Pub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109121
Xifan Yuan, Yehan Tao, Jialu Song, Jian Du, Jinwen Hu, Chenglong Fu, Jie Lu, Yanna Lv, Haisong Wang
Electrocatalytic 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation reaction (HMFOR) presents is a promising approach to couple biomass conversion with sustainable hydrogen production. This study designs a NiFe hydroxide/graphitic carbon nitride (G-C3N4) heterojunction electrocatalyst to address the slow electron transport and insufficient active sites in ferrous element-based hydroxides catalysts. The G-C3N4 acts as an ideal electron transport platform with its delocalized π electronic system, inducing d-p orbital hybridization at the interface to enhance charge transfer and optimize the redox cycle of metals with different valence states. It also modulates reactant adsorption-Ni/Fe sites of LDH strongly adsorb and activate 5-HMF via d-p hybridization, while G-C3N4's weak van der Waals/hydrogen bond interactions facilitate product desorption. The heterojunction structure enables complete 5-HMF conversion (100%) to 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with 99.4% Faradaic efficiency at 1.39 VRHE, also with good stability over 72 h of continuous operation, recyclability and variety in the conversion of furfural. This work highlights the critical roles of G-C3N4 in heterojunction catalysts of regulating electronic structure and adsorption behavior to boost biomass electrooxidation efficiency, providing a feasible strategy for catalyst design in sustainable chemistry.
{"title":"Enhancing 5-hydroxymethylfurfural electrooxidation by NiFe LDH/G-C3N4 heterojunction with π-electron mediated enhanced electron transfer","authors":"Xifan Yuan, Yehan Tao, Jialu Song, Jian Du, Jinwen Hu, Chenglong Fu, Jie Lu, Yanna Lv, Haisong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109121","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109121","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electrocatalytic 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation reaction (HMFOR) presents is a promising approach to couple biomass conversion with sustainable hydrogen production. This study designs a NiFe hydroxide/graphitic carbon nitride (G-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) heterojunction electrocatalyst to address the slow electron transport and insufficient active sites in ferrous element-based hydroxides catalysts. The G-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> acts as an ideal electron transport platform with its delocalized π electronic system, inducing d-p orbital hybridization at the interface to enhance charge transfer and optimize the redox cycle of metals with different valence states. It also modulates reactant adsorption-Ni/Fe sites of LDH strongly adsorb and activate 5-HMF via d-p hybridization, while G-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>'s weak van der Waals/hydrogen bond interactions facilitate product desorption. The heterojunction structure enables complete 5-HMF conversion (100%) to 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with 99.4% Faradaic efficiency at 1.39 V<sub>RHE</sub>, also with good stability over 72 h of continuous operation, recyclability and variety in the conversion of furfural. This work highlights the critical roles of G-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> in heterojunction catalysts of regulating electronic structure and adsorption behavior to boost biomass electrooxidation efficiency, providing a feasible strategy for catalyst design in sustainable chemistry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":253,"journal":{"name":"Biomass & Bioenergy","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 109121"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147330042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-02-26DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109167
Jun Qiu , Haoze Liu , Jingwei Lyu , Guifang Wang , Peng Wu , Shuxian Wang , Jiazhen Wang , Xiao Liu , Kaibo Cui
Dyeing wastewater and sludge (Sl) are hazardous wastes that require effective treatment. Accordingly, a bifunctional magnetic material of montmorillonite-modified sludge derived hydrochar (MT@SMHC) was synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal process. The Sl was used as the carbon precursor, montmorillonite (MT) as the carrier, and an FeCl3·6H2O-based magnetization system as the magnetic agent. The resulting MT@SMHC was employed for dye adsorption and catalytic degradation. MT@SMHC prepared in this work consisted of Sl-derived hydrochar dispersed over the layered MT framework. It exhibited a specific surface area of 22.69 m2/g and a saturation magnetization of 31.13 emu/g, enabling efficient adsorption and convenient magnetic recovery. The adsorption of the cationic dye methylene blue (MB) on MT@SMHC reached 192.2 mg/g at an initial MB concentration of 200 mg/L and was best described by the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order model. Characterization and DFT calculations indicated that MB was adsorbed onto MT@SMHC via interlayer ion exchange within MT, electrostatic attraction, π–π stacking, and hydrogen bonding. For the anionic dye methyl orange (MO), MT@SMHC functioned as a Fenton catalyst, achieving a degradation efficiency of 92.2% at an initial MO concentration of 50 mg/L within 2 h. The reactive oxygen species were ·O2− and ·OH, and analysis of degradation intermediates combined with DFT elucidated the degradation pathway of MO. In summary, the green bifunctional magnetic material of MT@SMHC can efficiently adsorb cationic and catalytically degrade anionic dyes in wastewater, while allowing facile magnetic separation and stable reusability, achieving the research goal of “treating waste with waste”.
