Themed collection Biorefining
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Harnessing the power of biorefining: paving the way for sustainable fuels and chemicals
George W. Huber, Muxina Konarova, Jason Y. C. Lim and Karen Wilson introduce the Sustainable Energy & Fuels themed collection on biorefining.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 3738-3740
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE90047A
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Integrated techno-economic and environmental assessment of biorefineries: review and future research directions
Biorefineries will be strategic players in achieving the circular economy and sustainability goals.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 4031-4050
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00405H
Phototrophic microbial fuel cells: a greener approach to sustainable power generation and wastewater treatment
Bringing to light the next generation in sustainable energy, we focus on phototrophic microbial fuel cells. These are broad-spectrum tools that can contribute to current and future needs in energy production, waste remediation, and CO2 reduction.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 3482-3504
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00237C
Review on food waste valorisation for bioplastic production towards a circular economy: sustainable approaches and biodegradability assessment
To implement circular production and consumption practices, tackling key societal concerns such as resource depletion, climate change, and environmental pollution is necessary.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 3165-3184
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00500C
Strategies for lignin depolymerization and reconstruction towards functional polymers
This review focuses on lignin depolymerization strategies and functional polymer construction based on lignin-derived monomers.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 2953-2973
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00173C
Recent advances in photobioreactor systems for sustainable and enhanced microalgal biofuel production
This review summarizes the current developments of microalgal biofuel production based on system design costs such as initial design cost and expected net profit and describes several examples of designs for economic microalgae cultivation.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2022,6, 5459-5473
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SE01345B
Piggery waste to sustainable fuels via indirect supercritical water gasification and membrane reforming at 600 °C: a techno-economic assessment
This novel low-temperature process enables continuous processing via heat from renewable energy with thermal energy storage in molten salts.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2024,8, 2869-2879
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE01634J
Studies on bimetallic Cu–Ag supported alumina catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-dimethylfuran
Selective synthesis of 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) from 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) by hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) was studied over Ag-promoted Cu/γ-Al2O3 catalysts.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2024,8, 43-53
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE01096A
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Solventless hydrodeoxygenation of isoeugenol and dihydroeugenol in batch and continuous modes over a zeolite-supported FeNi catalyst
A low-cost bimetallic bifunctional 5–5 wt% FeNi/H-Beta-300 catalyst was investigated in solventless hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived model compounds isoeugenol or dihydroeugenol in batch and continuous modes.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 4486-4504
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00371J
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
A novel biorefinery concept based on marginally used halophyte biomass
Optimizing the organosolv process parameters towards establishing a novel biorefinery concept based on marginally used halophyte biomass.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 3902-3918
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00458A
Carbon capture from corn stover ethanol production via mature consolidated bioprocessing enables large negative biorefinery GHG emissions and fossil fuel-competitive economics
Potential to capture 70% of feedstock carbon while >50% of feedstock lower heating value is converted to biofuel and coproducts.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 3842-3852
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00353A
Sustainability assessment of biojet fuel produced from pyrolysis oil of woody biomass
Biojet fuel production from woody biomass pyrolysis oil demonstrates economic viability at MFSP of $1.03 per L, while also reducing GHG emissions by up to 95.27% compared to conventional jet fuel production, providing environmental benefits.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 3625-3636
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00468F
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Hydrocarbons from kraft pulp pre-hydrolysis liquors in two steps using heterogeneous catalysis
Valorizing industrial side streams that are currently burnt to a low value is important to make biorefining more sustainable.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 3637-3643
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00616F
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
High yield co-production of isobutanol and ethanol from switchgrass: experiments, and process synthesis and analysis
Hybrid yeast strain co-produces isobutanol and ethanol at high yields. Reducing hydrolysis enzyme loading and enhancing xylose conversion greatly impact the economic potential of the biorefinery.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 3266-3275
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SE01741E
Thermochemical behavior of alkali pretreated biomass – a thermogravimetric and Py-GC/FID study
Pyrolysis of pretreated biomass significantly reduces pyrolysis vapor acidity, enabling improved downstream upgrading. Also, increased selectivity for sugars could provide another valuable co-product for bioethanol.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 3306-3315
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00213F
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Lactic acid and biomethane production from bread waste: a techno-economic and profitability analysis using pinch technology
Lactic acid is produced from bread waste using microbial fermentation under acid-neutral and low-pH scenarios. Though the acid-neutral scenario is economically better, the primary economic barriers are huge capital investment and utility consumption.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 3034-3046
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00119A
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Effect of improvement actions on the life-cycle environmental and economic performance of synthetic biofuels from date palm waste in Tunisia
Exploring the economic and environmental suitability of an enhanced bioenergy plant producing synthetic gasoline and diesel from date palm waste in Tunisia with PV-based supply of electricity and oxygen.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 2873-2882
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00188A
Aqueous phase hydrogenation of furfural on Ni/TiO2 catalysts: nature of the support phase steers the product selectivity
