Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2025.102400
Francisco Cepeda, Luke Di Liddo, Liam Mendoza, Murray J. Thomson
Microwave-driven methane pyrolysis is a promising pathway for low-GHG hydrogen production. In this process, carbon particles absorb microwave radiation, heat the gas phase, and promote the decomposition of methane. Previous studies hypothesize that localized microplasmas, formed by arcing between conductive particles, may enhance pyrolysis by creating non-thermal excitation of methane molecules. However, the role of microplasmas has not been systematically isolated or quantified. This study investigates the impact of non-thermal plasma discharges on methane conversion and hydrogen yield using a microwave-driven fluidized-bed reactor. Graphitized carbon particles and tungsten electrodes were used to generate intense controlled plasma discharges while maintaining constant microwave power and bulk temperature. Results show that microplasmas induced by graphite alone do not significantly affect methane conversion. In contrast, the addition of unpowered electrodes results in a marked increase in methane conversion (up to 20%) and hydrogen yield. Carbon products formed in the plasma region were characterized by SEM, Raman, and XPS, revealing nanostructured, disordered carbon distinct from thermal film deposits. These findings suggest that only intense, electrode-driven discharges substantially enhance pyrolysis and carbon black production, informing reactor design strategies for efficient hydrogen generation.
{"title":"Plasma-enhanced microwave-driven methane pyrolysis for hydrogen and carbon production","authors":"Francisco Cepeda, Luke Di Liddo, Liam Mendoza, Murray J. Thomson","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microwave-driven methane pyrolysis is a promising pathway for low-GHG hydrogen production. In this process, carbon particles absorb microwave radiation, heat the gas phase, and promote the decomposition of methane. Previous studies hypothesize that localized microplasmas, formed by arcing between conductive particles, may enhance pyrolysis by creating non-thermal excitation of methane molecules. However, the role of microplasmas has not been systematically isolated or quantified. This study investigates the impact of non-thermal plasma discharges on methane conversion and hydrogen yield using a microwave-driven fluidized-bed reactor. Graphitized carbon particles and tungsten electrodes were used to generate intense controlled plasma discharges while maintaining constant microwave power and bulk temperature. Results show that microplasmas induced by graphite alone do not significantly affect methane conversion. In contrast, the addition of unpowered electrodes results in a marked increase in methane conversion (up to 20%) and hydrogen yield. Carbon products formed in the plasma region were characterized by SEM, Raman, and XPS, revealing nanostructured, disordered carbon distinct from thermal film deposits. These findings suggest that only intense, electrode-driven discharges substantially enhance pyrolysis and carbon black production, informing reactor design strategies for efficient hydrogen generation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 102400"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145681398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In the context of energy demand, green hydrogen energy is a significant trend, playing a crucial role in various applications due to its pollution-free nature, improved efficiency, and superior fuel economy compared to fossil fuels. Here, the study involves producing the hydrogen syngas from food/kitchen waste water via supercritical water gasification (SCWG) methods. The experimentation is conducted with different gasification pressures (10–25 MPa) at a constant gasification temperature (550 °C) and residence time (30 min) using both Ru-based catalysts (1 wt% Ru) and Ru/Al2O3-supported catalysts. The experimentation results show that the improved pressure of gasification leads to a progressive enhancement in hydrogen syngas yield, better carbon conversion efficiency, gasification efficiency, and reduced tar formation. Furthermore, the setup configured with Ru/Al2O3-supported catalysts achieves 27.1 % of hydrogen yield, increases carbon conversion efficiency (5.2 %), optimizes gasification efficiency (7.8 %), and reduces tar formation by 21.2 % compared to the supercritical water gasification setup without a catalyst. This combination of an operated supercritical gasification system with higher gasification pressure is a trade-off for hydrogen syngas production from food/kitchen waste water, resulting in reduced tar and improved hydrogen gas formation.
