The prickly pear in Italy is mostly used for human nutrition, although different cultivars of Cactaceae are intended for different uses around the world. Currently, there is a new bio‐economy for the prickly pear linked to the use of cladodes and fruit wastes for energy and numerous biotechnological derivatives. This paper focuses on the technical and economic validation of a bioenergy‐production installation

The development of a culture medium is an essential step in any bioprocess involving microorganisms for the bioconversion of by‐products to valuable chemicals, making industries like the biofuel industry more competitive. Optimization of the bioconversion process to minimize cost while maximizing yield underscores the importance of using computational methods to identify cellular requirements under

This study provides a new emphasis for research on the valorization of biowastes into nanocatalyst and biorefineries to be integrated with petroleum bioupgrading and polluted water treatment. The response surface optimized batch transesterification of waste‐frying oil using methanol and sustainable animal bone valorized fluorapatite nanocatalyst (FAP) yielded approximately 97% biodiesel via a pseudo‐second‐order

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a palm industrial waste by‐product that is readily available and possesses high quantities of the organic compounds that are necessary for microbial growth. This study investigated the potential of immobilized Aspergillus oryzae whole cells expressing Candida antartica lipase B (r‐CALB) when using a POME‐based medium as a low‐cost carbon source within biomass support

Corn stover is predominantly used as the feedstock in the cellulosic biorefineries of the Midwestern USA; however, there are several opportunities to improve the performance of its supply chain. Thus, there is a need to optimize the corn stover supply system for the overall sustainability of the corn stover‐based industries. This paper presents three practical strategies that could be implemented in

Brazilian bioethanol is one of the most prominent biofuels produced on a large scale, representing 30% of the global fuel ethanol production share. Around 8.6 billion gallons were produced in 2019, second only to the US fuel ethanol production in the same period (15.8 billion gallons). Obtained from sugarcane in a highly energy‐efficient process, the biofuel, which can be used in Brazil as 100% ethanol

Diesel and jet fuel contribute to ~22–27% and ~ 8–13% of the total energy used in the US transportation sector, producing ~25% and ~ 9% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from this sector, respectively. Biobased alternatives, such as biodiesel and renewable jet fuel (RJF) produced from oilseeds, have lower GHG emissions than their petroleum counterparts, are renewable in nature, and support

This study aimed to screen the xylitol‐producing strains of Cyberlindnera xylosilytica and Wickerhamomyces rabaulensis for the bioconversion of the hemicellulosic fraction of sugarcane bagasse. Among the 16 strains tested, two of each species (C. xylosilytica UFMG‐CM‐Y309 and UFMG‐CM‐Y409, and W. rabaulensis UFMG‐CM‐Y3716 and UFMG‐CM‐Y3747) were selected on the basis of xylitol yield (Yp/s) and xylitol

Two different fractal regression methodologies were employed with the aim of understanding the relationship between prices of ethanol produced in the USA and Brazil, the most important producers of ethanol. These methodologies, which have the advantage of giving us information about the relationships between different timescales, could also provide interesting and important information about this particular

This study investigated the potential application of an active biocatalyst from pawpaw (Carica papaya) trunk for the direct microwave irradiation‐aided transesterification of kariya (Hildegardia barteri) seed oil (KSO) with methanol to obtain biodiesel. The transesterification process involved was modeled, and the effects of the essential process input variables on the kariya seed oil methyl ester

Microalgae are considered to be the feedstock for third‐generation biofuels but there are still no commercial applications of microalgae biomass. This is due to the costly harvesting process, resulting from their specific characteristics such as small cell sizes, negatively charged surfaces, and stable dispersion in culture broths. Chitosan derived from crustacean shells, as a highly efficient and

Sugar‐based feedstock of banana crop residues (pseudostem, peel, and rejected fruits) were integrated into first‐generation sugarcane ethanol production through simulated proposals using Aspen Hysys®. Different contents of sugars (6.5, 10, 15, 20, and 22 wt%) in the concentrated broth from banana residues were evaluated. The increase in sugar content in the broth led to an increase of 25% in the energy

Microalgae have garnered significant interest among researchers and industries as a potential source of valuable products that can find applications in the food, feed, biofuels, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals industries. Microalgae can remediate various waste streams. This review discusses the current trends in the valorization of algal biomass and proposes integrated biorefinery approaches

Waste oils are a very promising raw material in the biodiesel industry, which is why great efforts have focused on the removal of the free fatty acids (FFAs) present in this source, mainly through the esterification reaction. Many studies have evaluated the influence of different variables on the reaction conversion, such as temperature, catalyst concentration, and alcohol/oil ratio. However, it is

