Study: Turning sisal waste into sustainable biofuels with HZSM-5 zeolites

🚨 New project alert! The CBE JU-funded #SOLRESS project is developing an innovative biorefinery system that will turn coffee waste and plant biomass into safe, bio-based solvents such as ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate and butyl acetate. These greener alternatives will help industries reduce emissions and health risks without compromising performance. What SOLRESS will deliver: ▶️ Production of bio-based solvents from coffee grounds and wood waste ▶️ Conversion of CO₂ and biomass hydrolysates into lactic and acetic acids ▶️ Scale-up of bioethanol, biobutanol, and furfural for solvent synthesis ▶️ Demonstration of 400 litres of ester solvents and 50 litres of furfural solvents from 2 tonnes of biomass waste ▶️ Recycling of 100,000 tonnes of coffee and wood waste annually, producing up to 50,000 tonnes of solvents ▶️ More than €100 million in revenues and 300 new jobs in the EU bioeconomy The project is supported with €7.04 million in CBE JU funding and has 15 partners from 11 countries.

📢 We are proud to share that last week, GALACTIC and the 16 other European actors participating in the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), called Solress, held their first kick-off meeting in Spain, led by the project coordinator, AIMPLAS · Technological Institute of Plastics. Our two project managers, Pieter Van der Weeën and Carlos Antonio López Fletes, represented Galactic, which plays a key role in the success of this European project. Our efforts will focus on developing an innovative biorefinery system that will turn coffee waste and plant biomass into safe, bio-based solvents such as ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate and butyl acetate. Discover more about the project in the carousel below 👇 or via the website: https://lnkd.in/enUY8mjF And if you're interested in the project and want to know more, don't hesitate to contact us!

🚀 New Publication Alert! I am delighted to share our recent review article published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (Impact Factor 16.3, Scopus Q1 indexed): “Advanced approaches for mitigating impact of pre-treatment generated inhibitors in lignocellulosic hydrolysates: A comprehensive review” 👉 https://lnkd.in/gfSjYmvx 🔬 Why this matters: Second-generation (2G) bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. However, pre-treatment of biomass generates toxic inhibitors (furans, weak acids, phenolics) that hinder microbial growth and reduce ethanol yield. 📌 Our review comprehensively covers: Mechanisms of inhibitor generation and toxicity State-of-the-art detoxification strategies (physical, chemical, biological, and hybrid) Microbial bioprospecting, adaptive evolution, and metabolic engineering for inhibitor-tolerant strains Integration of multi-omics and AI-driven modeling to unravel stress-response pathways and guide precise strain engineering Future directions for building commercially viable, eco-friendly lignocellulosic biorefineries This work was a collaborative effort with Harpreet Kaur (IIT Bombay/Monash University) and Dr. Naseem A. Gaur (ICGEB, New Delhi). I hope this article serves as a valuable resource for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers working toward sustainable energy transitions. #Bioethanol #Biorefinery #Sustainability #Lignocellulose #SyntheticBiology #RenewableEnergy #Fermentation

2G Ethanol production space, transforming biomass into sustainable biofuel! This isn't just about energy; it's about empowering rural economies, reducing carbon footprints, and driving India towards a greener, more self-reliant future. #2GEthanol #SecondGenerationEthanol #Biofuel #BiomassToBiofuel #LignocellulosicEthanol

Where are the best locations to produce #eFuels in Europe? What are the biogenic and industrial CO2 point source potentials? How much more synthetic fuels could be produced if we include emissions from unavoidable industrial point source e.g. from cement plants? These questions will be answered in a joint webinar on September 3rd. On behalf of Electric Natural Gas (e-NG) Coalition and eFuel Alliance, Frontier Economics has developed a study to assess different CO2 point sources in Europe. We have assessed biogenic and industrial sources from biogas plants, bioethanol and biodiesel production, pulp and paper, waste incineration, power plants which have or will switch to biofuels, steel, cement, organic chemicals, refineries and many more. Our Excel sheet includes 3,583 point sources. But not all of them might be useful from a political or economic perspective. Which point sources will still be available in 2050? This webinar will: Present the findings of the study, including geographic clusters of CO₂ potential; Compare EU 🇪🇺 rules with those in the UK 🇬🇧 and USA 🇺🇲 ; Discuss how regulatory adjustments could unlock additional volumes—enabling the production of up to 4️⃣ 0️⃣ billion litres more synthetic fuels and gases by 2050. Please register for free here: https://lnkd.in/drpT3W_Q