{"title":"Extraction of sustainable green hydrogen energy through supercritical water gasification activated with Ru/alumina","authors":"Gopal Kaliyaperumal , Nagabhooshanam Nagarajan , Yogendra Thakur , Abhilasha Jadhav , Ramesh Kumar Chandrasekhar , Guddati Vijaya Lakshmi , Ramya Maranan , R. Venkatesh , S. Sathiyamurthy , Senthil Kumar Vishnu","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102411","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102411","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the context of energy demand, green hydrogen energy is a significant trend, playing a crucial role in various applications due to its pollution-free nature, improved efficiency, and superior fuel economy compared to fossil fuels. Here, the study involves producing the hydrogen syngas from food/kitchen waste water via supercritical water gasification (SCWG) methods. The experimentation is conducted with different gasification pressures (10–25 MPa) at a constant gasification temperature (550 °C) and residence time (30 min) using both Ru-based catalysts (1 wt% Ru) and Ru/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-supported catalysts. The experimentation results show that the improved pressure of gasification leads to a progressive enhancement in hydrogen syngas yield, better carbon conversion efficiency, gasification efficiency, and reduced tar formation. Furthermore, the setup configured with Ru/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-supported catalysts achieves 27.1 % of hydrogen yield, increases carbon conversion efficiency (5.2 %), optimizes gasification efficiency (7.8 %), and reduces tar formation by 21.2 % compared to the supercritical water gasification setup without a catalyst. This combination of an operated supercritical gasification system with higher gasification pressure is a trade-off for hydrogen syngas production from food/kitchen waste water, resulting in reduced tar and improved hydrogen gas formation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 102411"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study comprehensively investigates the source, distribution, emission, and control of n-alkanes (C16 ∼ C34) and priority phthalate esters (PAEs) within condensable particulate matter (CPM) from an ultralow emission coal-fired power plant. Systematic sampling across the sequential air pollution control devices (APCDs) system (SCR, LLT-ESP, WFGD, WESP) elucidated the migration mechanism of complex pollutants: significant overall removal (69.18 % n-alkanes, 69.92 % PAEs) was achieved, driven primarily by the LLT-ESP (75.46 % and 70.42 %, respectively) benefiting from MGGH-induced cooling. However, pollutant secondary formation occurred in the SCR (2.09 % n-alkanes, 11.66 % PAEs). Co-firing 10 % municipal sewage sludge (MSS) increased stack n-alkanes (491.62–510.55 μg/m3) and PAEs (147.53–154.03 μg/m3) emissions due to altered combustion and inherent sludge organics. Adsorbent injection (coconut-shell based activated carbon abbreviated as ACY, wood-based activated carbon abbreviated as ACM) upstream of the LLT-ESP significantly enhanced removal performance under harsh conditions (high SO2/dust, 101 ± 4 °C). ACY at 150 mg/Nm3 yielded optimal performance (31.03 % n-alkanes, 23.88 % PAEs removal), attributed to superior textural properties (1282 m2/g surface area) and surface oxygen functionality. This work provides critical insights and engineering data for controlling organic pollutants in CPM.
{"title":"Emission and control of n-alkanes and phthalate esters in condensable particulate matter from an ultralow emission coal-fired power plant","authors":"Zhenyao Xu , Yueqiong Wu , Yujia Wu , Jinchao Zhao , Yunlong Zhao , Shengyong Lu , Hongbo Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102408","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102408","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study comprehensively investigates the source, distribution, emission, and control of n-alkanes (C<sub>16</sub> ∼ C<sub>34</sub>) and priority phthalate esters (PAEs) within condensable particulate matter (CPM) from an ultralow emission coal-fired power plant. Systematic sampling across the sequential air pollution control devices (APCDs) system (SCR, LLT-ESP, WFGD, WESP) elucidated the migration mechanism of complex pollutants: significant overall removal (69.18 % n-alkanes, 69.92 % PAEs) was achieved, driven primarily by the LLT-ESP (75.46 % and 70.42 %, respectively) benefiting from MGGH-induced cooling. However, pollutant secondary formation occurred in the SCR (2.09 % n-alkanes, 11.66 % PAEs). Co-firing 10 % municipal sewage sludge (MSS) increased stack n-alkanes (491.62–510.55 μg/m<sup>3</sup>) and PAEs (147.53–154.03 μg/m<sup>3</sup>) emissions due to altered combustion and inherent sludge organics. Adsorbent injection (coconut-shell based activated carbon abbreviated as ACY, wood-based activated carbon abbreviated as ACM) upstream of the LLT-ESP significantly enhanced removal performance under harsh conditions (high SO<sub>2</sub>/dust, 101 ± 4 °C). ACY at 150 mg/Nm<sup>3</sup> yielded optimal performance (31.03 % n-alkanes, 23.88 % PAEs removal), attributed to superior textural properties (1282 m<sup>2</sup>/g surface area) and surface oxygen functionality. This work provides critical insights and engineering data for controlling organic pollutants in CPM.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 102408"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-25DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2025.102388
