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Search results for: BIOMEMS
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Inhibition of the granular anammox process by the high concentration of free ammonia.
PublicationHigh concentrations of ammonia and nitrite, typical for reject water treatment in the anammox process with the use of high temperatures and pH, may cause free ammonia (FA) inhibition. In this study, the inhibitory effect of FA on anammox process rate was investigated in a bench-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with granular anammox biomass. Results of the study present that the anammox process could be successfully operated...
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Removal of VOCs from air and assessment of dominant species in a peat-perlite biotrickling filter
PublicationAir pollution has become a major concern because it is inevitably connected with the rapid development of both industrial and residential areas. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted from various anthropogenic sources e.g. transportation, factories or landfills as well as recycling factories. It is problematic not only because of the direct impact on humans and environment but also from economy viewpoint as it increases...
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A novel concept of negative CO2 emission power plant for utilization of sewage sludge
PublicationCarbon Capture and Storage (CSS) technology is considered an important “bridge technology”, allowing effective abatement of CO2 emissions for power units using fossil fuels. However, if biomass is used in a power plant, equipped with CCS system, negative CO2 emissions can be achieved. In practice, wide development of such technologies would enable not only reduction of CO2 emissions, but also reversal of the harm done so far. In...
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Seaweed utilization issues in biogas production
PublicationMacroalgae can be seen as a renewable feedstock for the production of biofuels in many coastal areas around the World and especially in Baltic Sea region where the eutrophication is particularly troublesome. The investigation of anaerobic digestion technologies for extracting inexhaustible bioenergy from seaweed was conducted in many research institutions mainly in laboratory scale. Although seaweeds seem to have a great potential...
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The role of colloidal and particulate organic compounds in idenitrification and EBPR occurring in a full-scale activatedsludge system
PublicationThe aim of this study was to determine the immediate effects of slowly biodegradable substrates on the denitrification capability andphosphate release/uptake interactions for a full-scale biomass process from the ''Wschod'' wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Gdansk (Poland). Since it is hard to distinguish the slowlybiodegradable substrate in a direct way, a novel procedure based on batch experiments was developed and implemented....
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Correlation between chemical composition and the presence of selected groups of bacteria in freshwater samples collected from Isfjorden and Billefjorde
PublicationThe average concentrations of pollutants in the arctic water, snow and the atmosphere are much lower than those observed in the temperate climate. Specific conditions occurring in the polar regions have apotential to accumulate the pollutants transported from other parts of the world. In this study, attempts were made to find a correlation between selected chemical components and the bacterial population. The analysis involved...
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Renewable natural resources as green alternative substrates to obtain bio-based non-isocyanate polyurethanes-review
PublicationCommercially available polyurethanes are synthesized by the polyaddition of diisocyanates with polyols and low molecular weight chain extenders. A new approach to polyurethanes synthesis is realized via non-isocyanate routes. Negative impacts of petroleum-based chemicals on the environment and human health as well as gradual reduction of fuel-based resources, which leads to an increase in their prices, are an incentive to looking...
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Modeling bioaugmentation with nitrifiers in membrane bioreactors
PublicationBioaugmentation with nitrifiers was studied using two pilot-scale membrane bioreactors, with the purpose of assessing the suitability of state-of-the-art activated sludge models (ASMs) in predicting the efficiency of bioaugmentation as a function of operating conditions. It was demonstrated that the temperature difference between seeding and seeded reactors (ΔT) affects bioaugmentation efficiency. Experimental data were accurately...
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Application of Diagnostic Ratios of PAHs to Characterize the Pollution Emission Sources
PublicationThe paper summarizes the potential of application of parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to identify their emission sources. Four parent PAHs diagnostic ratios are used for this purpose: anthracene/(anthracene + phenanthrene), fluoranthene/(fluoranthene + pyrene), benzo[a]pyrene/(benzo[a]pyrene + chryzene) and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene/(indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene + benzo[g,h,i]perylene). The compounds of each ratio have the...
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Phytoremediation—From Environment Cleaning to Energy Generation—Current Status and Future Perspectives
Publication:Phytoremediationis a technology based on the use of green plants to remove, relocate, deactivate, or destroy harmful environmental pollutants such as heavy metals, radionuclides, hydrocarbons, and pharmaceuticals. Under the general term of phytoremediation, several processes with distinctively different mechanisms of action are hidden. In this paper, the most popular modes of phytoremediation are described and discussed. A broad...