This analysis explores the valuation of feedstock quality attributes of switchgrass and miscanthus – two energy crops poised for future expansion – and compares the relative economic availability of these two crops under two scenarios: (i) uniform price assumptions (i.e., no incentive for quality), and (ii) a scenario of a price premium based on convertibility (i.e., an incentive for quality). Given

Lignocellulose is a key starting material for the production of biofuels, biochemicals, and biomaterials. This review discusses various catalytic systems, including homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic systems, for biomass valorization. Different strategies of biomass‐derived catalyst systems for value‐added chemicals are evaluated. Novel strategies for using biomass‐derived carbon‐based catalysts

Indonesia has the fourth largest population in the world and in the coming years food production will need to catch up with its growth. To fulfill the protein demand of this growing population, the productivity of the Indonesian agricultural sector should be increased. This can be achieved either by expanding the agricultural land or by increasing the productivity of existing agricultural land and

Biodiesel has become increasingly important in recent years as a potential substitute for petroleum diesel. Different techniques and catalysts have been developed and widely investigated for biodiesel production via enzymatic biocatalysis. In this review, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to examine the global scenario and identify trends in lipase‐catalyzed biodiesel production in the past three

Air pollution caused by the traditional charcoal production industry is an environmental problem for developing countries. Avocado (Persea americana) and Lemon (Citrus limon) trees that are commonly used in the charcoal industry in the Eastern Mediterranean were chosen as representatives of charcoal raw material in a wood pyrolysis kinetic study that was conducted using a thermogravimetric analyzer

Abstract: Expanding the use of biofuels is controversial because of concerns about competition with food. Here we describe how varying the biofuel demand could help address these concerns. Variable biofuel demand can be implemented through market or policy mechanisms that adjust biofuel production according to feedstock availability, expanding or contracting in response to supply surplus or limitations

According to an old proverb, ‘you can make anything out of lignin, except money’. The complexity of lignin's structure and many inferior characteristics of lignin, such as its insolubility in organic solvent and poor reactivity related to it large molecular weight, have posed significant challenges to lignin valorization. Driven mainly by the commercial availability of large amounts of kraft lignin

The oil industry needs to reduce CO2 emissions across the entire lifecycle of fossil fuels to meet environmental regulations and societal requirements and to sustain its business. With this goal in mind, this study aims to evaluate the CO2 mitigation potential of several bio‐oil co‐processing pathways in an oil refinery. Techno‐economic analysis was conducted on different pathways and their greenhouse

Aquatic plants have been considered as a cause for concern because they impede aquatic flora and fauna. However, biofuel production from aquatic plants is an emerging energy source. As a consequence, this paper presents a detailed review of bio‐fuel production from floating aquatic plants with their physicochemical properties. The main focus of this study is to evaluate the biofuel production potential

Recent EU directives have encouraged member states to follow circular economy guidelines on waste reuse, especially for waste originating from wood agro‐forest biomass. Delineating the antioxidant and chemical activity of biomass is a starting point to find new ways to utilize such materials. Here, an 8‐year‐old apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) tree stand located in southern Italy was evaluated. First

This study aims to evaluate the effects of the co‐digestion of agricultural residues with manure from camelids from the Andean zone. Different combinations of llama manure (LM) and vicuñas (VM) were made with amaranth (AS), quinoa (QS), and wheat (WS) residues. They were fermented using sewage sludge as inoculum. The co‐digestion was evaluated under mesophilic conditions for 40 days. The ratios of

The use of diesel fuel in crop and transportation operations is responsible for one third of the carbon emissions in sugarcane biorefineries. A possible solution is to replace it with biodiesel from lipids, directly produced from sugarcane by highly productive heterotrophic microalgae. In this study a heterotrophic microalgae biodiesel plant, integrated with a typical Brazilian sugarcane bio‐refinery

Major progress in the bioprocessing of lignocellulose to fuels and value‐added chemicals has created the possibility of a low carbon‐footprint economy. However, the current complexity and associated costs of lignocellulose conversion result in a higher price for ethanol than for fossil fuels. The cost of cellulosic ethanol production will be lowered by further progress in development of biorefinery

Corn ethanol plants generate high‐purity carbon dioxide (CO2) while producing ethanol. If that CO2 could be converted into ethanol by carbon capture and utilization technologies it would be possible to increase ethanol production more than 37% without additional corn grain inputs. Gas fermentation processes use microbes to convert carbon‐containing gases into ethanol and so have the potential to be

The biotechnological production of 2,3‐butanediol (2,3‐BDO) has economic and environmental advantages over the chemical route, although its large‐scale implementation has not yet been consolidated. To establish the technological maturity of the bio‐based 2,3‐BDO process, and the factors limiting its industrial use, a technology roadmap was built from patents and scientific articles, in which four drivers

