Engineering Commons^™

Activated Carbon Synthesis From Lignin-Rich Byproduct Streams Of Biorefineries, Chengjun Wu

All Dissertations

Over the past decade, the production of biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass has steadily increased to offset the use of fuels from petroleum. To make biofuels cost-competitive, it is necessary to add value to the “ligno-” components (up to 30% by mass) of the biomass. Instead of just burning it for heat and electricity generation, direct conversion of lignin carbon into a product provides a complementary path to carbon capture, promoting a more environmentally conscious approach. However, the utilization of these lignin-rich byproduct streams, which are separated from the biofuels production, for industrial products can be challenging. The use of specific …

Lignocellulosic Biomass Derived Activated Carbon For Energy Storage And Adsorption, Changle Jiang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Lignocellulosic biomass has been converted to hierarchical porous carbon materials which possess macro-, meso- and micro-pores. The natural structure of porous lignocellulosic structure was preserved during activation with further developed porosity by the activation. The activated carbon can be well applied to electrochemical double layer capacitor for transportation storage of ions as well as adsorbent materials for metal ion removal from wastewater.

The first chapter of this dissertation presents an introduction of biomass derived carbon and its applications. In the second chapter, both direct and indirect activation methods using carbon dioxide were adopted in this study. The results show that …

The Integrated Forest Biorefinery, An Example Of Green Engineering, Miyuru Kannangara, Mariya Marinova, Michel Perrier, Jean Paris

5th International Congress on Green Process Engineering (GPE 2016)

1. Introduction

Confronted by a steady decline in the demand for commodity papers, the pulp and paper industry has undertaken intensive R&D efforts to identify and develop new non paper products that could be manufactured from the forest biomass. The components of wood that can be separated and converted into new non paper products are the cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. Celluloses and hemicelluloses are polymers of various sugars and lignin is a polymer of phenylpropane units. This paper treats the specific case of lignin and hemicellulose extraction from a Kraft pulping process. Two processes have been investigated for the extraction …

The Importance Of Emerging Biobased Industries To Engineering And Technology, Kurt A. Rosentrater, R. Balamuralikrishma

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Our society has developed an insatiable demand for energy and material goods. Historically, these needs have been met primarily by fossil fuels and other non-renewable raw materials. As environmental concerns grow, however, renewable resources are gaining increased attention. This paper examines the emergence and importance that biobased industries are increasingly beginning to play. A biobased enterprise, similar in concept to a traditional refinery or factory, utilizes conversion technologies to produce various products. These operations are rapidly increasing both in number as well as in capacity throughout this country, and are poised to add significantly to the nation’s energy and material …

The Global Relevance Of Bio-Based Industries To Engineering And Technology Education, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Radha Balamuralikrishma

Kurt A. Rosentrater

The society in which we live has developed an insatiable demand for energy and material goods. In particular, recent data reveals that the aggressive pursuit of improved standards of living in the highly populated countries of India and China has contributed to increased demand for fossil fuels, which has exacerbated the recent spike in energy costs. Historically, these needs have been met primarily by fossil fuels and other non-renewable raw materials. As environmental concerns grow, however, renewable resources are gaining increased attention. This paper examines the emergence and importance that bio-based industries are increasingly beginning to play. A bio-based enterprise, …