatic environment, so, sustainable approaches for environmentally friendly multifunctional remediation methods degradation are still a challenge. In this study, composites consisting of bismuth oxyhalide nanoparticles, specifically bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) nanoplatelets, and lignin-based biochar were synthesized following a one-step hydrolysis synthesis. The simultaneous photocatalytic and adsorptive remediation efficiency of the Biochar-BiOCl composites were studied for the removal of a benchmark azo anionic dye, methyl orange dye (MO). The influence of various parameters (such as catalyst dosage, initial dye concentration, and pH) on the photo-assisted removal was carried out and optimized using the Box-Behnken Design of RSM. The physicochemical properties of the nanomaterials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen sorption, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The maximum dye removal was observed at a catalyst dosage of 1.39 g/L, an initial dye concentration of 41.8 mg/L, and a pH of 3.15. The experiment performed under optimized conditions resulted in 100% degradation of the MO after 60 min of light exposure. The incorporation of activated biochar had a positive impact on the photocatalytic performance of the BiOCl photocatalyst for removing the MO due to favorable changes in the surface morphology, optical absorption, and specific surface area and hence the dispersion of the photo-active nanoparticles leading to more photocatalytic active sites. This study is within the frames of the design and development of green-oriented nanomaterials of low cost for advanced (waste)water treatment applications.

Techno-economic optimization of a process superstructure for lignin valorization

Lignin, the most abundant aromatic biopolymer on Earth, is often considered a biorefinery by-product, despite its potential to be valorized into high-added-value chemicals and fuels. In this work, an integrated superstructure-based optimization model was set up and optimized using mixed-integer non-linear programming for the conversion of technical lignin to three main biobased products: aromatic monomers, phenol-formaldehyde resins, and aromatic aldehydes/acids. Several alternative conversion pathways were simultaneously compared to assess the profitability of lignins-based processes by predicting the performance of technologies with different TRL. Upon employing key technologies such as hydrothermal liquefaction, dissolution in solvent, or high-temperature electrolysis, the technical lignins could have a market value of 200 €/t when the market price for aromatic monomers, resins, and vanillin is at least 2.0, 0.8, and 15.0 €/kg, respectively. When lower product selling prices were considered, the aromatic monomers and the resins were not profitable as target products.

Layered Double Hydroxides as Rising-Star Adsorbents for Water Purification: A Brief Discussion

Within the frame of this article, briefly but comprehensively, we present the existing knowledge, perspectives, and challenges for the utilization of Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) as adsorbents against a plethora of pollutants in aquatic matrixes. The use of LDHs as adsorbents was established by considering their significant physicochemical features, including their textural, structural, morphological, and chemical composition, as well as their method of synthesis, followed by their advantages and disadvantages as remediation media. The utilization of LDHs towards the adsorptive removal of dyes, metals, oxyanions, and emerging pollutants is critically reviewed, while all the reported kinds of interactions that gather the removal are collectively presented. Finally, future perspectives on the topic are discussed. It is expected that this discussion will encourage researchers in the area to seek new ideas for the design, development, and applications of novel LDHs-based nanomaterials as selective adsorbents, and hence to further explore the potential of their utilization also for analytic approaches to detect and monitor various pollutants.

Propensity and appraisal of biochar performance in removal of oil spills: A comprehensive review

Recently, the adsorption-based environmental remediation techniques have gained a considerable attention, due to their economic viability and simplicity over other methods. Hence, detailed presentation and analysis were herein focused on describing the role of biochar in oil spill removal. Oil removal by utilizing biochar is assumed as a green-oriented concept. Biochar is a carbon-rich low-cost material with high porosity and specific surface chemistry, with a tremendous potentiality for oil removal from aqueous solutions. Oil sorption properties of biochar mainly depend on the biochar production/synthesis method, and the biomass feedstock type. In order to preserve the stability of functional groups in the structure, biochar needs to be produced/activated at low temperatures (<700 ᵒC). In general, biochar derived from biomass containing high lignin content via slow pyrolysis is more favorable for oil removal. Exceptional characteristics of biochar which intensify the oil removal capability such as hydrophobicity, oleophilicity or/and specific contaminant-surface interaction of biochar can be enhanced and be tuned by chemical and physical activation methods. Considering all the presented results, future perspectives such as the examination of biochar efficacy on oil removal efficiency in multi-element contaminated aqueous solutions to identify the best biomass feedstocks, the production protocols and large-scale field trials, are also discussed.