Yongfei Li , Nan An , Hui Cao , Zhibing Shen , Yang Song , Ying Tang
Developing efficient biomass catalytic pyrolysis is pivotal for sustainable energy, yet recalcitrant lignocellulose structure hinders conversion efficiency. This study innovatively evaluates three chemical pretreatments (HNO3, NaOH, H2O2) on diverse feedstocks (orange peels, walnut shells, wheat straw, wood chips, Firmiana simplex leaves) to elucidate their catalytic effects on pyrolysis behavior and kinetics. Through systematic characterization (elemental analysis, TG-DTG) and kinetic-thermodynamic modeling (Coats-Redfern method), we demonstrate that pretreatment selectively modifies biomass composition, thereby optimizing pyrolysis pathways. Based on the above research, we have obtained the following results: HNO3 pretreatment maximizes hemicellulose/cellulose decomposition (up to 96.02 % weight loss for wood chips), reducing activation energy (Ea) by 49 % for wheat straw (60.32 → 30.80 kJ/mol) and lowering pyrolysis onset temperatures via glycosidic bond cleavage. NaOH treatment preferentially delignifies herbaceous biomass (wheat straw lignin removal: 35 %↑), increasing Ea by 21.5 % due to enhanced cellulose exposure, yet significantly boosts bio-oil precursor yield in active pyrolysis (200–400 °C). H2O2 oxidation promotes lignin depolymerization, shifting DTG peaks to lower temperatures (ΔT = −40 °C for walnut shells) and improving reaction entropy (ΔS↑ 25 % for Firmiana simplex leaves), facilitating volatile release. Thermodynamic analyses confirm reduced enthalpy (ΔH↓ 53.6 % for HNO3-treated wheat straw) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG↓ 1.6 % for orange peels), indicating energetically favorable pyrolysis. Crucially, pretreatment reshapes biomass porosity and functional groups, augmenting catalytic accessibility during thermoconversion. This work provides a mechanistic framework for selecting pretreatment-catalysis synergies, advancing biomass valorization toward carbon–neutral energy. Our findings directly inform the design of integrated biorefineries for high-yield biofuel production, aligning with circular economy goals.
{"title":"Strategic pretreatment tailoring biomass catalytic pyrolysis: Unraveling the synergy between physicochemical modification and reaction kinetics for sustainable biofuel production","authors":"Yongfei Li , Nan An , Hui Cao , Zhibing Shen , Yang Song , Ying Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102388","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102388","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Developing efficient biomass catalytic pyrolysis is pivotal for sustainable energy, yet recalcitrant lignocellulose structure hinders conversion efficiency. This study innovatively evaluates three chemical pretreatments (HNO<sub>3</sub>, NaOH, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) on diverse feedstocks (orange peels, walnut shells, wheat straw, wood chips, <em>Firmiana simplex</em> leaves) to elucidate their catalytic effects on pyrolysis behavior and kinetics. Through systematic characterization (elemental analysis, TG-DTG) and kinetic-thermodynamic modeling (Coats-Redfern method), we demonstrate that pretreatment selectively modifies biomass composition, thereby optimizing pyrolysis pathways. Based on the above research, we have obtained the following results: HNO<sub>3</sub> pretreatment maximizes hemicellulose/cellulose decomposition (up to 96.02 % weight loss for wood chips), reducing activation energy (Ea) by 49 % for wheat straw (60.32 → 30.80 kJ/mol) and lowering pyrolysis onset temperatures via glycosidic bond cleavage. NaOH treatment preferentially delignifies herbaceous biomass (wheat straw lignin removal: 35 %↑), increasing Ea by 21.5 % due to enhanced cellulose exposure, yet significantly boosts bio-oil precursor yield in active pyrolysis (200–400 °C). H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> oxidation promotes lignin depolymerization, shifting DTG peaks to lower temperatures (ΔT = −40 °C for walnut shells) and improving reaction entropy (ΔS↑ 25 % for <em>Firmiana simplex</em> leaves), facilitating volatile release. Thermodynamic analyses confirm reduced enthalpy (ΔH↓ 53.6 % for HNO<sub>3</sub>-treated wheat straw) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG↓ 1.6 % for orange peels), indicating energetically favorable pyrolysis. Crucially, pretreatment reshapes biomass porosity and functional groups, augmenting catalytic accessibility during