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Chestnut-Derived Activated Carbon as a Prospective Material for Energy Storage
PublicationIn this work, we present the preparation and characterization of biomass-derived activatedcarbon (AC) in view of its application as electrode material for electrochemical capacitors. Porouscarbons are prepared by pyrolysis of chestnut seeds and subsequent activation of the obtainedbiochar. We investigate here two activation methods, namely, physical by CO2and chemical usingKOH. Morphology, structure and specific surface area (SSA)...
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Efficient Extraction of Fermentation Inhibitors by Means of Green Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents
PublicationThe methods for hydrogen yield efficiency improvements, the gaseous stream purification in gaseous biofuels generation, and the biomass pretreatment are considered as the main trends in research devoted to gaseous biofuel production. The environmental aspect related to the liquid stream purification arises. Moreover, the management of post-fermentation broth with the application of various biorefining techniques gains importance....
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Use of a wastewater recovery product (struvite) to enhance subtropical seagrass restoration
PublicationSeagrasses are in decline worldwide, and their restoration is relatively expensive and unsuccessful compared to other coastal systems. Fertilization can improve seagrass growth in restoration but can also release nutrients and pollute the surrounding ecosystem. A slow-release fertilizer may reduce excessive nutrient discharge while still providing resources to the seagrass's rhizosphere. In this study, struvite (magnesium ammonium...
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Effect of operating conditions on N 2 O production in an anammox sequencing batch reactor containing granular sludge
PublicationNitrous oxide (N2O) is one of the gases with the greatest impact in the atmosphere due to its persistence and significant contribution to the greenhouse effect. This study provides an insight into the dynamics of N2O production in wastewater nitrogen removal systems. A 10 L sequencing batch reactor containing enriched anammox biomass was subjected to different operational conditions, i.e., temperature, feed time, NO2 /NH4 þ ratio...
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The role of slowly biodegradable organic compounds in a full-scale biological nutrient removal activated sludge systems
PublicationThe aim of this study was to determine the immediate effects of slowly biodegradable substrates on the denitrification capability and phosphate release/uptake interactions for a full-scale biomass process from two large wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in the cities of Gdansk and Gdynia (northern Poland). Since it is hard to distinguish the slowly biodegradable substrate in a direct way, a novel procedure based on batch...
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Risks caused by microbiologically influenced corrosion in diesel fuel storage tanks
PublicationMicrobiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) poses serious problems for the petrochemical and refinery industries. Particularly favourable conditions for MIC arise in storage tanks and transmission pipelines for mixtures of diesel oil with the addition of a biocomponent (in Poland 7%). The best conditions for the development of MIC occur at the fuel-water interface, where microorganisms are provided with a source of food and water,...
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The application of Monod equation to denitrification kinetics description in the moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR)
PublicationIn this paper, the kinetic constants Vmax and KCOD occurring in the Monod equation, which describe the denitrification process in the moving bed, are determined. For this purpose, a laboratory moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) was used. The filling of the reactor consisted of EvU Perl carriers. The experiment was carried out with an excess of nitrate, and denitrification rate was dependent on the concentration of external organic...
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Potential applications of crude glycerol in polymer technology–Current state and perspectives
PublicationThe increasing use of bio-based fuels and fuel additives, among them biodiesel, causes significant surplus of crude glycerol on the market which creates new challenges in terms of its sustainable utilization. A lot of ways for the incorporation of this by-product into different branches of industry requires purification by expensive and complicated processes. Therefore, researchers are seeking for applications of untreated crude...
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An observability and detectability analysis for non-linear uncertain CSTR model of biochemical processes
PublicationThe problem of proving observability/detectability properties for selected non-linear uncertain model of biochemical processes has been addressed in this paper. In particular, the analysis of observability/detectability in the face of parametric and unstructured uncertainty in system dynamics transformed into unknown inputs, and unknown initial conditions has been performed. Various sets of system measured outputs were taken into...
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Biosilica from sea water diatoms algae—electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study
PublicationHere, we report on an electrochemical impedance study of silica of organic origin as an active electrode material. The electrode material obtained from carbonized marine biomass containing nanoporous diatoms has been characterised by means of XRD, IR, SEM and EIS. Dif- ferent kinds of crystallographic phases of silica as a result of thermal treatment have been found. The electrode is electrochemically stable during subsequent cyclic...