Synthesis and Characterization of Mesoporous Mg- and Sr-Doped Nanoparticles for Moxifloxacin Drug Delivery in Promising Tissue Engineering Applications

Mesoporous silica-based nanoparticles (MSNs) are considered promising drug carriers because of their ordered pore structure, which permits high drug loading and release capacity. The dissolution of Si and Ca from MSNs can trigger osteogenic differentiation of stem cells towards extracellular matrix calcification, while Mg and Sr constitute key elements of bone biology and metabolism. The aim of this study was the synthesis and characterization of sol-gel-derived MSNs co-doped with Ca, Mg and Sr. Their physico-chemical properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), Brunauer Emmett Teller and Brunauer Joyner Halenda (BET/BJH), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and ζ-potential measurements. Moxifloxacin loading and release profiles were assessed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) cell viability on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts and their hemolytic activity in contact with human red blood cells (RBCs) at various concentrations were also investigated. Doped MSNs generally retained their textural characteristics, while different compositions affected particle size, hemolytic activity and moxifloxacin loading/release profiles. All co-doped MSNs revealed the formation of hydroxycarbonate apatite on their surface after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) and promoted mitochondrial activity and cell proliferation.

Enhancing Lignocellulosic Biomass Hydrolysis by Hydrothermal Pretreatment, Extraction of Surface Lignin, Wet Milling and Production of Cellulolytic Enzymes

Acetone and ethanol extraction of lignin deposits from the surface of hydrothermally (liquid hot water) pretreated beech wood biomass alleviates the lignin inhibitory effects during enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose and boosts the enzymatic digestibility to high values (≈70 %). Characterization of the extracted lignins (FTIR, pyrolysis/GC-MS, differential thermogravimetry, gel permeation chromatography) indicated high purity, low molecular weight, and features that suggest that it consists mainly of fragments of the native wood lignin partially depolymerized and recondensed on the biomass surface during the hydrothermal pretreatment. The pyrolysis products of the extracted surface lignins suggest their high potential as a feedstock for the production of high added value phenolic compounds. When the enzymatic hydrolysis of the pretreated and extracted biomass solids was assisted by mild wet milling, near complete cellulose digestibility (≥95 %) could be achieved. In the context of the biorefinery and whole-biomass valorization concept, it was also shown that the hydrothermally (hemicellulose-deficient) pretreated and delignified biomass solids could be also successfully used for the production of crude cellulase from Trichoderma reesei cultures, providing a simple and low-cost method for the complementary production of cellulases by utilizing fractions of the integrated hydrolysis process.

Aloe vera waste biomass-based adsorbents for the removal of aquatic pollutants: A review

Aloe vera has been cultivated for many centuries for its beneficial properties, finding application in a wide range of medical and health products. Nowadays, the research has also focused on an alternative use of Aloe vera which is related to environmental applications such as clean water technology/wastewater treatment process. In recent years, biosorption has been shown to be a cost-effective and efficient alternative method for removing various pollutants from wastewater and water. This work provides a comprehensive review on using Aloe vera waste biomass-based sorbents, as well as modified counterparts, for the removal of heavy metals, dyes and other pollutants from aqueous media. The discussed biosorbents have been grouped in five categories based on the treatment of the Aloe vera leaves. Adsorption mechanisms, in addition to the significant factors influencing sorption capability like physical and chemical properties of the adsorbent, initial concentration, initial pH and temperature of the solution, dosage and contact time, have been discussed in detail. Furthermore, the applied equilibrium and kinetic models have been also summarized. The history, taxonomy, botany, and applications of Aloe vera are also presented in brief.