thermoconversion. This work provides a mechanistic framework for selecting pretreatment-catalysis synergies, advancing biomass valorization toward carbon–neutral energy. Our findings directly inform the design of integrated biorefineries for high-yield biofuel production, aligning with circular economy goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 102388"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145614515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The investigation of low-energy consumption and environmentally friendly solid adsorbents has emerged as one of the key research directions for carbon capture. This study demonstrates the successful development of a structurally tunable “three-level" lignin-based hierarchical porous carbon (HPC) material, featuring ultra-micro, micro-, and mesoporous structures, for efficient CO2 capture. Subsequently, fractal theory was applied to an in-depth analysis of the adjusting the ratio of templating agent (F127) and activator (KOH) could effectively modulate the ultra-micro, micro-, and meso-porous in lignin-based HPC. Various kinetic models were used to characterize the CO2 adsorption mechanism and the adsorption rate of lignin adsorbents under dynamic conditions. Most importantly, this study compares lignin-based HPC (MC1.5-K3) with conventional activated porous carbon (MIC-K3) and mesoporous carbon (MC1.5), highlighting the advantages of the “three-level" pore structure, that the combination of ultra-micro, micro-, and mesoporous is not a simple superposition but has a synergistic enhancement effect. The availability of mesoporous channels not only facilitates mass transfer and diffusion rate of CO2 within the particles but also increases the maximum number of ultra-microporous and microporous. Because the KOH activator successfully enters the particle interior through the mesoporous channels, it effectively etches the mesoporous walls to form additional adsorption sites. Additionally, comparing MC1.5-K3 with MIC-K3, it was found that HPC retains more surface functional groups. These factors collectively enhance the CO2 adsorption performance of lignin-based HPC. Under ambient conditions (30 °C, 1 bar), MC1.5-K3 achieved a static CO2 uptake of 3.26 mmol/g and a dynamic adsorption of 2.9 mmol/g, and has low adsorption heat, along with excellent cycling stability. Therefore, lignin-based HPC successfully incorporated abundant microporous, especially ultra-microporous adsorption sites, mesoporous transport channels, and surface functional groups, which significantly promoted CO2 adsorption. In summary, green HPC based on lignin shows great potential as an efficient solid adsorbent for carbon capture.
{"title":"Adjustable ultra-micro, micro-, and mesopores in lignin-based hierarchical porous carbon for CO2 adsorption","authors":"Zhaoming Li, Zhikai Wang, Xu Yang, Honghong Lyu, Boxiong Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102363","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The investigation of low-energy consumption and environmentally friendly solid adsorbents has emerged as one of the key research directions for carbon capture. This study demonstrates the successful development of a structurally tunable “three-level\" lignin-based hierarchical porous carbon (HPC) material, featuring ultra-micro, micro-, and mesoporous structures, for efficient CO<sub>2</sub> capture. Subsequently, fractal theory was applied to an in-depth analysis of the adjusting the ratio of templating agent (F127) and activator (KOH) could effectively modulate the ultra-micro, micro-, and meso-porous in lignin-based HPC. Various kinetic models were used to characterize the CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption mechanism and the adsorption rate of lignin adsorbents under dynamic conditions. Most importantly, this study compares lignin-based HPC (MC1.5-K3) with conventional activated porous carbon (MIC-K3) and mesoporous carbon (MC1.5), highlighting the advantages of the “three-level\" pore structure, that the combination of ultra-micro, micro-, and mesoporous is not a simple superposition but has a synergistic enhancement effect. The availability of mesoporous channels not only facilitates mass transfer and diffusion rate of CO<sub>2</sub> within the particles but also increases the maximum number of ultra-microporous and microporous. Because the KOH activator successfully enters the particle interior through the mesoporous channels, it effectively etches the mesoporous walls to form additional adsorption sites. Additionally, comparing MC1.5-K3 with MIC-K3, it was found that HPC retains more surface functional groups. These factors collectively enhance the CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption performance of lignin-based HPC. Under ambient conditions (30 °C, 1 bar), MC1.5-K3 achieved a static CO<sub>2</sub> uptake of 3.26 mmol/g and a dynamic adsorption of 2.9 mmol/g, and has low adsorption heat, along with excellent cycling stability. Therefore, lignin-based HPC successfully incorporated abundant microporous, especially ultra-microporous adsorption sites, mesoporous transport channels, and surface functional groups, which significantly promoted CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption. In summary, green HPC based on lignin shows great potential as an efficient solid adsorbent for carbon capture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 102363"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145517230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-24DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2025.102359