{"title":"Green bifunctional magnetic materials of montmorillonite-modified sludge derived hydrochar for dye adsorption and catalytic degradation","authors":"Jun Qiu , Haoze Liu , Jingwei Lyu , Guifang Wang , Peng Wu , Shuxian Wang , Jiazhen Wang , Xiao Liu , Kaibo Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109167","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109167","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dyeing wastewater and sludge (Sl) are hazardous wastes that require effective treatment. Accordingly, a bifunctional magnetic material of montmorillonite-modified sludge derived hydrochar (MT@SMHC) was synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal process. The Sl was used as the carbon precursor, montmorillonite (MT) as the carrier, and an FeCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O-based magnetization system as the magnetic agent. The resulting MT@SMHC was employed for dye adsorption and catalytic degradation. MT@SMHC prepared in this work consisted of Sl-derived hydrochar dispersed over the layered MT framework. It exhibited a specific surface area of 22.69 m<sup>2</sup>/g and a saturation magnetization of 31.13 emu/g, enabling efficient adsorption and convenient magnetic recovery. The adsorption of the cationic dye methylene blue (MB) on MT@SMHC reached 192.2 mg/g at an initial MB concentration of 200 mg/L and was best described by the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order model. Characterization and DFT calculations indicated that MB was adsorbed onto MT@SMHC via interlayer ion exchange within MT, electrostatic attraction, π–π stacking, and hydrogen bonding. For the anionic dye methyl orange (MO), MT@SMHC functioned as a Fenton catalyst, achieving a degradation efficiency of 92.2% at an initial MO concentration of 50 mg/L within 2 h. The reactive oxygen species were ·O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> and ·OH, and analysis of degradation intermediates combined with DFT elucidated the degradation pathway of MO. In summary, the green bifunctional magnetic material of MT@SMHC can efficiently adsorb cationic and catalytically degrade anionic dyes in wastewater, while allowing facile magnetic separation and stable reusability, achieving the research goal of “treating waste with waste”.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":253,"journal":{"name":"Biomass & Bioenergy","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 109167"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147330043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-03-05DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109224
Karnapa Ajit , Haribabu Krishnan
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) present a promising approach to energy-neutral wastewater treatment, but their practical scale-up demands affordable materials and systematic studies in stacked configurations. Natural clay membranes offer a cost-effective alternative to proton exchange membranes due to the presence of hygroscopic oxides of Al and Si, as well as interlayer cations that support proton conduction. Studies have enhanced their proton conductivity using pore-forming agents and water-retaining additives. In this study, alum sludge—a byproduct of wastewater treatment rich in organic carbon and hygroscopic metal oxides—was valorized as an additive to natural clay, producing carbon-incorporated clay membranes through a simple co-firing process. At the optimal sludge content of 20%, the membrane's ionic conductivity increased from 0.0997 mS/cm to 0.2077 mS/cm, and the proton mass transfer coefficient increased from 3 × 10−5 cm/s to 17 × 10−5 cm/s, indicating improved water retention. The BET surface area increased from 3.98 to 24.68 m2/g due to micropore formation from residual organic matter decomposition during calcination. Modified membrane enabled a 1.54-fold enhancement in MFC power density compared to unmodified membrane. A 5L MFC stack using the membrane demonstrated consistent power output ranging from 14.32 to 17.27 mW across various hydraulic retention times (HRTs). Normalised energy recovery varied significantly with HRT, increasing from 0.0096 kWh/m3 at 3 h HRT to 0.1833 kWh/m3 at 64 h, indicating the critical role of operational parameters in defining energy recovery metrics. This study demonstrates that waste valorization through membrane modification offers an effective route to improve MFC performance and energy recovery.