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Influence of Different Biofuels on the Efficiency of Gas Turbine Cycles for Prosumer and Distributed Energy Power Plants
PublicationThe efficiency of a gas turbine can be affected by the use of different biofuels usually with a relatively Lower Heating Value (LHV). The paper evaluates the impact of calorific value of fuel on turbine performance and analyzes the possibilities of optimizing turbine construction from the point of view of maximum efficiency for a particular fuel. The several variants of design of small power microturbines dedicated to various biofuels...
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Phytoremediation of heavy metals by white cabbage
PublicationPhytoremediation is regarded as the cheapest and environmentally most friendly technology for cleaning up soil. The most widespread and most profitable technique is phytoextraction, used mainly for removing heavy metals and radioactive elements from thesoil. Over 400 plant species have been identified as natural metal hyperaccumulators representing about 0.2 % of all angiosperms. Unfortunately, most of these plants are characterised...
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The Influence of Substitution of a Phosphorus-Containing Polyol with the Bio-polyol on the Properties of Bio-based PUR/PIR Foams
PublicationIn this work, effects of incorporating of a phosphorus-containing polyol into rigid polyurethane/polyisocyanurate foams’ formulations developed with use of two different bio-based polyols, derived from crude glycerol or liquefied cellulose were examined. The bio-polyol derived from crude glycerol was synthesized via two-step process from crude glycerol and castor oil, whereas the bio-polyol derived from liquefied cellulose was...
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Electricity generation from rapeseed straw hydrolysates using microbial fuel cells
PublicationRapeseed straw is an attractive fuel material for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) due to its high content of carbohydrates (more than 60% carbohydrates). This study has demonstrated that reducing sugars can be efficiently extracted from raw rapeseed straw by combination of hydrothermal pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis followed by utilization as a fuel in two-chamber MFCs for electrical power generation. The most efficient method...
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Effects of different external carbon sources and electron acceptors on interactions between denitrification and phosphorus removal in BNR processes
PublicationThe effects of two different external carbon sources (acetate, ethanol) and electron acceptors (dissolved oxygen, nitrate and nitrite) were investigated under aerobic and anoxic conditions with non-acclimated process biomass from a full-scale biological nutrient removal activated sludge system. When acetate was added as an external carbon source, phosphate release was observed even in the presence of electron acceptors. The release...
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A review on homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic microalgal lipid extraction and transesterification for biofuel production
PublicationExtracting lipids from microalgal biomass presents significant potential as a cost-effective approach for clean energy generation. This can be achieved through the chemical conversion of lipids to produce fatty acid methyl esters via transesterification. The extraction mainly involves free fatty acids, phospholipids, and triglycerides, and requires less energy, making it an attractive option for satisfying the growing demand for...
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Modeling sequencing batch reactor operational conditions depending on oxygen concentration
PublicationSequencing batch reactors (SBR) can be used as a fill-and draw activated sludge system for wastewater treatment with considerable operating flexibility and the possibility to conduct experiments under standard conditions and extreme case scenarios. Mathematical modeling and computer simulations provide an opportunity to implement existing wastewater processes in modeling software and evaluate different modifications at low costs...
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The Application of a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Indication of Directions of the Development of Renewable Energy Sources in the Context of Energy Policy
PublicationThis paper presents the application of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) for evaluating what technologies using renewable energy sources (RES) for electricity production have the chance to develop in Poland under the current socio-economic conditions. First, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used to determine the weights of the optimization criteria. Five main criteria and 30 sub-criteria were identified. Next,...
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Digestate Quality Originating from Kitchen Waste
PublicationThis paper examines the influence of biomass directed to anaerobic digestion on the quality of digestate, specifically focusing on the presence of undesirable substances, such as plastics, including biodegradable ones. It analyses the susceptibility of selected bioplastics to degradation and addresses the problem of reliable identification of microplastics in both feedstock—directed to anaerobic digestion—and produced digestate....
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FROM HARVESTING TO DISTILLATION - EFFECT OF ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES ON THE YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF RHODODENDRON TOMENTOSUM (LEDUM PALUSTRE) ESSENTIAL OIL
PublicationRhododendron tomentosum possesses the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial properties, determined by the chemical composition of its essential oil. The effects of place (Miszewko, Lubichowo) and time of harvesting (June, November) as well as drying (air-drying, oven-drying, freeze-drying) and isolation (in Deryng, Clevenger and Likens-Nickerson apparatus) procedures on the yield and quality of R. tomentosum essential...