Fang Xu, Rui Zhang, Mingjun Liu, Shuang Wu, Da Cui, Jingru Bai, Qing Wang
To address the growing challenges of energy crisis and white pollution, co-pyrolysis of lignin and plastics facilitates both biomass resource valorization and pollution mitigation. To gain deeper insight into the synergistic mechanism, this study combined experiments, kinetic analyses, and molecular simulations to systematically investigate the product distributions and bond-breaking behaviors during lignin/PE co-pyrolysis at multiple scales. The kinetic investigation demonstrated that lignin and PE interaction exhibited a positive synergistic effect, significantly lowering the activation energy. Moreover, adding PE promoted the formation of oxygen-free tar while suppressing oxygen-containing tar, consequently enhancing the fuel properties of pyrolysis tar. In parallel, ReaxFF-MD simulations provided molecular-level insights into the dynamic behaviors of chemical bonds during co-pyrolysis. The results demonstrated that lignin/PE co-pyrolysis facilitated C—C bonds breaking but inhibited C—O bonds cleavage, thereby significantly increasing the production of hydrocarbon gases. TG analysis indicated that the interaction between lignin and PE facilitated the release of volatile products. The simulations complemented experimental observations in the secondary reaction stage, demonstrating synergistic promotion of tar formation while inhibiting pyrolysis gas release. This work elucidated the synergistic mechanism of lignin/PE co-pyrolysis at multiple scales, providing theoretical support for the clean conversion and resource recovery of lignin and plastic waste.
{"title":"Unraveling the synergistic mechanism of lignin/polyethylene (PE) co-pyrolysis: A multi-scale exploration combining experiments, kinetics and ReaxFF-MD simulations","authors":"Fang Xu, Rui Zhang, Mingjun Liu, Shuang Wu, Da Cui, Jingru Bai, Qing Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102359","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102359","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the growing challenges of energy crisis and white pollution, co-pyrolysis of lignin and plastics facilitates both biomass resource valorization and pollution mitigation. To gain deeper insight into the synergistic mechanism, this study combined experiments, kinetic analyses, and molecular simulations to systematically investigate the product distributions and bond-breaking behaviors during lignin/PE co-pyrolysis at multiple scales. The kinetic investigation demonstrated that lignin and PE interaction exhibited a positive synergistic effect, significantly lowering the activation energy. Moreover, adding PE promoted the formation of oxygen-free tar while suppressing oxygen-containing tar, consequently enhancing the fuel properties of pyrolysis tar. In parallel, ReaxFF-MD simulations provided molecular-level insights into the dynamic behaviors of chemical bonds during co-pyrolysis. The results demonstrated that lignin/PE co-pyrolysis facilitated C—C bonds breaking but inhibited C—O bonds cleavage, thereby significantly increasing the production of hydrocarbon gases. TG analysis indicated that the interaction between lignin and PE facilitated the release of volatile products. The simulations complemented experimental observations in the secondary reaction stage, demonstrating synergistic promotion of tar formation while inhibiting pyrolysis gas release. This work elucidated the synergistic mechanism of lignin/PE co-pyrolysis at multiple scales, providing theoretical support for the clean conversion and resource recovery of lignin and plastic waste.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 102359"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145365114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2025.102416
Qianqian Guo , Shuai Liu , Hongtao Liu , Xu Wang , Long Jiao , Yanjun Hu