{"title":"Characterization and application of an alum sludge-blended clay membrane in a continuous-flow 5L stacked microbial fuel cell","authors":"Karnapa Ajit , Haribabu Krishnan","doi":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) present a promising approach to energy-neutral wastewater treatment, but their practical scale-up demands affordable materials and systematic studies in stacked configurations. Natural clay membranes offer a cost-effective alternative to proton exchange membranes due to the presence of hygroscopic oxides of Al and Si, as well as interlayer cations that support proton conduction. Studies have enhanced their proton conductivity using pore-forming agents and water-retaining additives. In this study, alum sludge—a byproduct of wastewater treatment rich in organic carbon and hygroscopic metal oxides—was valorized as an additive to natural clay, producing carbon-incorporated clay membranes through a simple co-firing process. At the optimal sludge content of 20%, the membrane's ionic conductivity increased from 0.0997 mS/cm to 0.2077 mS/cm, and the proton mass transfer coefficient increased from 3 × 10<sup>−5</sup> cm/s to 17 × 10<sup>−5</sup> cm/s, indicating improved water retention. The BET surface area increased from 3.98 to 24.68 m<sup>2</sup>/g due to micropore formation from residual organic matter decomposition during calcination. Modified membrane enabled a 1.54-fold enhancement in MFC power density compared to unmodified membrane. A 5L MFC stack using the membrane demonstrated consistent power output ranging from 14.32 to 17.27 mW across various hydraulic retention times (HRTs). Normalised energy recovery varied significantly with HRT, increasing from 0.0096 kWh/m<sup>3</sup> at 3 h HRT to 0.1833 kWh/m<sup>3</sup> at 64 h, indicating the critical role of operational parameters in defining energy recovery metrics. This study demonstrates that waste valorization through membrane modification offers an effective route to improve MFC performance and energy recovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":253,"journal":{"name":"Biomass & Bioenergy","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 109224"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147360732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-03-04DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109204
Maged M. Basuliman , Mohamad Nasir Mohamad Ibrahim , M. Hazwan Hussin
Industrial growth has intensified the discharge of hydrocarbon-contaminated wastewater, creating an urgent need for sustainable oil/water separation technologies that reduce reliance on synthetic demulsifiers. This study introduces organosolv lignin extracted from date palm fronds (DPF) an abundant and underutilised biomass in Yemen as a bio-based demulsifier for diesel/water emulsions. Comprehensive characterisation revealed that DPF lignin possesses a syringyl-rich, oxygenated, and highly amphiphilic structure that promotes strong interaction at hydrocarbon/water interfaces. A lignin demulsifier agent (LDA) formulated in a DMSO–acetone solvent system was optimised through bottle-test evaluations. The best performance was obtained using 0.75% lignin with 30% acetone, achieving up to 90.33% separation efficiency while maintaining consistent activity across variations in pH, temperature, and salinity, including conditions representative of seawater. The recovered diesel met commercial density and calorific value standards, confirming that the demulsification process preserved fuel quality with minimal contamination. These results establish DPF-derived organosolv lignin as an effective and environmentally responsible alternative to commercial polyether-based demulsifiers, offering a viable valorisation route for regional agricultural residues while reducing dependence on petrochemical separation agents. This work provides the first demonstration of Yemeni DPF lignin for emulsion destabilisation and highlights its potential for scalable application in oily wastewater treatment and hydrocarbon recovery.
{"title":"Sustainable separation: organosolv lignin from date palm fronds for harsh hydrocarbon/water emulsions","authors":"Maged M. Basuliman , Mohamad Nasir Mohamad Ibrahim , M. Hazwan Hussin","doi":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109204","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109204","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Industrial growth has intensified the discharge of hydrocarbon-contaminated wastewater, creating an urgent need for sustainable oil/water separation technologies that reduce reliance on synthetic demulsifiers. This study introduces organosolv lignin extracted from date palm fronds (DPF) an abundant and underutilised biomass in Yemen as a bio-based demulsifier for diesel/water emulsions. Comprehensive characterisation revealed that DPF lignin possesses a syringyl-rich, oxygenated, and highly amphiphilic structure that promotes strong interaction at hydrocarbon/water interfaces. A lignin demulsifier agent (LDA) formulated in a DMSO–acetone solvent system was optimised through bottle-test evaluations. The best performance was obtained using 0.75% lignin with 30% acetone, achieving up to 90.33% separation efficiency while maintaining consistent activity across variations in pH, temperature, and salinity, including conditions representative of seawater. The recovered diesel met commercial density and calorific value standards, confirming that the demulsification process preserved fuel quality with minimal contamination. These results establish DPF-derived organosolv lignin as an effective and environmentally responsible alternative to commercial polyether-based demulsifiers, offering a viable valorisation route for regional agricultural residues while reducing dependence on petrochemical separation agents. This work provides the first demonstration of Yemeni DPF lignin for emulsion destabilisation and highlights its potential for scalable application in oily wastewater treatment and hydrocarbon recovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":253,"journal":{"name":"Biomass & Bioenergy","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 109204"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147360735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
