Pyrolytic lignin:A promising biorefinery feedstock for the production of fuels and valuable chemicals

Lignocellulosic biomass is a key feedstock for the sustainable production of biofuels, biobased chemicals and performance materials. Biomass can be efficiently converted into pyrolysis liquids (also known as bio-oils) by the well-established fast pyrolysis technology. Currently, there is significant interest in the application of fast pyrolysis technology as principle biomass conversion technology due to its feedstock flexibility, low cost and high energy conversion efficiency, with many emerging commercial enterprises being established around the globe. Upgrading of the bio-oils is a requisite, and is complicated by its complex and heterogeneous organic nature. Pyrolysis liquids may be further separated by a simple water fractionation, yielding an aqueous sugar-rich phase and a water-insoluble pyrolytic lignin (PL) fraction. This separation step allows the use of dedicated conversion strategies for each fraction, which can be highly advantageous due to their differences in composition and reactivity. For example, the sugar-rich fractions can be used for fermentation, while the phenolic-rich PL is a particularly promising feedstock for the production of a wide range of platform chemicals and energy-dense streams upon depolymerization. To aid the emerging use of PL, novel characterization techniques and valorization strategies are being explored. In this review, the fast pyrolysis process and PL characterization efforts are discussed in detail, followed by the state-of-the-art regarding PL processing using both oxidative and reductive (catalytic) strategies, as well as a combination thereof. Possible applications are discussed and recommendations for future research are provided

Hydrothermal liquefaction versus catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of a bioethanol production stillage residue to platform chemicals:A comparative study

Biobased chemicals like phenols and aromatics are preferably produced from cheap biomass waste streams. In this work, we have explored the potential of a eucalyptus-derived second generation bioethanol production stillage (BPS) residue for this purpose. A comparative study between a hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and a catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) step, as well as a 2-step HTL-HDO approach is reported, targeting at value-added low molecular weight platform chemicals (mainly alkylphenols and aromatics). HDO was observed to be a more suitable strategy than HTL for the production of organic oils enriched in valuable monomers. The direct HDO of the BPS using a commercial Ru/C catalyst at 450 degrees C and 100 bar H-2 pressure led to an organic product oil (30.7 wt%) with a total monomer yield of 25.2 wt% (13.2 wt% of alkylphenolic+aromatics), compared to a 53.2 wt% of a product oil with 10.0 wt% monomers for the HTL step (305 degrees C). A 2-step HTL-HDO strategy was compared with the direct HDO approach. Comparable alkylphenolic+aromatic yields were obtained through this approach based on initial BPS intake (13.2 wt% vs 12.3 wt% for the direct HDO and HTL-HDO approach, respectively). Lower HTL temperatures (305 degrees C) for the first step are preferred to prevent over hydrogenation in the subsequent HDO step. As such, HTL appears a suitable pre-treatment for BPS and can (i) solve the issues related to the feeding of solids in pressurized continuous reactors for HDO and (ii) prevent coke formation during the HDO step, thus improving catalyst stability and durability

Historia de los vandos de los zegries y abencerrages, cavalleros moros de Granada, y las civiles guerras que huvo en ella, hasta que el rey don Fernando el Quinto la ganó

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Biobased chemicals from the catalytic depolymerization of Kraft lignin using supported noble metal-based catalysts

Kraft lignin, a side-product of the paper industry, is considered an attractive feedstock for the production of biorenewable chemicals. However, its recalcitrant nature and sulfur content render catalytic conversions challenging. This study demonstrates the efficacy of noble metal-based catalysts for the production of a lignin oil enriched in alkylphenolic and aromatic compounds, by a catalytic hydrotreatment of Kraft lignin without the use of an external solvent. Eight commercially available catalysts were evaluated using four different metals (Ru, Pt, Pd, Rh) on two supports (activated carbon and Al2O3). The product oils were extensively analyzed by means of GPC, GCxGC-FID, GC-MS-FID, and elemental analysis. The catalysts were characterized by various techniques (N-2 physisorption, NH3-TPD, XRD and TEM) before and after reaction, and their physico-chemical properties were correlated with catalytic performance. Al2O3 as support gave better results than carbon as support in terms of lignin oil yield and composition, due to a combination of higher total acidity, mildly acidic sites and a mesoporous structure. The metallic phase also significantly affected product distribution. The best results were obtained using a Rh/Al2O3 catalyst, resulting in a lignin oil yield of 36.3 wt% on a lignin intake and a total monomer yield of 30.0 wt% on lignin intake including 15.3 wt% of alkylphenolic and 7.9 wt% of aromatic compounds, and with a sulfur content <0.01 wt%

Release of muscle α-actin into serum after intensive exercise

Purpose: To study the effects of high-level matches on serum alpha actin and other muscle damage markers in teams of rugby and handball players. Methods: Blood samples were drawn from 23 sportsmen: 13 rugby players and 10 handball players. One sample was drawn with the player at rest before the match and one immediately after the match. Immunoassays were used to determine troponin I, troponin T, LDH, and myoglobin concentrations. Western blot and densitometry were used to measure α-actin concentrations. Muscle injury was defined by a total CK value of > 500 IU/L (Rosalki method). Results: Mean pre- and post-match serum alpha-actin values were, respectively, 7.16 and 26.47 μg/ml in the handball group and 1.24 and 20.04 μg/ml in the rugby team. CPK, LDH and myoglobin but not troponin 1 levels also significantly differed between these time points. According to these results, large amounts of α-actin are released into peripheral blood immediately after intense physical effort. Possible cross-interference between skeletal and cardiac muscle damage can be discriminated by the combined use of α-actin and troponin I. Conclusion: The significant increase in alpha-actin after a high-level match may be a reliable marker for the early diagnosis and hence more effective treatment of muscle injury

Recent NA48/2 and NA62 results

The NA48/2 Collaboration at CERN has accumulated and analysed unprecedented statistics of rare kaon decays in the $K_{e4}$ modes: $K_{e4}(+-)$ ($K^\pm \to \pi^+ \pi^- e^\pm \nu$) and $K_{e4}(00)$ ($K^\pm \to \pi^0 \pi^0 e^\pm \nu$) with nearly one percent background contamination. It leads to the improved measurement of branching fractions and detailed form factor studies. New final results from the analysis of 381 $K^\pm \to \pi^\pm \gamma \gamma$ rare decay candidates collected by the NA48/2 and NA62 experiments at CERN are presented. The results include a decay rate measurement and fits to Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT) description.Comment: Prepared for the Proceedings of "Moriond QCD and High Energy Interactions. March 22-29 2014." conferenc