The co-gasification of Shenmu bituminous coal (SM) blended with corn straw biochar (PC) was investigated in this study, with the aim of elucidating the influencing factors and interaction mechanisms involved in this process. The results showed that the co-gasification of PC with SM after pyrolysis achieved excellent gas production performance. However, excessively high pyrolysis temperatures (600 °C) resulted in reductions in the lower heating value (LHV) of the product gas, gasification efficiency, and gas yield. The high-temperature gasification environment not only promoted the conversion of volatiles from both PC and SM into gases such as CH4, H2, CO, and CO2, but also enhanced reduction reactions including the water-gas shift reaction and the Boudouard reaction, resulting in a significant increase in the content of CO and H2 in the syngas. The LHV and gasification efficiency of co-gasification using a 50 %SM+50 %PC400 blend were increased by 1.18 MJ/Nm3 and 21.69 %, respectively, compared to those using a 50 %SM+50 %PC600 blend. Characterization techniques such as Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis and Raman spectroscopy, combined with the removal of active alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs) from PC, elucidated the synergistic mechanism in SM/PC co-gasification. The disordered carbon structure of PC and the inherent AAEMs both influenced the co-gasification process of PC and SM, and each played an independent role. The presence of active AAEMs promoted the formation of more active sites on the char surface and disrupted the carbon layer structure of the coal char. These disordered carbon structures and increasing active sites collectively accelerated the gasification reaction rate, thereby enhancing gasification efficiency and gas yield.
{"title":"Study on the synergistic mechanism of co-gasification of biochar and coal","authors":"Qianqian Guo , Shuai Liu , Hongtao Liu , Xu Wang , Long Jiao , Yanjun Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102416","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102416","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The co-gasification of Shenmu bituminous coal (SM) blended with corn straw biochar (PC) was investigated in this study, with the aim of elucidating the influencing factors and interaction mechanisms involved in this process. The results showed that the co-gasification of PC with SM after pyrolysis achieved excellent gas production performance. However, excessively high pyrolysis temperatures (600 °C) resulted in reductions in the lower heating value (LHV) of the product gas, gasification efficiency, and gas yield. The high-temperature gasification environment not only promoted the conversion of volatiles from both PC and SM into gases such as CH<sub>4</sub>, H<sub>2</sub>, CO, and CO<sub>2</sub>, but also enhanced reduction reactions including the water-gas shift reaction and the Boudouard reaction, resulting in a significant increase in the content of CO and H<sub>2</sub> in the syngas. The LHV and gasification efficiency of co-gasification using a 50 %SM+50 %PC400 blend were increased by 1.18 MJ/Nm<sup>3</sup> and 21.69 %, respectively, compared to those using a 50 %SM+50 %PC600 blend. Characterization techniques such as Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis and Raman spectroscopy, combined with the removal of active alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs) from PC, elucidated the synergistic mechanism in SM/PC co-gasification. The disordered carbon structure of PC and the inherent AAEMs both influenced the co-gasification process of PC and SM, and each played an independent role. The presence of active AAEMs promoted the formation of more active sites on the char surface and disrupted the carbon layer structure of the coal char. These disordered carbon structures and increasing active sites collectively accelerated the gasification reaction rate, thereby enhancing gasification efficiency and gas yield.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 102416"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2025.102367
Longfei Wang , Yuanjun Tang , Guoneng Li , Jun Dong , Yao Fang , Wenwen Guo , Chao Ye
This study systematically investigates the effects of Fe-loading on the pyrolysis behavior of three key biomass components: cellulose, xylan, and lignin. Complementary analytical techniques, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS), and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), were utilized to assess the impact of Fe-loading on: (i) pyrolysis characteristics, (ii) the combined pyrolysis index (CPI), (iii) small-molecule gas evolution, and (iv) tar product distribution. Results demonstrate that the loading of Fe(NO3)3 significantly reduced the initial pyrolysis temperatures of cellulose and xylan by ∼140 °C and ∼62 °C, respectively, resulting in 58 % and 37 % decreases in CPI values. Conversely, lignin exhibited a 111 % CPI increase under Fe loading conditions, attributable to accelerated aryl-ether bond cleavage. The presence of Fe enhanced CO2 evolution while suppressing H2O and CO generation in cellulose/xylan conditions. In contrast, it promoted CH4, H2, CO, and CO2 evolution during lignin pyrolysis. Py-GC/MS analysis indicated that the presence of Fe drives aromatization through deoxygenation pathways while inhibiting ring-opening depolymerization, consequently shifting tar composition toward higher-carbon-number aromatic hydrocarbons. The findings can serve as a valuable reference for the application and promotion of the high-value valorization of waste biomass.