1,2,3-Propanetriol is one of the key and crude byproducts originated from the industries engaged in the manufacturing of biodiesel and soap. The main obstacle in transforming crude glycerol to useful compounds is the impurities inherited from the process, that inactivate catalysts, affecting yield and complicating work-up processes. Here we report the synthesis of porphyrin comprising imidazolium ionic liquid entangled with sulfonic acid (PcImILSA) and confirmed by various analytical methods. Structural characterization confirmed the successful formation of PcImILSA, exhibiting a narrow optical band gap of 1.24 eV and strong Brønsted acidity (H0 = 1.306), enhancing visible-light absorption and catalytic performance respectively. The sustainable visible light induced protocol achieved 97 % conversion and 90 % solketal selectivity using 25 mg of PcImILSA photocatalyst, 1:12 glycerol to acetone molar ratio, under irradiation of 5W LED, in 24 h. After confirmation of solketal by various techniques, optimized conditions were explored for various aliphatic and aromatic carbonyl compounds with good to excellent (85-90 %) yields. Further, solketal was found as an effective additive by B-5% −20 % blending with marketed diesel. It was found that B15 blended samples showed excellent improvement in physicochemical properties compared to neat diesel. Moreover, B15 blended samples also exhibited excellent engine performance including brake thermal efficiency, brake-specific fuel consumption and comparable emission performance at higher load with respect to commercial diesel. PcImILSA showed stability and recyclability over five runs. The reaction continued under mild, and environmentally benign conditions, obeying green chemistry assumptions. Hence, this technique offers a sustainable platform to convert crude glycerol into industrially useful solketal.
{"title":"Porphyrin comprising imidazolium ionic liquid entangled with sulfonic acid for producing biodiesel additive from biomass derived crude glycerol","authors":"Piyush Radheshyam Yadav , Vaibhav Devidas Channe , Bhairav Chandroday Mataghare , Vijay Shivaji Patil , Sakshi Ravindra Giradkar , Rutuja Ganesh Maske , Kamlesh Rudreshwar Balinge , Vijay Baburao Khajone , Prashant Narayan Muskawar , S. Murugavelh , Pundlik Rambhau Bhagat","doi":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109143","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>1,2,3-Propanetriol is one of the key and crude byproducts originated from the industries engaged in the manufacturing of biodiesel and soap. The main obstacle in transforming crude glycerol to useful compounds is the impurities inherited from the process, that inactivate catalysts, affecting yield and complicating work-up processes. Here we report the synthesis of porphyrin comprising imidazolium ionic liquid entangled with sulfonic acid (PcImILSA) and confirmed by various analytical methods. Structural characterization confirmed the successful formation of PcImILSA, exhibiting a narrow optical band gap of 1.24 eV and strong Brønsted acidity (H<sub>0</sub> = 1.306), enhancing visible-light absorption and catalytic performance respectively. The sustainable visible light induced protocol achieved 97 % conversion and 90 % solketal selectivity using 25 mg of PcImILSA photocatalyst, 1:12 glycerol to acetone molar ratio, under irradiation of 5W LED, in 24 h. After confirmation of solketal by various techniques, optimized conditions were explored for various aliphatic and aromatic carbonyl compounds with good to excellent (85-90 %) yields. Further, solketal was found as an effective additive by B-5% −20 % blending with marketed diesel. It was found that B15 blended samples showed excellent improvement in physicochemical properties compared to neat diesel. Moreover, B15 blended samples also exhibited excellent engine performance including brake thermal efficiency, brake-specific fuel consumption and comparable emission performance at higher load with respect to commercial diesel. PcImILSA showed stability and recyclability over five runs. The reaction continued under mild, and environmentally benign conditions, obeying green chemistry assumptions. Hence, this technique offers a sustainable platform to convert crude glycerol into industrially useful solketal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":253,"journal":{"name":"Biomass & Bioenergy","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 109143"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147360756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-03-09DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109257
Amina Ouahbi , Youness Bouhaj , Said Sair , Abdeslam EL Bouari , Omar Tanane
The development of sustainable and low-cost catalysts from biowaste offers a promising route for renewable fuel production. In this study, a heterogeneous catalyst was synthesized from a 1:1 composite of chicken eggshells and Sardina pilchardus scales (ES), followed by ZnAl2O4 spinel impregnation and thermal activation at 900 °C. Comprehensive characterization (XRD, FTIR, SEM, BET, and TGA/DSC) confirmed the formation of a multiphase system comprising CaO, hydroxyapatite, β-Ca3(PO4)2, and ZnAl2O4 spinel. The catalyst containing 20 wt% ZnAl2O4 exhibited optimal performance in the transesterification of waste frying oil (WFO), achieving a biodiesel yield of 95.4 ± 0.40% and a FAME conversion of 96.98 ± 0.20% under optimized conditions (2.5 wt% catalyst, 12:1 methanol-to-oil ratio, 90 °C, 5 h), outperforming the unmodified ES9-3 catalyst (86.5 ± 0.46% yield). Kinetic analysis revealed a reduced activation energy (48.8 kJ mol−1) compared to the ES9-3 catalyst (54.97 kJ mol−1), indicating enhanced intrinsic reaction kinetics following spinel incorporation. The catalyst maintained high activity over five reuse cycles, and the produced biodiesel met EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 standards. These findings demonstrate that spinel-modified biowaste catalysts provide an efficient and sustainable platform for valorizing waste oils into high-quality renewable fuels.
