Microwave-assisted pyrolysis for biomass recovery and applications

A pressing environmental concern, agricultural waste demands sustainable solutions. This study explores converting agro-industrial waste into energy and innovative applications through microwave-assisted pyrolysis. It assesses waste-to-energy potential and introduces novel electrochemical sensors for biomedical and nitrite detection

Modelling and Energy Analysis of Solar Charging Facility for Electric Vehicles in Chile

This paper presents simulation and energy evaluation of a photovoltaic charging centre intended to supply the demand of 244,000 electric vehicles in Chile. According to the obtained results, the transportation system was feasible from the solar radiation, energy consumption, geographic zone, type of PV farm and other sources. Notably, the studied region has a solar potential to supply 10% of the total domestic cars existing in Santiago, providing a total energy of 253.723 GWh/yr. Furthermore, based on the study factors, the design of the system consists of approximately 428,590 PV modules and an average power generation of 31.89 W/hour for one single module. Finally, the configuration of a solar charging facility allows applying a new method of energy supply to electric cars that improves the environmental conditions of the city and encourages sustainable development in the transport sector.</p

Modelling and Energy Analysis of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Operated by the PV system in the residential sector, in Australia.

This paper presents an energy evaluation of a hybrid system composed of a photovoltaic farm, hydrogen consumption and solid oxide fuel cell, which simulation involves the electric demand of a household in the Western territory of Australia. Specifically, the study evidence a significant solar potential that provides 4659kWh/yr. However, there is an energy deficit in the period when the load energy is higher than the solar generation. As a result, the fuel cell integration solves the irregularities of solar availability, providing 4567kWh/year load demand and 477827kWh/year of energy delivered to the grid. Finally, the configuration of the system generates 50% more than the energy required, which allows enlarging the electric consumption and the possibility to append thermal energy.</p

Breakdown of biomass for energy applications using microwave pyrolysis: A technological review

The agricultural industry faces a permanent increase in waste generation, which is associated with the fast-growing population. Due to the environmental hazards, there is a paramount demand for generating electricity and value-added products from renewable sources. The selection of the conversion method is crucial to develop an eco-friendly, efficient and economically viable energy application. This manuscript investigates the influencing factors that affect the quality and yield of the biochar, bio-oil and biogas during the microwave pyrolysis process, evaluating the biomass nature and diverse combinations of operating conditions. The by-product yield depends on the intrinsic physicochemical properties of biomass. Feedstock with high lignin content is favourable for biochar production, and the breakdown of cellulose and hemicellulose leads to higher syngas formation. Biomass with high volatile matter concentration promotes the generation of bio-oil and biogas. The pyrolysis system's conditions of input power, microwave heating suspector, vacuum, reaction temperature, and the processing chamber geometry were influence factors for optimising the energy recovery. Increased input power and microwave susceptor addition lead to high heating rates, which were beneficial for biogas production, but the excess pyrolysis temperature induce a reduction of bio-oil yield

Expeditious and Eco-friendly fabrication of Graphene-Ag nanocomposite for methyl paraben sensing

The synthesis of graphene-based nanocomposites using wet chemical techniques entails a number of time-consuming and laborious synthesis stages in addition to the use of potentially dangerous substances. The present article provides a novel approach to green and in-situ synthesis that employs no hazardous chemicals and synthesizes graphene and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) nanocomposite from the tea tree oil and silver nitrate (AgNO3) vapours. The synthesis happens in a matter of seconds in microwave plasma at ambient conditions. Images from the scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that graphene nanosheets act as the most favoured sites for the Ag NPs to anchor and form a nanocomposite. The investigations revealed a correlation between the concentration of AgNO3 in the precursor and the size and aggregation of Ag NPs. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated a negative shifting of the Ag-doublet, which suggested a strong interaction between Ag NPs and graphene. Additionally, the graphene-Ag nanocomposite drop-casted on screen-printed electrode demonstrated good electrochemical sensing capability for methyl paraben, with a superior linear range of 20 to 260 µM and a commendable limit of detection of 2.5 µM