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Real-time simulator of agricultural biogas plant
PublicationThis article presents a real-time simulator of an agricultural biogas plant. The project contains biogas and biomass circuits simulation, as well as heating circuit simulation with a complete control system and visualization interface of the whole process. The software tool used to simulate the plant work is CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), which enables a user to create and test simulation objects based on fundamental physical...
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Comparative Assessment of Bacteriophage and Antibiotic Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms
PublicationProblems connected with biofilm-related infections and antibiotic resistance necessitate the investigation and development of novel treatment strategies. Given their unique characteristics, one of the most promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics are bacteriophages. In the in vitro and in vivo larva model study, we demonstrate that phages vB_SauM-A, vB_SauM-C, and vB_SauM-D are effective antibiofilm agents. The exposure...
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Gas Turbine Cycle with External Combustion Chamber for Prosumer and Distributed Energy Systems
PublicationThe use of various biofuels, usually of relatively small Lower Heating Value (LHV), affects the gas turbine efficiency. The present paper shows that applying the proposed air by-pass system of the combustor at the turbine exit causes tan increase of efficiency of the turbine cycle increased by a few points. This solution appears very promising also in combined gas/steam turbine power plants. The comparison of a turbine set operating...
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Removal of cyclohexane vapors from air in biotrickling filters: Effects of gas mixture composition and circular economy approach
PublicationThis work presents results of investigations on biotrickling filtration of air polluted with cyclohexane co-treated in binary, ternary and quaternary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mixtures, including vapors of hexane, toluene and ethanol. The removal of cyclohexane from a gas mixture depends on the physicochemical properties of the co-treated VOCs and the lower the hydrophobicity of the VOC, the higher the removal efficiency...
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Diversity and distribution of Tardigrada in Arctic cryoconite holes
PublicationDespite the fact that glaciers and ice sheets have been monitored for more than a century, knowledge on the glacial biota remains poor. Cryoconite holes are water-filled reservoirs on a glacier’s surface and one of the most extreme ecosystems for microinvertebrates. Tardigrada, also known as water bears, are a common inhabitant of cryoconite holes. In this paper we present novel data on the morphology, diversity, distribution and...
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Industrial wastewater as an external carbon source for optimization of nitrogen removal at the "Wschod" WWTP in Gdansk (Poland)
PublicationCarbon source alternatives for denitrification belong to the highest research area priorities as they allow to optimize N removal within the existing capacities. In particular, some food industry effluents appear to be good candidates for such alternatives due to their high C/N ratios and high content of readily biodegradable organic fraction. The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effects of dosing different types...
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Biopolyols obtained via microwave-assisted liquefaction of lignin: structure, rheological, physical and thermal properties
PublicationThe present study examined the application of polyols obtained via microwave-assisted liquefaction of lignin in the production of rigid polyurethane foam. Lignin was liquefed in crude glycerol and 1,4-butanediol at diferent temperatures (130–170 °C), without a catalyst and using various biomass concentrations (15 and 30 wt%). The physicochemical properties, process yield, and FTIR-based identifcation of the obtained polyols were...
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Future opportunities for products derived from black soldier fly (BSF) treatment as animal feed and fertilizer - A systematic review
PublicationThe pursuit of novel food products with good nutritional value for both direct and indirect human consumption is crucial. Given the nutritional benefits of insects and the sustainability of this sort of farming, using them as food for farmed animals is a promising alternative. In this regard, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is most capable of efficiently converting a wide variety of organic materials, from food waste...
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Extractive detoxification of feedstocks for the production of biofuels using new hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents – Experimental and theoretical studies
PublicationThe paper presents a synthesis of novel hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (DESs) composed of natural components, which were used for removal of furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from lignocellulosic hydrolysates. The main physicochemical properties of DESs were determined, followed by explanation of the DES formation mechanism, using 1H NMR, 13C NMR and FT-IR analysis and density functional theory (DFT). The most...
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Production of Biogas from Distillation Residue as a Waste Material from the Distillery Industry in Poland
PublicationIn this paper, the possibility to obtain an alternative source of energy from methane fermentation, catalysed by biomass, has been discussed in detail. As a main substrate, the distillation residue from the distillery industry was taken in the case of mono-fermentation and its co-fermentation with sewage sludge. The results showed that higher biogas and methane production can be obtained in a mono-fermentation process. Fermentation...