{"title":"Development of a ZnAl2O4-impregnated eggshell–sardin scale catalyst for waste frying oil valorization into biodiesel","authors":"Amina Ouahbi , Youness Bouhaj , Said Sair , Abdeslam EL Bouari , Omar Tanane","doi":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109257","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109257","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of sustainable and low-cost catalysts from biowaste offers a promising route for renewable fuel production. In this study, a heterogeneous catalyst was synthesized from a 1:1 composite of chicken eggshells and <em>Sardina pilchardus</em> scales (ES), followed by ZnAl<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> spinel impregnation and thermal activation at 900 °C. Comprehensive characterization (XRD, FTIR, SEM, BET, and TGA/DSC) confirmed the formation of a multiphase system comprising CaO, hydroxyapatite, β-Ca<sub>3</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>, and ZnAl<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> spinel. The catalyst containing 20 wt% ZnAl<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> exhibited optimal performance in the transesterification of waste frying oil (WFO), achieving a biodiesel yield of 95.4 ± 0.40% and a FAME conversion of 96.98 ± 0.20% under optimized conditions (2.5 wt% catalyst, 12:1 methanol-to-oil ratio, 90 °C, 5 h), outperforming the unmodified ES9-3 catalyst (86.5 ± 0.46% yield). Kinetic analysis revealed a reduced activation energy (48.8 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup>) compared to the ES9-3 catalyst (54.97 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup>), indicating enhanced intrinsic reaction kinetics following spinel incorporation. The catalyst maintained high activity over five reuse cycles, and the produced biodiesel met EN 14214 and ASTM <span><span>D6751</span><svg><path></path></svg></span> standards. These findings demonstrate that spinel-modified biowaste catalysts provide an efficient and sustainable platform for valorizing waste oils into high-quality renewable fuels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":253,"journal":{"name":"Biomass & Bioenergy","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 109257"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147387588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-02-22DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109108
Sivaprakash Gurusamy , Rathinavel Nithya , Mohanrasu K , Solairaj Dhanasekaran , Ramalingam Karthik Raja , Alagarsamy Arun
CoMn2O4 catalyst was synthesized using a facile room-temperature precipitation method and subsequently evaluated for dual applications in biodiesel production and energy storage. The structural, morphological and functional properties of the synthesized material were characterized thoroughly by means of XRD, FTIR and AFM. The catalyst was employed in the transesterification of lipids extracted from five marine macroalgae species: Gelidium micropertum, Lobophora variegate, Portieria hornemannii, Padina tetrastromatica, and Laurencia dendroidea. The optimization study was conducted to obtain the maximum yield and it was determined as 8% of catalyst concentration, 1:12 of oil-to-methanol molar ratio, 80 °C of temperature and 8h of reaction time. The resulting biodiesel revealed a composition dominated by unsaturated fatty acids (54.27 %) over saturated fatty acids (42.23 %). The identified fatty acids included linoleic (C18:2), palmitic (C16:0), myristic (C14:0), palmitoleic (C16:1), stearic (C18:0), and oleic (C18:1) acids, confirming the production of high-quality macroalgae biodiesel production. Among the studied species, maximum biodiesel yield (72 ± 3.6 %) was obtained from the lipids of Gelidium micropertum. The recovered CoMn2O4 catalyst from biodiesel production was reutilized as an electrode material to assess its electrochemical performance in supercapacitor applications. As supercapacitor electrode, it exhibits a high specific capacitance of 700 F g−1. These findings establish CoMn2O4 as a versatile, multifunctional material, delivering efficient catalytic activity for renewable fuel production alongside sustained electrochemical activity.