This study focuses on the kinetic modeling of homogeneous catalyzed transesterification of neem seed oil and the determination of the rate‐limiting step (RLS). The oil was extracted from the seeds by cold solvent extraction and it was characterized to determine its physicochemical properties. The effect of factors such as time, amount of catalyst, temperature, methanol / oil molar ratio, and agitation

The cultivation of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) for bioethanol production is receiving global attention due to the plant's sugar‐rich stalk juice, which can be fermented directly to ethanol. One of the important steps toward the development of a superior sweet sorghum cultivar is proper assessment of bioethanol‐related traits in different environments. This study was conducted to characterize

Sugar derived from lignocellulosic biomass is an important intermediate product, often used for the production of biofuels and value‐added chemicals. It is therefore essential to understand and reduce the production costs of sugar derived from lignocellulosic biomass. This study evaluates the economic feasibility of a biorefinery producing sugar from lignocellulosic biomass using a combination of autohydrolysis

In general, the certified pathways for the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) are still far from being competitive with fossil kerosene, although they have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the mitigation costs related to SAFs and how they compete with the carbon credits market remain unclear. The present study addressed these issues, evaluating SAF pathways

The transition to a sustainable bio‐based economy is perceived as a valid path towards low‐carbon development for emerging economies that have rich biomass resources. In the case of Colombia, the role of biomass has been tackled through qualitative roadmaps and regional climate policy assessments. However, neither of these approaches has addressed the complexity of the bio‐based economy systematically

Plastics are one of the fastest‐growing groups of bulk materials in the world. Yet, a third of plastic waste ends up as terrestrial or marine pollution. As a strategy to lower the carbon footprint of plastics, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that using plastics in long‐term applications would bring an environmental advantage due to the reduction of plastic pollution, the achievement of negative

Three‐stage sequential extraction of anthocyanins, polyphenols, and pectin has the potential to enhance the product's functional properties and the economic value of mango (Mangifera indica L.) peels beyond the two‐stage processes (anthocyanin‐pectin and polyphenol‐pectin). A three‐stage process was developed by incorporating a polyphenol extraction stage in a sequential process where anthocyanins

Biomass wastes of corn, sugarcane, and eggshells were used as resources to synthesize calcium silicate glass by applying the melt quench technique. The glasses were characterized by different experimental techniques to check their suitability as bioproducts. The in vitro bioactive properties of the glasses were evaluated in simulated body fluid (SBF). As confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform

The application of (bio)wastes as alternatives to expensive existing catalysts is an approach that can be used to reduce environmental pollution problems. Animal bone wastes have attracted much attention as environmentally friendly heterogeneous catalysts for chemical transformations such as transesterification, oxidation, and biofuel production, owing to the substantial availability of valuable hydroxyapatite

We analyze water‐energy tradeoffs for hypothetical algae production for biofuel feedstock in the US‐Mexico middle Rio Grande watershed with a coupled water, salinity, and algae biomass balance model. Suitable areas for algae cultivation in the region are selected and associated with fresh or brackish groundwater sources. We examine the potential of using two algae species with markedly different energy

It will be necessary to make efficient use of our resources if our society is to be converted into a bio‐based economy. Every year large side streams of bark are produced in sawmills and pulp mills. In addition to utilizing the bark for heat and electricity production, as happens today, high‐value chemical components could be extracted prior to energy conversion. These components include tannins. Cationized

The higher heating value (HHV) provides information about the quantity of energy contained in a fuel such as biomass. Correlations and models can be developed to predict biomass HHV quickly from other analysis data. In this study, a linear regression algorithm (LRA) and stochastic gradient descent (SGD) in a machine‐learning environment were used as novel methods to predict the HHV of biomass. The

The selection of locations and practices for energy crops requires the economics to be planned and the carbon intensity of the fuel to be assessed. This study develops a framework for selecting near‐optimal cropland sites to minimize the cost to produce a targeted quantity of an energy crop, considering soil properties, fertilizer management, and spatio‐temporal trends in crop yield and soil emissions

Current food production practices tend to damage and deplete soil, diminish biodiversity, and degrade water supplies. For agriculture to become environmentally sustainable and simultaneously increase food output for a growing world population, fundamental changes in agricultural production systems are required. Renewable energy can reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) but we also need simple, low‐cost approaches

This study identifies new and emerging risks in the botanicals sector with the aim of fostering the success of nutraceutical and dietary supplement companies based on quality, product safety, and consumer trust. Focusing on the Italian nutraceutical market, an analysis was conducted based on interviews with experts. The outcomes of the analysis and the resulting guidelines on how to manage safety and