Nitrite sensor using activated biochar synthesised by microwave-assisted pyrolysis

Developing applications for the by-products obtained from waste processing is vital for resource recovery. The synthesis of ZnCl2-activated biochar with high electrocatalytic activity was carried out by the microwave-assisted pyrolysis of pineapple peel and subsequent chemical activation process. Activated biochar is employed in the electrochemical sensing of nitrite by drop casting in a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The activated biochar exhibited a stacked carbon sheet, 254 m2 g−1 Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area, 0.076 cm3 g−1 pore volume, 189.53 m2 g−1 micropore area and oxygen-containing functional groups. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the modified GCE showed a reduced charge transfer resistance of 61%. This is crucial to determine the electrochemical properties of biochar. The sensor showed a significant current response and an excellent limit of detection of 0.97 µmol L−1. The modified-activated biochar electrochemical sensor demonstrated high selectivity, reproducibility (RSD=2.4%), and stability (RSD=2.6%). Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Electrochemical sensing of oxalic acid using silver nanoparticles loaded nitrogen-doped graphene oxide

The adverse effects of oxalic acid (OA) on human health linked with its excessive consumption necessitates an improved sensor. Here, we demonstrate an electrochemical sensor for oxalic acid detection based on silver nanoparticles (Ag-Nps) and nitrogen-doped graphene oxide (N-GO) nanocomposite. N-GO, which was synthesized using atmospheric pressure microwave plasma has been first time employed for electrochemical application. The nanocomposite formation was confirmed through scanning electron microscopy and EDS elemental analysis. The nanocomposite-based sensor showed a higher current response, good selectivity and stability which can be attributed to the synergistic-effect of Ag-Nps and N-GO. Amperometric responses were proportional to the concentration of OA between 10 and 300 μM, and the detection limit was 2 μM

Microwave-assisted pyrolysis for biomass recovery and applications

A pressing environmental concern, agricultural waste demands sustainable solutions. This study explores converting agro-industrial waste into energy and innovative applications through microwave-assisted pyrolysis. It assesses waste-to-energy potential and introduces novel electrochemical sensors for biomedical and nitrite detection

Energy recovery from sugarcane bagasse under varying microwave-assisted pyrolysis conditions

Waste management and utilization of waste is a major global issue. This study investigated the influential parameters on the energy recovery from the sugarcane bagasse breakdown under microwave pyrolysis conditions. The by-product yield is optimised from 45 different combinations of microwave power, reaction time and microwave susceptor. The surface methodology, energy efficiency and byproduct quality were studied. Low power, less microwave susceptor and longer residence time are the desirable conditions for high biochar yield due to the gradual thermal decomposition of the biomass and low heating rates. The highest bio-oil yield was obtained from higher microwave power and lower residence time. The excess pyrolysis temperature generated by the higher microwave power and higher microwave susceptor addition produces higher temperatures beyond the optimal condition for bio-oil production. This phenomenon is relative to the self-gasification of the biochar during the high pyrolysis power, contributing to the formation of H2, CO and CH4

Energy Recovery from Pumpkin Peel Using Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis

The significant quantities of food waste that require disposal have a high environmental impact, and the depletion of non-renewable fuel sources has heightened the need to investigate sustainable and efficient methods of biomass conversion into energy. This research focuses on utilising pumpkin peel as a feedstock for energy recovery through microwave pyrolysis under different operating conditions. The study demonstrated that a higher biochar yield (11 wt%) was achieved at 0.9 kW. However, results revealed that superior quality biochar was obtained at 1.2 kW, characterized by high carbon content (70.33%), low oxygen content (23%), and significant pore formation in the carbon surface area. Optimal operating conditions, such as 1.2 kW, resulted in superior quality biochar and higher bio-oil generation. The pumpkin peel demonstrated the potential for CO2 (carbon dioxide) sequestration, with a rate of 14.29 g CO2 eq/kg. The research findings contribute to the exploration of sustainable solutions for biomass conversion and emphasize the importance of utilizing food waste for energy production while mitigating environmental impacts