Titania crystal phases were able to tune the nature of metal through metal–support interaction and acidic sites for surface rearrangement and hydrogenation of furfural.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 2861-2872
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00131H
Desalting biocrude for improved downstream processing toward marine fuel application
Simple methods for desalting HTL-derived biocrudes from food waste improve their properties and reduce hydrotreating demands, bringing them toward use as marine fuels.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 2670-2679
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00189J
Technical, economic, and environmental potential of glycerol hydrogenolysis: a roadmap towards sustainable green chemistry future
The dilemma of fossil fuel use, political versatility, and global climate change have driven motivation that has led to growing interest in developing and implementing renewable energy and green chemical technologies.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 2653-2669
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00219E
Highly selective production of bio-jet fuel grade alkanes over an Fe/SiO2–Al2O3 solid acid catalyst under solvent-free conditions
Fatty acid-based biomass is one of the most abundant organic carbon sources and has acquired significant attention as a renewable feedstock for producing renewable bio-jet fuel via hydrocatalytic processes.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 2568-2581
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00144J
Effect of ZrO2/CeO2 mixed oxides on fuel gas production during self-sustaining smouldering combustion of lignocellulosic wastes
This study investigates the catalytic effects of ZrO2/CeO2 mixed oxides on product gases produced via self-sustaining smouldering combustion of lignocellulosic biomass.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 2390-2396
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00307H
Molecular understanding of Eubacterium limosum chemostat methanol metabolism
Methanol is a promising renewable energy carrier that can be used as a favourable substrate for biotechnology, due to its high energy efficiency conversion and ease of integration within existing infrastructure.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 2397-2412
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SE01551J
Solar energy driven C–C bond cleavage in a lignin model compound with a D–π–A organic dye-sensitized photoanode
This study reports the solar light-driven activation of a bicyclic aminoxyl mediator to achieve C–C bond cleavage of a lignin model compound at room temperature using a donor–π-conjugated bridge–acceptor organic dye-based photoelectrochemical system.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 2339-2348
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00194F
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
A self-assembled molecularly triboelectronegative cellulose nanofiber material with ultrahigh contact triboelectrification for the design of green triboelectric nanogenerators
A novel green TENG with modified CNF as the electronegative tribolayer was prepared and can be used as a self-powered power module for wearable electronics.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 2087-2093
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SE01715F
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Synthesis of a high-density jet fuel with creosol and formaldehyde
Jet fuel-range C14 and C15 dicycloalkanes are synthesized for the first time with creosol and formaldehyde, two platform compounds that can be derived from lignocellulose.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 2080-2086
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00069A
Ultrasound-assisted low-temperature catalytic lignin-first depolymerization of pine wood biomass to selectively produce propyl guaiacol
Lignin-first depolymerization of biomass using reductive catalytic fractionation is a promising option for the biorefinery as it selectively converts lignin to value-added phenolic monomers while preserving the carbohydrate fraction.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 2117-2129
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SE01796B
A CoPd nanoalloy embedded N-doped porous carbon catalyst for the selective reduction and reductive amination of levulinic acid using formic acid in water
Formic acid-mediated levulinic acid valorization was conducted using a CoPd nanoalloy embedded N-doped carbon catalyst for the production of γ-valerolactone and pyrrolidones.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 1855-1869
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00034F
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Mechanocatalytic partial depolymerization of lignocellulosic feedstock towards oligomeric glycans
In this work mechanocatalytic partial depolymerization is used to obtain glycans from lignocellulosic feedstocks, e.g. beet pulp. Thereby the yield of the glycans is increased, and can be increased further with a suitable pre-treatment.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 1870-1877
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE00111C
WOx/ZrOx functionalised periodic mesoporous organosilicas as water-tolerant catalysts for carboxylic acid esterification
Kicking out water: optimising the interaction between support hydrophobicity and surface acid sites in WOx/ZrOx/PMO catalysts unlocks an efficient route for the upgrading of low-quality waste bio-oil feedstocks to biodiesel.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 1677-1686
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SE01724E
Continuous flow hydrogenolysis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural into 2,5-dimethylfuran over alumina-supported nickel–iron alloy catalysts
Continuous hydrogenolysis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-dimethylfuran is successfully developed and demonstrated using alumina-supported nickel–iron alloy catalysts with in situ observation of the structural transformation.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 934-948
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SE01683D
Ethanol to diesel: a sustainable alternative for the heavy-duty transportation sector
Ethanol is catalytically upgraded to diesel.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 693-707
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SE01377K
Effect of surfactant addition on disperser disintegration of water hyacinth: a new insight to overcome the inhibitory effects of lignin on methanogenesis and improve the energy and economic aspects
A cost- and time-saving strategy for the recovery of biomethane from water hyacinth using an energy-efficient combined pretreatment.
Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2023,7, 502-514
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SE01194H
About this collection
Sustainable Energy & Fuels is pleased to celebrate the excellent energy research being carried out by the global biorefining community.
Guest Edited by Karen Wilson (Griffith University, Australia, ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4873-708X), George W. Huber (University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7838-6893), Muxina Konarova (University of Queensland, Australia, ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1308-420X) and Jason Y. C. Lim (A*STAR, NUS, Singapore, ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8020-1720), this collection spans, but is not limited to, biomass/waste pre-treatment, bio-derived materials, bio-derived chemicals, and advanced biofuels research.