{"title":"Synergistic effects of Fe-loading on pyrolysis characteristics of cellulose, xylan, and lignin: TG, TG-MS, and Py-GC/MS analysis","authors":"Longfei Wang , Yuanjun Tang , Guoneng Li , Jun Dong , Yao Fang , Wenwen Guo , Chao Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102367","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102367","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study systematically investigates the effects of Fe-loading on the pyrolysis behavior of three key biomass components: <em>cellulose</em>, <em>xylan</em>, and <em>lignin</em>. Complementary analytical techniques, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS), and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), were utilized to assess the impact of Fe-loading on: (<em>i</em>) pyrolysis characteristics, (<em>ii</em>) the combined pyrolysis index (<em>CPI</em>), (<em>iii</em>) small-molecule gas evolution, and (<em>iv</em>) tar product distribution. Results demonstrate that the loading of Fe(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub> significantly reduced the initial pyrolysis temperatures of <em>cellulose</em> and <em>xylan</em> by ∼140 °C and ∼62 °C, respectively, resulting in 58 % and 37 % decreases in <em>CPI</em> values. Conversely, <em>lignin</em> exhibited a 111 % <em>CPI</em> increase under Fe loading conditions, attributable to accelerated aryl-ether bond cleavage. The presence of Fe enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> evolution while suppressing H<sub>2</sub>O and CO generation in <em>cellulose</em>/<em>xylan</em> conditions. In contrast, it promoted CH<sub>4</sub>, H<sub>2</sub>, CO, and CO<sub>2</sub> evolution during <em>lignin</em> pyrolysis. Py-GC/MS analysis indicated that the presence of Fe drives aromatization through deoxygenation pathways while inhibiting ring-opening depolymerization, consequently shifting tar composition toward higher-carbon-number aromatic hydrocarbons. The findings can serve as a valuable reference for the application and promotion of the high-value valorization of waste biomass.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 102367"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145517256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2025.102364
Yili Zhang , Xin Su , Hao Guo , Rihong Xiao , Xuebin Wang , Junying Zhang
Coal gasification slag (GS), a solid waste from the coal chemical industry, holds promise as an efficient and environmentally friendly adsorbent. This study selected four typical gasification slag samples and conducted mercury removal experiments at different reaction temperatures. The results showed that sample refined carbon (RC) was suitable for low-temperature mercury removal, achieving an efficiency of 90.91 %, while sample fine slag (FS) was more effective at high temperatures, with a removal efficiency of 83.64 %. Subsequently, we investigated the mercury removal performance of the different types of gasifier slag samples in the presence of SO2, NO, HCl, and H2S. The results indicated that sample FS exhibited better resistance to flue gas components. Regarding the adsorption mechanism, the mercury adsorption by RC was attributed to the action of surface-adsorbed hydroxyl groups, whereas the mercury adsorption by FS was due to chemical adsorption by oxygen. The low leaching toxicity further confirms the safety of GS. This study provided valuable guidance for the application of gasification slag in mercury removal processes.
