Two-step hydrolysis of nipa (Nypa fruticans) frond as treated by semi-flow hot-compressed water

Two-step hydrolysis of nipa (Nypa fruticans) frond, one of the monocotyledonous angiosperms, was studied in a semi-flow hot-compressed water treatment at 230°C/10 MPa/15 min (first stage) and 270°C/10 MPa/30 min (second stage). In the first stage, hemicelluloses such as O-acetyl-4-O-methylglucuronoarabinoxylan and pectin and para-crystalline cellulose were selectively hydrolyzed, as well as lignin, which was partially decomposed. In the second stage, hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose and some additional decomposition of lignin were observed. In addition, inorganic constituents and free sugars, composed mainly of glucose, fructose, and sucrose, were recovered in cold water (20°C/10 MPa/30 min) prior to these 2 stages. In total, 97.3% of oven-dried nipa frond sample could be solubilized into cold and hot-compressed water. The degradation products in the water-soluble portion were primarily recovered as various saccharides (hydrolyzed moieties of the polyoses), which were later dehydrated, fragmented and isomerized partly. The residual (2.7%) is composed mainly of lignin associated with 0.4% of Si. A decomposition pathway is proposed for O-acetyl-4-O-methylglucuronoarabinoxylan as the major hemicellulose based on its various hydrolyzed products

FCC testing at bench scale: New units, new processes, new feeds

As the FCC process has evolved over decades, several laboratory scale equipment have appeared to maintain a proper assessment of catalysts activity. Several laboratory equipments are available for simulating the FCC process, from the well known fixed bed, MicroActivity Test to newer, fluid bed or transported bed units. As well, a number of units have been created to simulate other parts of the process such as regenerator or stripper, The increased pressure for treating non-conventional feeds, from reprocessing gasoline to extra-heavy feeds or oils produced from biomass containing large amounts of heteroatoms, increase the needs to have a laboratory test which is as close as possible to the process so that data extraction from the laboratory test are simplified, thus less prone to errors or misunderstanding.Financial support by MICINN (Consolider-Ingenio 2010 MULTICAT) and MINECO (Project MAT2011-29020-0O2-02 and Subprogram for excellence Severo Ochoa, SEV 2012 0267) is gratefully acknowledged.Corma Canós, A.; Sauvanaud, LL. (2013). FCC testing at bench scale: New units, new processes, new feeds. Catalysis Today. 218-219:107-114. doi:10.1016/j.cattod.2013.03.038S107114218-21

Chemical characterization of various parts of nipa palm (Nypa fruticans)

The current study was initiated to characterize various parts of nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) to establish whole utilization of this biomass as potential raw material for fuels and chemicals. Nipa consisting of frond, shell, husk and leaf was chemically characterized for cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, starch, protein, extractives and inorganic constituents for its each part. The total chemical composition showed that the cellulose and hemicellulose contents were in the range of 28.9–45.6 wt% and 21.8–26.4 wt%, respectively. The hemicellulose was rich with glucuronoxylan. The lignin content was 19.4–33.8 wt% with the highest lignin content found in leaf. The alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation products showed that nipa palm lignin mainly consists of guaiacyl and syringyl propane units with a small amount of p-hydroxyphenylpropane unit. Besides the main chemical components, starch, protein and extractives were also present in significant amounts from 2 to 8 wt%. Additionally, the ash content was high from 5.1 to 11.7 wt%, consisting of the major inorganic elements being Na, K and Cl with minor inorganic elements of Mg, Ca, Si, P, S and Al. Overall, each part of the nipa palm has its individual superior characteristics and could be exploited as lignocellulosic resources for fuels and chemicals

バイオエタノール生産のためのニッパヤシ(Nypa fruticans)のポテンシャル評価

京都大学0048新制・課程博士博士(エネルギー科学)甲第16418号エネ博第240号新制||エネ||52(附属図書館)29049京都大学大学院エネルギー科学研究科エネルギー社会・環境科学専攻(主査)教授 坂 志朗, 教授 東野 達, 准教授 河本 晴雄学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of Energy ScienceKyoto UniversityDA

Nipa (Nypa fruticans) sap as a potential feedstock for ethanol production

The current study was initiated to evaluate the potential of sugar saps from nipa (Nypa fruticans) palm as sustainable feedstock for ethanol production. Nipa palms managed as plantations on four sites was chosen for this study with palms within 8–100 years of age. All palms studied were found to have the potential to produce sugar saps from 0.4 to 1.2 L d[-1] per palm. Further chemical characterization of its saps gave a total composition of 159–214 g kg[-1] mainly composed of sucrose, glucose and fructose. In addition, the elemental analysis gave 5 g kg[-1] of inorganics with Na, K and Cl being its main inorganic elements. Preliminary batch fermentative assays using Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed that nipa saps can be converted to ethanol within 30–48 h in conditions with and without nutrient supplementation. Furthermore, the fermentation trends were similar to sugarcane sap with high ethanol conversions up to 96.9% and 95.5% achieved for both nutrient conditions. Further analysis on inorganic elements before and after fermentation showed that specific elements of Mg, Ca, P and S were significantly reduced and could have assisted the fermentation. Based on the results obtained from sap collection, chemical characterization and fermentation, the ethanol potential from nipa planted at a density of 1000 ha[-1] would range from 4550–9100 L ha[-1] y[-1]. Conclusively, nipa sap showed some interesting characteristics which makes it a potential feedstock for ethanol production

Two-step hydrolysis of nipa (Nypa fruticans) frond as treated by semi-flow hot-compressed water

Two-step hydrolysis of nipa (Nypa fruticans) frond, one of the monocotyledonous angiosperms, was studied in a semi-flow hot-compressed water treatment at 230°C/10 MPa/15 min (first stage) and 270°C/10 MPa/30 min (second stage). In the first stage, hemicelluloses such as O-acetyl-4-O-methylglucuronoarabinoxylan and pectin and para-crystalline cellulose were selectively hydrolyzed, as well as lignin, which was partially decomposed. In the second stage, hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose and some additional decomposition of lignin were observed. In addition, inorganic constituents and free sugars, composed mainly of glucose, fructose, and sucrose, were recovered in cold water (20°C/10 MPa/30 min) prior to these 2 stages. In total, 97.3% of oven-dried nipa frond sample could be solubilized into cold and hot-compressed water. The degradation products in the water-soluble portion were primarily recovered as various saccharides (hydrolyzed moieties of the polyoses), which were later dehydrated, fragmented and isomerized partly. The residual (2.7%) is composed mainly of lignin associated with 0.4% of Si. A decomposition pathway is proposed for O-acetyl-4-O-methylglucuronoarabinoxylan as the major hemicellulose based on its various hydrolyzed products

Polyhydroalkanoates production from agro biomass

The International Conference on Sustainability Initiatives (ICSI 2015) focuses on the themes of technology, education and policy. ICSI 2015 covers topics such as green design and technology, sustainability in education, green business and innovation, sustainable consumption and production. ICSI 2015 provides a platform for dissemination of multidisciplinary research and case studies, aiming to identify pathways towards a sustainable society