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Preliminary Investigation on Rapid Potassium Efflux from Activated Sludge in Response to Use of Peroxyacetic Acid
PublicationPreliminary research on activated sludge potassium efflux (GGKE - glutathione-gated potassium efflux) as a result of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) dosing were performed. Similarily as in case of chlorine dosing the PAA dosing causes initiation of bacteria defense mechanisms, related to the transformations of glutathione tripeptide, resulting in the increase of potassium ions concentration in the activated sludge environment. In the range...
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Determination of COD Fractionation as a Key Factor for Appropriate Modelling and Monitoring of Activated Sludge Processes
PublicationAn operation of wastewater treatment plant is usually controlled by global parameters such as flow, solids retention time, sludge age, concentration of ammonia and dissolved oxygen, etc. It is considered that, together with the chemical and biological oxygen demand (COD and BOD), those parameters indirectly exhibit the effectiveness of activated sludge processes. Especially the BOD indicate the amount of organic pollution that...
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A fast start-up of the organotrophic anammox process inoculated with constructed wetland sediment
PublicationOrganotrophic anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria can utilize small volatile fatty acids with nitrate as electron acceptors with less energy consumption and no biomass production. To achieve a faster and stable start-up of organotrophic anammox process, in this study, the growth of organotrophic anammox bacteria seeded from hybrid constructed wetland (CW) sediment under different TOC/TN ratios and different chloramphenicol...
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The impact of slowly biodegradable organic compounds on the oxygen uptake rate in activated sludge systems
PublicationThe hydrolysis process of slowly biodegradable substrate (Xs) have impact on the efficiencies of nutrient removal in activated sludge systems. Measurement of OUR and corresponding COD is accepted as a very useful tool to reflect the consumption of biodegradable substrates. The influence of the readily biodegradable substrate (Ss) in biological wastewater treatment systems has been extensively investigated, but little is known about...
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The impact of slowly biodegradable organic compounds on the oxygen uptake rate in activated sludge systems
PublicationThe hydrolysis process of slowly biodegradable substrate (Xs) have impact on the efficiencies of nutrient removal in activated sludge systems. Measurement of OUR and corresponding COD is accepted as a very useful tool to reflect the consumption of biodegradable substrates. The influence of the readily biodegradable substrate (Ss) in biological wastewater treatment systems has been extensively investigated, but little is known about...
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Hydrogen Production from Energy Poplar Preceded by MEA Pre-Treatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis
PublicationThe need to pre-treat lignocellulosic biomass prior to dark fermentation results primarily from the composition of lignocellulose because lignin hinders the processing of hard wood towards useful products. Hence, in this work a two-step approach for the pre-treatment of energy poplar, including alkaline pre-treatment and enzymatic saccharification followed by fermentation has been studied. Monoethanolamine (MEA) was used as the...
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Influence of Giant Reed (Arundo Donax L.) Culms Processing Procedure on Physicochemical, Rheological, and Thermomechanical Properties of Polyethylene Composites
PublicationGiant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a plant species with a high growth rate and low requirements, which makes it particularly interesting for the production of different bioproducts, including natural fibers. This work assesses the use of fibers obtained from reed culms as reinforcement for a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix. Two different lignocellulosic materials were used: i) shredded culms and ii) fibers obtained by culms...
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Liquefaction of alder wood as the source of renewable and sustainable polyols for preparation of polyurethane resins
PublicationLiquefaction of wood-based biomass gives different polyol properties depending on the reagents used. In this article, alder wood sawdust was liquefied with glycerol and poly(ethylene glycol) solvents. Liquefaction reactions were carried out at temperatures of 120, 150 and 170 °C. The obtained bio-polyols were analyzed in order to establish the process efficiency, hydroxyl number, acid value, viscosity and structural characteristics...
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Process Control of Biogas Purification Using Electronic Nose
PublicationNowadays, biogas produced from landfills and wastewater treatment plants or lignocellulosic biomass is important sustainable and affordable source of energy. Impurities from biogas stream can cause a serious odor problem, especially for residents of areas immediately adjacent to production plants. Therefore, biogas pre-treatment is necessary to protect engines that convert biogas into energy and in order to increase the specific...
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Extractive detoxification of hydrolysates with simultaneous formation of deep eutectic solvents
PublicationThe hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass results in the production of so-called fermentation inhibitors, which reduce the efficiency of biohydrogen production. To increase the efficiency of hydrogen production, inhibitors should be removed from aqueous hydrolysate solutions before the fermentation process. This paper presents a new approach to the detoxification of hydrolysates with the simultaneous formation of in-situ deep eutectic...