This study assesses the environmental potential of crop residues and the techno‐economic potential of biojet fuel (BJF) production in Brazil. Different production routes are evaluated from two types of biomass residues (sugarcane straw and eucalyptus harvest residue), and four different technological pathways (alcohol to jet, Fischer–Tropsch, hydrothermal liquefaction and pyrolysis). The environmental

The unique characteristics and composition of macroalgae offer new possibilities for the production of bio‐based products such as biofuels and commodity chemicals. The technologies required for processing macroalgae are not currently mature enough, and those that exist are primarily oriented towards the production of biofuels. This study explores a production process to produce lactic acid (LA) from

Ethanol to n‐butanol conversion is a process that can increase the carbon number of alcohols by coupling. There is increasing interest in the mechanisms for n‐butanol production in a simple step through the effective use of bifunctional acid–base catalysts. In this context, commercial hydroxyapatite (HAP) and two synthetized model supported catalysts, Ca/Al2O3 and Ca‐P/Al2O3, were used in bioethanol

An economic evaluation was conducted of flavanone and sugar production from orange peel (OP) using a sequential hydrothermal process. The process was conducted at laboratory (2 × 5 L), pilot (3 × 10 L), and industrial (3 × 500 L) scales. The results demonstrate that the scale‐up process decreased the cost of manufacturing (COM) with a significant increase in flavanone and sugar production. The lowest

The use of ethanol as a vehicle fuel has reduced greenhouse gas emissions significantly. The introduction of ethanol has also led to a decrease in crude oil prices. Considering the economic and environmental significance of the biofuel markets, a strand of literature investigates the price and volatility dynamics of US ethanol prices. In this paper, in contrast to previous studies, we investigate whether

The use of olive mill solid waste (OMSW) for energy production has mainly been promoted through combustion processes. However, the EU is promoting the substitution of combustion in favor of greener alternatives. Several publications have stated that the energy obtained from anaerobic digestion (AD) is a feasible waste‐to‐energy technology for OMSW. However, these studies lack reliable energy balances

To achieve a bio‐based economy, it is necessary to consider variability within a feedstock population. We must understand the range of key phenotypic characteristics when selecting economically advantageous genotypes for domestication in an optimized supply chain. In this analysis we measured cell‐wall composition traits in a large natural variant population of Populus trichocarpa. The results were

There are increasing environmental and economic demands for the production of chemicals of industrial interest from renewable resources. Among the renewable products, short‐chain carboxylic acids (C1‐C6) stand out due to their importance in many sectors of the economy. Within this class, a wide variety of acids are industrially valuable as the precursors of many other chemicals for different applications

Hybrid sorrel is a perennial crop whose benefits include good wintering, early ripening, and relatively high biomass and energy yields. The average yields are usually in the range from 4 to 10 t ha−1 dry matter (DM) per year. Based on a long‐term study, a significant fertilization effect on hybrid sorrel yield was found. The crop establishment in spring is preceded by plowing in autumn. Hybrid sorrel

The use of pyrolysis acid (PA) as a liquid by‐product of the slow pyrolysis of wood or any other lignocellulosic biomass has been widely developed in agriculture for a variety of purposes such as crop enhancement or as a pesticide. Evidence from the literature suggests that PA could be used as a sustainable wood preservative to protect against rot fungi and termites. The experimental work presented

Butanol is widely used as an important bulk chemical and is a potential biofuel. The depletion of fossil fuels and advances in synthetic biotechnology have led to renewed interest in the biological production of butanol. Solventogenic Clostridium was commonly used to produce butanol through traditional acetone‐butanol‐ethanol (ABE) fermentation. However, its relatively slow growth rate, low butanol

The development of improved catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO2 into methane is a sustainable response to the energy crisis and environmental problems at the global level. Mn‐Ce/N‐TiO2 heterojunctions, comprising a Mn‐Ce concretion composite, were prepared using a sol–gel technique, and the photocatalytic hydrogenation of CO2 was studied using visible light as alternative driving energy. The photocatalyst

Xylooligosaccharide (XOS) liquor, enzymatically obtained from almond‐shell hemicellulose and consisting primarily of xylobiose and xylotriose, was refined and concentrated using a combination of membranes and ion‐exchange resin. The concentrated liquor was used for an in vitro fermentation study utilizing different strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Upon ultrafiltration with a 10 kDa membrane

The organic phase obtained from the slow pyrolysis of lignin contains several highly functional chemical families. These make lignin‐based oil, which is suitable for producing several end products. The composition and quality of the liquid phase are crucial for identifying the downstream processes. They are affected by several factors, including the feedstock precipitation process, pyrolysis conditions