Themed collection Biofuels and biomass for a clean environment
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Widely used catalysts in biodiesel production: a review
An ever-increasing energy demand and environmental problems associated with exhaustible fossil fuels have led to the search for an alternative energy. In this context, biodiesel has attracted attention worldwide as an alternative to fossil fuel.
RSC Adv., 2020,10, 41625-41679
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA07931F
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Efficient conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to high-value chemicals by chemo- and bio-catalysis
5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a very important versatile platform compound derived from renewable biomass.
RSC Adv., 2018,8, 30875-30886
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RA05308A
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A review of plasma-assisted catalytic conversion of gaseous carbon dioxide and methane into value-added platform chemicals and fuels
The review focuses on the valorisation of two major greenhouse gases (methane and carbon dioxide) utilising different hybrid plasma reactors where valuable chemicals such as higher hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, etc. are produced.
RSC Adv., 2018,8, 27481-27508
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RA03146K
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Application of biochar-based catalysts in biomass upgrading: a review
The application of biochars as versatile catalysts and/or catalyst supports for biomass upgrading is systematically overviewed.
RSC Adv., 2017,7, 48793-48805
https://doi.org/10.1039/C7RA09307A
Enzymatic transesterification for biodiesel production: a comprehensive review
Biodiesel catalyzed by enzyme is affected by many factors. This review will critically discuss the three major components of enzymatic production of biodiesel and the methods used to improve the reaction.
RSC Adv., 2016,6, 60034-60055
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA08062F
Pretreatment and conversion of lignocellulose biomass into valuable chemicals
Lignocellulose biomass can be utilized in many sectors of industry such as energy, chemical, and transportation. However, pretreatment is needed to break down the intricate bonding before converting it into wanted product.
RSC Adv., 2016,6, 46834-46852
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA09851G
Membrane gas separation technologies for biogas upgrading
Biogas is a renewable energy source like solar and wind energies and mostly produced from anaerobic digestion (AD).
RSC Adv., 2015,5, 24399-24448
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA00666J
Recent advances in methanation catalysts for the production of synthetic natural gas
This review summarizes the recent progress in methanation catalysts for SNG production, which will provide insights for future catalysts design.
RSC Adv., 2015,5, 22759-22776
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA16114A
Heterogeneous catalysts for advanced bio-fuel production through catalytic biomass pyrolysis vapor upgrading: a review
Catalytic biomass pyrolysis vapor upgrading presently seems to be a techno-economical process toward production of fuel-like components. However, selection of stable and productive catalyst(s) to yield desirable chemicals with low coke formation is a great challenge.
RSC Adv., 2015,5, 22234-22255
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA00762C
Thermochemical conversion of low-lipid microalgae for the production of liquid fuels: challenges and opportunities
This critical review provides an investigation elaborated by recent references on conversion of low-lipid microalgae into bio-oil via pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction, and the catalytic upgrading of algal-derived bio-oil was examined.
RSC Adv., 2015,5, 18673-18701
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA13359E
Mechanical pretreatments of lignocellulosic biomass: towards facile and environmentally sound technologies for biofuels production
The transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels represents an interesting and sustainable alternative to fossil fuel for the near future.
RSC Adv., 2014,4, 48109-48127
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA07568D
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The pros and cons of lignin valorisation in an integrated biorefinery
Wood to chemicals is the subject of this short critical review, that outlines the chemical and economic aspects of several short-term and long-term perspectives for the valorisation of lignin to aromatics, polymers and materials.
RSC Adv., 2014,4, 25310-25318
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA04747H
Biobutanol: the outlook of an academic and industrialist
Butanol, being a potential biofuel, can either completely replace the petroleum derived fuels or be blended with petroleum fuels, without modifying the vehicle engines, to overcome the limitations of ethanol.
RSC Adv., 2013,3, 24734-24757
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3RA43011A
Biomass to biodegradable polymer (PLA)
Lignocellulosic biomass is renewable and cheap, and it has the potential to displace fossil fuels for the production of fuels and chemicals.
RSC Adv., 2013,3, 13558-13568
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3RA41592A
Bioelectrochemical systems (BES ) for sustainable energy production and product recovery from organic wastes and industrial wastewaters
Bioelectrochemical systems enable production of energy from wastewater and biowaste, and find application in wastewater treatment, bioremediation and microbial electrosynthesis.