{"title":"Dual properties integrated CoMn2O4 nanocomposite: Heterogeneous catalyst on seaweed biodiesel and supercapacitor applications","authors":"Sivaprakash Gurusamy , Rathinavel Nithya , Mohanrasu K , Solairaj Dhanasekaran , Ramalingam Karthik Raja , Alagarsamy Arun","doi":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109108","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109108","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>CoMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> catalyst was synthesized using a facile room-temperature precipitation method and subsequently evaluated for dual applications in biodiesel production and energy storage. The structural, morphological and functional properties of the synthesized material were characterized thoroughly by means of XRD, FTIR and AFM. The catalyst was employed in the transesterification of lipids extracted from five marine macroalgae species: <em>Gelidium micropertum</em>, <em>Lobophora variegate</em>, <em>Portieria hornemannii</em>, <em>Padina tetrastromatica</em>, and <em>Laurencia dendroidea</em>. The optimization study was conducted to obtain the maximum yield and it was determined as 8% of catalyst concentration, 1:12 of oil-to-methanol molar ratio, 80 °C of temperature and 8h of reaction time. The resulting biodiesel revealed a composition dominated by unsaturated fatty acids (54.27 %) over saturated fatty acids (42.23 %). The identified fatty acids included linoleic (C18:2), palmitic (C16:0), myristic (C14:0), palmitoleic (C16:1), stearic (C18:0), and oleic (C18:1) acids, confirming the production of high-quality macroalgae biodiesel production. Among the studied species, maximum biodiesel yield (72 ± 3.6 %) was obtained from the lipids of <em>Gelidium micropertum</em>. The recovered CoMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> catalyst from biodiesel production was reutilized as an electrode material to assess its electrochemical performance in supercapacitor applications. As supercapacitor electrode, it exhibits a high specific capacitance of 700 F g<sup>−1</sup>. These findings establish CoMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> as a versatile, multifunctional material, delivering efficient catalytic activity for renewable fuel production alongside sustained electrochemical activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":253,"journal":{"name":"Biomass & Bioenergy","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 109108"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146777820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-02-22DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109110
Carolina Gonzalez , Gastón Alejandro Iocoli , Juan Manuel Cuestas , Ramiro González Matute , Pablo Daniel Postemsky
Selecting suitable substrates for mushroom cultivation remains largely empirical and time-consuming, relying on multi-week trials that often result in inefficient or failed production cycles. Bulk indicators such as C/N ratio or total lignin are commonly used, yet they lack the resolution to capture the molecular accessibility of lignocellulosic polymers, which drives fungal colonization and biological efficiency (BE). This study evaluated Pleurotus pulmonarius cultivation on barley straw (BS), poplar sawdust (PS), and sunflower seed hulls (SSH), integrating fast analytical descriptors from FTIR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with machine-learning models to prospectively predict BE. SSH achieved the highest BE (44.5%), followed by BS (29.5%) and PS (25.7%). High-BE substrates were characterized by stronger initial crystalline cellulose signals (C1420), lower aromatic lignin (C1510), and selective consumption of hemicellulosic fractions, indicating differential degradability linked to lignin architecture and cellulose accessibility. A Random Forest model trained on initial FTIR variables provided the best predictive and prospective performance (r = 0.776; RMSE = 9.40), highlighting C1420 and C890 as key predictors, consistent with the components consumed by the fungus. These results indicate that cellulose accessibility and lignin molecular structure are primary determinants of BE and position FTIR-derived descriptors as rapid, transferable pre-screening tools. This approach enables immediate assessment of biomass suitability, reducing the temporal requirement for substrate selection from weeks to minutes and mitigating the economic burden of inefficient cultivation cycles, thereby supporting scalable decision-making within circular bioeconomy frameworks.