Cultivation, characterization, and properties of Chlorella vulgaris microalgae with different lipid contents and effect on fast pyrolysis oil composition

A systematic study of the effect of nitrogen levels in the cultivation medium of Chlorella vulgaris microalgae grown in photobioreactor (PBR) on biomass productivity, biochemical and elemental composition, fatty acid profile, heating value (HHV), and composition of the algae-derived fast pyrolysis (bio-oil) is presented in this work. A relatively high biomass productivity and cell concentration (1.5 g of dry biomass per liter of cultivation medium and 120 × 10⁶ cells/ml, respectively) were achieved after 30 h of cultivation under N-rich medium. On the other hand, the highest lipid content (ca. 36 wt.% on dry biomass) was obtained under N-depletion cultivation conditions. The medium and low N levels favored also the increased concentration of the saturated and mono-unsaturated C16:0 and C18:1(n-9) fatty acids (FA) in the lipid/oil fraction, thus providing a raw lipid feedstock that can be more efficiently converted to high-quality biodiesel or green diesel (via hydrotreatment). In terms of overall lipid productivity, taking in consideration both the biomass concentration in the medium and the content of lipids on dry biomass, the most effective system was the N-rich one. The thermal (non-catalytic) pyrolysis of Chlorella vulgaris microalgae produced a highly complex bio-oil composition, including fatty acids, phenolics, ethers, ketones, etc., as well as aromatics, alkanes, and nitrogen compounds (pyrroles and amides), originating from the lipid, protein, and carbohydrate fractions of the microalgae. However, the catalytic fast pyrolysis using a highly acidic ZSM-5 zeolite, afforded a bio-oil enriched in mono-aromatics (BTX), reducing at the same time significantly oxygenated compounds such as phenolics, acids, ethers, and ketones. These effects were even more pronounced in the catalytic fast pyrolysis of Chlorella vulgaris residual biomass (after extraction of lipids), thus showing for the first time the potential of transforming this low value by-product towards high added value platform chemicals.

Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Kraft Lignin With Conventional, Mesoporous and Nanosized ZSM-5 Zeolite for the Production of Alkyl-Phenols and Aromatics

The valorization of lignin that derives as by product in various biomass conversion processes has become a major research and technological objective. The potential of the production of valuable mono-aromatics (BTX and others) and (alkyl)phenols by catalytic fast pyrolysis of lignin is investigated in this work by the use of ZSM-5 zeolites with different acidic and porosity characteristics. More specifically, conventional microporous ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 11.5, 25, 40), nano-sized (≤20 nm, by direct synthesis) and mesoporous (9 nm, by mild alkaline treatment) ZSM-5 zeolites were tested in the fast pyrolysis of a softwood kraft lignin at 400-600°C on a Py/GC-MS system and a fixed-bed reactor unit. The composition of lignin (FT-IR, 2D HSQC NMR) was correlated with the composition of the thermal (non-catalytic) pyrolysis oil, while the effect of pyrolysis temperature and catalyst-to-lignin (C/L) ratio, as well as of the Si/Al ratio, acidity, micro/mesoporosity and nano-size of ZSM-5, on bio-oil composition was thoroughly investigated. It was shown that the conventional microporous ZSM-5 zeolites are more selective toward mono-aromatics while the nano-sized and mesoporous ZSM-5 exhibited also high selectivity for (alkyl)phenols. However, the nano-sized ZSM-5 zeolite exhibited the lowest yield of organic bio-oil and highest production of water, coke and non-condensable gases compared to the conventional microporous and mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolites.

Effect of Steam Deactivation Severity of ZSM-5 Additives on LPG Olefins Production in the FCC Process