RSC Adv., 2012,2, 1248-1263
https://doi.org/10.1039/C1RA00839K
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The solid-state physicochemical properties and biogas production of the anaerobic digestion of corn straw pretreated by microwave irradiation
After microwave pretreatment, the physicochemical properties of corn straw changed significantly. The lateral order index reduced and the crystallinity index and crystallite size increased with microwave temperature.
RSC Adv., 2021,11, 3575-3584
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA09867A
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Cellulose nanofiber-based electrode as a component of an enzyme-catalyzed biofuel cell
Cellulose nanofiber-based biofuel cell with flexible, biodegradable, eco-friendly.
RSC Adv., 2020,10, 22120-22125
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA03476B
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Preparation of sulfonated carbon-based catalysts from murumuru kernel shell and their performance in the esterification reaction
In the present study, heterogeneous acid catalysts for fatty acid esterification reactions were synthesized using agro-industrial waste from murumuru kernel shells.
RSC Adv., 2020,10, 20245-20256
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA03217D
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Enhanced ethanol production from sugarcane molasses by industrially engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae via replacement of the PHO4 gene
Replacement of a novel candidate ethanol fermentation-associated regulatory gene, PHO4, from a fast-growing strain through a novel strategy (SHPERM-bCGHR), is hypothesised to shorten fermentation time and enhance ethanol yield from sugarcane molasses.
RSC Adv., 2020,10, 2267-2276
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9RA08673K
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A clean and effective potassium hydroxide pretreatment of corncob residue for the enhancement of enzymatic hydrolysis at high solids loading
The effective KOH pretreatment with the production of lignin-based fertilizer could well match the enzymatic hydrolysis at high solid loading.
RSC Adv., 2019,9, 11558-11566
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9RA01555H
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Waste snail shell derived heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production by the transesterification of soybean oil
A waste snail shell (Pila spp.) derived catalyst was used to produce biodiesel from soybean oil at room temperature for the first time.
RSC Adv., 2018,8, 20131-20142
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RA02397B
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Porous carbons derived from waste printing paper for high rate performance supercapacitors in alkaline, acidic and neutral electrolytes
Waste printing paper is used as a carbon precursor for the preparation of high performance carbon materials in supercapacitor applications.
RSC Adv., 2018,8, 3974-3981
https://doi.org/10.1039/C7RA13226C
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Selective hydrodeoxygenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-dimethylfuran on Ru–MoOx/C catalysts
Synergetic effect and electronic transfer were investigated for the hydrogenation of HMF to DMF on Ru–MoOx/C catalyst.
RSC Adv., 2017,7, 16311-16318
https://doi.org/10.1039/C7RA00605E
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A DFT study on lignin dissolution in imidazolium-based ionic liquids
Co-interaction lead to dissolution of lignin in ILs: H-bonds and π–π stacking.
RSC Adv., 2017,7, 12670-12681
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA27059J
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Structural changes of poplar wood lignin after supercritical pretreatment using carbon dioxide and ethanol–water as co-solvents
To delineate structural changes of lignin after SCEP, enzymatic hydrolysis lignin (EHL) in poplar chips, lignin in pretreated residues (SCEP-RL), lignin in liquors (SCEP-DL) were isolated and analyzed by GPC, 13C-, 31P-, 2D-HSQC-NMR and TGA.
RSC Adv., 2017,7, 8314-8322
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA26122A
Hydrogen production from biomass by continuous fast pyrolysis and in-line steam reforming
The continuous fast pyrolysis of pine wood sawdust has been studied in a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) followed by in-line steam reforming of the pyrolysis vapours in a fluidised bed reactor on a Ni commercial catalyst.
RSC Adv., 2016,6, 25975-25985
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA01657J
Hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol over Ni/carbon catalysts: effect of the support and Ni loading
Commercial carbon nanotubes (CNT), oxidized CNT (CNTox) and activated carbon (AC) were used as supports to prepare Ni/C catalysts with a nominal loading of 15 wt%.
RSC Adv., 2016,6, 2611-2623
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA22540J
Biomass-derived carbon materials for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes
Bean dregs, an abundant, low-cost and heteroatom-enriched biowaste, can be converted into a superior carbon material for high-performance supercapacitors.
RSC Adv., 2014,4, 30887-30895
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA04470C
About this collection
We are very pleased to present our 10th Anniversary collection on biofuels and biomass for a clean environment!Looking back over the last 10 years, we would like to showcase some of the very best articles that have been published in RSC Advances. Many of these papers have been cited hundreds of times, providing valuable advances for further research, and some continue to be among the journal’s most downloaded articles as of today.
We hope you enjoy our 10th Anniversary collection on biofuels and biomass for a clean environment!