{"title":"Rapid prediction of Pleurotus pulmonarius cultivation performance from lignocellulosic spectral fingerprints using machine learning","authors":"Carolina Gonzalez , Gastón Alejandro Iocoli , Juan Manuel Cuestas , Ramiro González Matute , Pablo Daniel Postemsky","doi":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Selecting suitable substrates for mushroom cultivation remains largely empirical and time-consuming, relying on multi-week trials that often result in inefficient or failed production cycles. Bulk indicators such as C/N ratio or total lignin are commonly used, yet they lack the resolution to capture the molecular accessibility of lignocellulosic polymers, which drives fungal colonization and biological efficiency (BE). This study evaluated <em>Pleurotus pulmonarius</em> cultivation on barley straw (BS), poplar sawdust (PS), and sunflower seed hulls (SSH), integrating fast analytical descriptors from FTIR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with machine-learning models to prospectively predict BE. SSH achieved the highest BE (44.5%), followed by BS (29.5%) and PS (25.7%). High-BE substrates were characterized by stronger initial crystalline cellulose signals (C1420), lower aromatic lignin (C1510), and selective consumption of hemicellulosic fractions, indicating differential degradability linked to lignin architecture and cellulose accessibility. A Random Forest model trained on initial FTIR variables provided the best predictive and prospective performance (r = 0.776; RMSE = 9.40), highlighting C1420 and C890 as key predictors, consistent with the components consumed by the fungus. These results indicate that cellulose accessibility and lignin molecular structure are primary determinants of BE and position FTIR-derived descriptors as rapid, transferable pre-screening tools. This approach enables immediate assessment of biomass suitability, reducing the temporal requirement for substrate selection from weeks to minutes and mitigating the economic burden of inefficient cultivation cycles, thereby supporting scalable decision-making within circular bioeconomy frameworks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":253,"journal":{"name":"Biomass & Bioenergy","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 109110"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146778156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The synthesis of biochar based nanozyme using agricultural waste precursors has gained enormous attention due to their commercial feasibility, ecofriendly nature, easy bulk production. Since the catalytic response of the biochar based nanozyme as peroxidase imitator is majorly dependent on its pyrolysis condition, it is highly necessary to optimize such conditions. In this current study, the biochar based nanozyme with peroxidase (POD) mimic catalytic activity was synthesized via slow pyrolysis-chemical oxidation coupled process using spent mushroom substrate (SMS), an emerging agricultural waste. Three different pyrolysis parameters, including pyrolysis temperature, holding time, and heating rate, were optimized via two different approaches, such as Response Surface Methodology coupled with desirability function (RSM-DF) and Response Surface Methodology coupled with artificial neural network and Teaching-Learning optimization algorithm (RSM-ANN-TLBO), for maximizing the catalytic activity of the biochar based nanozyme in terms of specific activity. The maximum POD mimic specific activity of 2.54 U g−1 was predicted by the RSM-DF approach for SMS derived biochar based nanozyme synthesized at optimal pyrolysis conditions of 500 °C pyrolysis temperature, 35 min holding time, and 5 °C min−1 heating rate. The modelling study also revealed that the pyrolysis temperature had the most significant impact on the POD mimic catalytic activity in biochar nanozyme. Apart from that, the kinetic study confirmed the intriguing prospect of SMS generated biochar nanozymes as a POD mimic. This study facilitates the integration of optimization framework in nanozyme synthesis for engineering a cost-effective waste-derived nanozyme with a broad spectrum of applicability across diverse catalytic systems for environmental remediation and materials processing.
利用农业废弃物前驱体合成生物炭基纳米酶因其商业可行性、环保性、易于批量生产而受到广泛关注。由于生物炭基纳米酶作为过氧化物酶模拟物的催化反应主要取决于其热解条件，因此对热解条件进行优化是非常必要的。本研究以新型农业废弃物蘑菇废底物（SMS）为原料，采用慢热解-化学氧化耦合法合成了具有过氧化物酶（POD）模拟催化活性的生物炭纳米酶。通过响应面法结合期望函数法（RSM-DF）和响应面法结合人工神经网络和教学优化算法（RSM-ANN-TLBO）对热解温度、保温时间和升温速率等3个不同的热解参数进行优化，使生物炭基纳米酶的催化活性从比活性上最大化。在500℃热解温度、35 min保温时间和5℃min - 1升温速率下，采用RSM-DF法合成的SMS衍生生物炭纳米酶的最大POD模拟比活性为2.54 U g−1。模拟研究还发现，热解温度对生物炭纳米酶中POD模拟催化活性的影响最为显著。除此之外，动力学研究证实了SMS生成的生物炭纳米酶作为POD模拟物的有趣前景。本研究促进了纳米酶合成优化框架的整合，以设计一种具有成本效益的废物衍生纳米酶，该纳米酶具有广泛的适用性，适用于各种催化系统，用于环境修复和材料处理。
{"title":"Application of RSM-DF and RSM-ANN-TLBO optimization techniques for enhancing the performance of nanozyme derived from spent mushroom substrate biochar","authors":"Ashmita Das , Debaditya Gupta , Ramagopal V.S. Uppaluri , Sudip Mitra","doi":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109154","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109154","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The synthesis of biochar based nanozyme using agricultural waste precursors has gained enormous attention due to their commercial feasibility, ecofriendly nature, easy bulk production. Since the catalytic response of the biochar based nanozyme as peroxidase imitator is majorly dependent on its pyrolysis condition, it is highly necessary to optimize such conditions. In this current study, the biochar based nanozyme with peroxidase (POD) mimic catalytic activity was synthesized via slow pyrolysis-chemical oxidation coupled process using spent mushroom substrate (SMS), an emerging agricultural waste. Three different pyrolysis parameters, including pyrolysis temperature, holding time, and heating