{"title":"Using waste to treat waste: elemental mercury removal from flue gas by coal gasification slag","authors":"Yili Zhang , Xin Su , Hao Guo , Rihong Xiao , Xuebin Wang , Junying Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102364","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102364","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coal gasification slag (GS), a solid waste from the coal chemical industry, holds promise as an efficient and environmentally friendly adsorbent. This study selected four typical gasification slag samples and conducted mercury removal experiments at different reaction temperatures. The results showed that sample refined carbon (RC) was suitable for low-temperature mercury removal, achieving an efficiency of 90.91 %, while sample fine slag (FS) was more effective at high temperatures, with a removal efficiency of 83.64 %. Subsequently, we investigated the mercury removal performance of the different types of gasifier slag samples in the presence of SO<sub>2</sub>, NO, HCl, and H<sub>2</sub>S. The results indicated that sample FS exhibited better resistance to flue gas components. Regarding the adsorption mechanism, the mercury adsorption by RC was attributed to the action of surface-adsorbed hydroxyl groups, whereas the mercury adsorption by FS was due to chemical adsorption by oxygen. The low leaching toxicity further confirms the safety of GS. This study provided valuable guidance for the application of gasification slag in mercury removal processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 102364"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145517258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2025.102365
Dong Ye , Jingyi Feng , Jiahui Liu , Kai Zhu , Li Sun , Ruitang Guo
A series of WO3-modified CeOx-CrOx catalysts were synthesized via co-precipitation and systematically evaluated for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) performance. The optimal catalyst, with a W/(Ce + Cr) molar ratio of 0.8, demonstrated exceptional activity, achieving >90 % NOx conversion and >90 % N2 selectivity across a broad temperature window (150–350 °C) under a high gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 200,000 mL g−1 h−1. This performance significantly surpassed that of the unmodified CeOx-CrOx reference catalyst, which only maintained >90 % NOx conversion and N2 selectivity within a narrower range (150–200 °C). The enhanced catalytic performance was attributed to the introduction of WO3, which generated abundant surface Lewis acid sites, thereby improving NH3 adsorption capacity. Furthermore, the formation of metal tungstate species stabilized Cr3+ and Ce3+, disrupting redox cycling between the cations with higher and lower oxidation numbers. This stabilization reduced both the abundance and reducibility of high-valence metal cations and chemisorbed oxygen species, endowing the WO3-modified catalysts with balanced oxidative capacity to activate adsorbed NH3 while effectively suppressing its excessive oxidation to NOx and over-activation to -NH (a key intermediate in N2O formation). Consequently, the WO3-promoted catalysts exhibited both an expanded operational temperature window and enhanced N2 selectivity. Additionally, the catalysts demonstrated robust resistance to SO2 and H2O poisoning, providing critical insights into the optimization of CeOx-CrOx-based SCR catalysts and paving the way for their potential industrial implementation.
{"title":"Effectively broadening the operational temperature window of the CeOx-CrOx SCR catalyst by modifying WO3","authors":"Dong Ye , Jingyi Feng , Jiahui Liu , Kai Zhu , Li Sun , Ruitang Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102365","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2025.102365","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A series of WO<sub>3</sub>-modified CeO<sub><em>x</em></sub>-CrO<sub><em>x</em></sub> catalysts were synthesized via co-precipitation and systematically evaluated for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) performance. The optimal catalyst, with a W/(Ce + Cr) molar ratio of 0.8, demonstrated exceptional activity, achieving >90 % NO<sub><em>x</em></sub> conversion and >90 % N<sub>2</sub> selectivity across a broad temperature window (150–350 °C) under a high gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 200,000 mL g<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>. This performance significantly surpassed that of the unmodified CeO<sub><em>x</em></sub>-CrO<sub><em>x</em></sub> reference catalyst, which only maintained >90 % NO<sub><em>x</em></sub> conversion and N<sub>2</sub> selectivity within a narrower range (150–200 °C). The enhanced catalytic performance was attributed to the introduction of WO<sub>3</sub>, which generated abundant surface Lewis acid sites, thereby improving NH<sub>3</sub> adsorption capacity. Furthermore, the formation of metal tungstate species stabilized Cr<sup>3+</sup> and Ce<sup>3+</sup>, disrupting redox cycling between the cations with higher and lower oxidation numbers. This stabilization reduced both the abundance and reducibility of high-valence metal cations and chemisorbed oxygen species, endowing the WO<sub>3</sub>-modified catalysts with balanced oxidative capacity to activate adsorbed NH<sub>3</sub> while effectively suppressing its excessive oxidation to NO<sub><em>x</em></sub> and over-activation to -NH (a key intermediate in N<sub>2</sub>O formation). Consequently, the WO<sub>3</sub>-promoted catalysts exhibited both an expanded operational temperature window and enhanced N<sub>2</sub> selectivity. Additionally, the catalysts demonstrated robust resistance to SO<sub>2</sub> and H<sub>2</sub>O poisoning, providing critical insights into the optimization of CeO<sub><em>x</em></sub>-CrO<sub><em>x</em></sub>-based SCR catalysts and paving the way for their potential industrial implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 102365"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145517260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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