ZSM-5-containing catalytic additives are widely used in oil refineries to boost light olefin production and improve gasoline octanes in the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) process. Under the hydrothermal conditions present in the FCC regenerator (typically >700 °C and >8% steam), FCC catalysts and additives are subject to deactivation. Zeolites (e.g., Rare Earth USY in the base catalyst and ZSM-5 in Olefins boosting additives) are prone to dealumination and partial structural collapse, thereby losing activity, micropore surface area, and undergoing changes in selectivity. Fresh catalyst and additives are added at appropriate respective levels to the FCC unit on a daily basis to maintain overall targeted steady-state (equilibrated) activity and selectivity. To mimic this process under accelerated laboratory conditions, a commercial P/ZSM-5 additive was hydrothermally equilibrated via a steaming process at two temperatures: 788 °C and 815 °C to simulate moderate and more severe equilibration industrial conditions, respectively. n-Dodecane was used as probe molecule and feed for micro-activity cracking testing at 560 °C to determine the activity and product selectivity of fresh and equilibrated P-doped ZSM-5 additives. The fresh/calcined P/ZSM-5 additive was very active in C₁₂ cracking while steaming limited its activity, i.e., at catalyst-to-feed (C/F) ratio of 1, about 70% and 30% conversion was obtained with the fresh and steamed additives, respectively. A greater activity drop was observed upon increasing the hydrothermal deactivation severity due to gradual decrease of total acidity and microporosity of the additives. However, this change in severity did not result in any selectivity changes for the LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) olefins as the nature (Brønsted-to-Lewis ratio) of the acid/active sites was not significantly altered upon steaming. Steam deactivation of ZSM-5 had also no significant effect on aromatics formation which was enhanced at higher conversion levels. Coke remained low with both fresh and steam-deactivated P/ZSM-5 additives.

PLGA/SBA-15 mesoporous silica composite microparticles loaded with paclitaxel for local chemotherapy

In this work, high surface area mesoporous silica (SBA-15) was loaded with paclitaxel (taxol, PTX) and was further entrapped into poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (MPs). A modified solvent evaporation-emulsion method was used in order to formulate the composite microparticles with sizes of 8-12μm. PTX loaded SBA-15 as well as the PLGA/PTX-SBA-15 composites were characterized in terms of their morphology, crystal structure and thermal properties. Drug content, loading efficiency, particle size and the in-vitro drug release kinetics of the PLGA/PTΧ-SBA-15 microspheres were also investigated. The in vitro release studies were carried out using Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) at 37°C revealing that the prepared formulations present higher dissolution rate than pure PTX and sustained pattern which is ideal for anticancer carriers. Modeling and data analysis of the in vitro drug release was also investigated. It was also shown that all microparticles have low cytotoxicity in HUVE cells. Finally, it was found that drug loaded microparticles are very effective in Human Cervical Adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cells.

An experimental bioactive dental ceramic for metal-ceramic restorations: Textural characteristics and investigation of the mechanical properties

The aim of this study was the evaluation of the textural characteristics of an experimental sol-gel derived feldspathic dental ceramic, which has already been proven bioactive and the investigation of its flexural strength through Weibull Statistical Analysis. The null hypothesis was that the flexural strength of the experimental and the commercial dental ceramic would be of the same order, resulting in a dental ceramic with apatite forming ability and adequate mechanical integrity. Although the flexural strength of the experimental ceramics was not statistically significant different compared to the commercial one, the amount of blind pores due to processing was greater. The textural characteristics of the experimental ceramic were in accordance with the standard low porosity levels reported for dental ceramics used for fixed prosthetic restorations. Feldspathic dental ceramics with typical textural characteristics and advanced mechanical properties as well as enhanced apatite forming ability can be synthesized through the sol-gel method.

Pyrolysis and catalytic pyrolysis as a recycling method of waste CDs originating from polycarbonate and HIPS

Pyrolysis appears to be a promising recycling process since it could convert the disposed polymers to hydrocarbon based fuels or various useful chemicals. In the current study, two model polymers found in WEEEs, namely polycarbonate (PC) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and their counterparts found in waste commercial Compact Discs (CDs) were pyrolysed in a bench scale reactor. Both, thermal pyrolysis and pyrolysis in the presence of two catalytic materials (basic MgO and acidic ZSM-5 zeolite) was performed for all four types of polymers. Results have shown significant recovery of the monomers and valuable chemicals (phenols in the case of PC and aromatic hydrocarbons in the case of HIPS), while catalysts seem to decrease the selectivity towards the monomers and enhance the selectivity towards other desirable compounds.