rate, were optimized via two different approaches, such as Response Surface Methodology coupled with desirability function (RSM-DF) and Response Surface Methodology coupled with artificial neural network and Teaching-Learning optimization algorithm (RSM-ANN-TLBO), for maximizing the catalytic activity of the biochar based nanozyme in terms of specific activity. The maximum POD mimic specific activity of 2.54 U g<sup>−1</sup> was predicted by the RSM-DF approach for SMS derived biochar based nanozyme synthesized at optimal pyrolysis conditions of 500 °C pyrolysis temperature, 35 min holding time, and 5 °C min<sup>−1</sup> heating rate. The modelling study also revealed that the pyrolysis temperature had the most significant impact on the POD mimic catalytic activity in biochar nanozyme. Apart from that, the kinetic study confirmed the intriguing prospect of SMS generated biochar nanozymes as a POD mimic. This study facilitates the integration of optimization framework in nanozyme synthesis for engineering a cost-effective waste-derived nanozyme with a broad spectrum of applicability across diverse catalytic systems for environmental remediation and materials processing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":253,"journal":{"name":"Biomass & Bioenergy","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 109154"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147279195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109074
Zhongyi Sun , Bin Wang , Zheng Li
The transition toward affordable and scalable energy storage technologies requires the development of low-cost, durable, and environmentally sustainable materials. This study presents a comprehensive technical and economic evaluation of fly ash–cement composite materials as multifunctional media for low-cost energy storage applications. By utilizing industrial by-product fly ash as a partial cement replacement, the proposed composite aims to balance ionic conductivity, mechanical integrity, and long-term durability while significantly reducing material and life-cycle costs. Experimental investigations were conducted to optimize mix proportions and characterize microstructure, pore distribution, ionic transport behavior, compressive strength, and cycling stability. Electrochemical analyses demonstrate that the incorporation of optimized fly ash content enhances ionic mobility through refined pore connectivity while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength for structural applications. Mechanical testing confirms that the composites achieve competitive compressive performance suitable for stationary energy storage modules integrated into civil infrastructure. A techno-economic assessment, including material costs, manufacturing scalability, and life-cycle cost modeling, reveals that fly ash–cement composites can reduce capital expenditure and embodied carbon compared to conventional storage materials. Furthermore, life-cycle analysis indicates improved sustainability performance due to waste valorization and lower clinker consumption. The findings highlight the potential of fly ash–cement composites as cost-effective, structurally robust, and environmentally responsible candidates for next-generation integrated energy storage systems, supporting the development of resilient and low-carbon energy infrastructure.
{"title":"Technical and economic evaluation of fly ash cement composite materials for low cost energy storage: Balanced ionic conductivity, mechanics, and life cycle costs","authors":"Zhongyi Sun , Bin Wang , Zheng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109074","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109074","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transition toward affordable and scalable energy storage technologies requires the development of low-cost, durable, and environmentally sustainable materials. This study presents a comprehensive technical and economic evaluation of fly ash–cement composite materials as multifunctional media for low-cost energy storage applications. By utilizing industrial by-product fly ash as a partial cement replacement, the proposed composite aims to balance ionic conductivity, mechanical integrity, and long-term durability while significantly reducing material and life-cycle costs. Experimental investigations were conducted to optimize mix proportions and characterize microstructure, pore distribution, ionic transport behavior, compressive strength, and cycling stability. Electrochemical analyses demonstrate that the incorporation of optimized fly ash content enhances ionic mobility through refined pore connectivity while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength for structural applications. Mechanical testing confirms that the composites achieve competitive compressive performance suitable for stationary energy storage modules integrated into civil infrastructure. A techno-economic assessment, including material costs, manufacturing scalability, and life-cycle cost modeling, reveals that fly ash–cement composites can reduce capital expenditure and embodied carbon compared to conventional storage materials. Furthermore, life-cycle analysis indicates improved sustainability performance due to waste valorization and lower clinker consumption. The findings highlight the potential of fly ash–cement composites as cost-effective, structurally robust, and environmentally responsible candidates for next-generation integrated energy storage systems, supporting the development of resilient and low-carbon energy infrastructure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":253,"journal":{"name":"Biomass & Bioenergy","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 109074"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147330216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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