In a (future) defossilized World, sustainable Carbon and Carbon sources, could become one of the most thought after commodtities, since roughly 90% of the stuff, we use in our everday lives, is based on Carbon. Fuels are large part of that, but not all of it, since large parts of the Chemical Industry is based on Hydrocarbons. Where will the Carbon come from after 2050? https://lnkd.in/eTpUEDGE

Bioethanol can be sustainably produced from various biomass sources, including cellulose-rich materials like plant cell walls. This process involves breaking down cellulose into fermentable sugars, which are then converted into ethanol. Utilizing waste biomass for bioethanol production reduces reliance on food crops and enhances sustainability by making use of abundant, non-food plant residues[3]. This approach not only helps in managing agricultural waste but also contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to first-generation bioethanol derived from starch or sugar crops[1][3]. How can advancing cellulose-to-ethanol technologies accelerate the shift toward a more circular bioeconomy? #Bioethanol #Biofuel #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #RenewableEnergy

🌾 Pellet Production from Sugarcane Bagasse Transforming waste into value 🌱 Sugarcane bagasse — the fibrous byproduct left after juice extraction — is a low-cost, high-potential biomass available across continents. With 45–55% cellulose and 20% lignin, it’s perfect for pellet production, offering a sustainable alternative to wood and fossil fuels. 🔥 Bagasse Pellets as Biofuel ✔️ High calorific value: 4461 kcal/kg ✔️ Low ash content: ~6% ✔️ Excellent pelletizing properties due to natural lignin ✔️ Clean energy with reduced sulfur emissions (0.12%) 🔁 Ideal for industrial boilers, biomass power plants, or biochar systems 📊 Comparison with Other Biomass • Rice husk: 3500 kcal/kg, 8% ash • Corn straw: 3700 kcal/kg, 7% ash • Bagasse: ✅ 4461 kcal/kg, 6.1% ash 🐄 Bagasse as Animal Feed Processed through fermentation or steam, bagasse becomes a viable fiber-rich feed supplement. – Crude fiber: ~45% – Protein: 1.5% – Fat: 0.7% 💨 Biochar Production with BIO-KILN Bagasse pellets are ideal for biochar or charcoal production via pyrolysis in BIO-KILN reactors, offering: ✔️ Reduced ash vs. fossil coal ✔️ Applications in: 🔹 Agriculture 🔹 Metallurgy 🔹 Construction 🔹 Electronics & pyrotechnics ⚙️ Pellet Production Workflow 1️⃣ Drying (to 15–18% moisture) using waste heat from BIO-KILN 2️⃣ Grinding (to 3–5 mm particles) 3️⃣ Metal removal via 3-stage magnetic separation 4️⃣ Pelletizing (6–8 mm) with anti-block, cooling & dust control systems 5️⃣ Cooling & Screening — counterflow cooling + rotary or vibrating screen 6️⃣ Packaging — bulk or 15–50 kg bags (optional automation) ✅ A full-cycle system for sugarcane bagasse processing = clean fuel, sustainable feed, and top-grade biochar. 📩 Want to turn sugarcane waste into value? DM us today. 📞 +34960730009 | 📧 sales@greenpower.equipment | 🌐 https://lnkd.in/dhx42N6T #GreenPower #SugarcaneBagasse #BiomassPellets #PelletProduction #BagasseFuel #Biochar #BIOKILN #SustainableEnergy #WasteToValue #BiomassTech #CleanEnergy #CircularEconomy #Agritech

Emerging Catalysts and Techniques in Microalgae-Based Biodiesel Production Full access: https://lnkd.in/g9GCZQ6R By PARTHA PROTIM BORTHAKUR and Pranjal Sarmah From the 3rd International Electronic Conference on Catalysis Sciences Check more Proceedings: https://lnkd.in/gTb3_Xic The production of biodiesel from microalgae presents a sustainable and renewable solution to the growing global energy demands, with catalysts playing a critical role in optimizing the transesterification process. This study examines the emerging catalysts and innovative techniques utilized in converting microalgal lipids into fatty acid methyl esters, emphasizing their impact on reaction efficiency, yield, and environmental sustainability. Sulfuric acid demonstrates excellent performance in in situ transesterification, while NaOH/zeolite achieves high biodiesel yields using ultrasound- and microwave-assisted methods. Metal oxides such as CuO, NiO, and MgO supported on zeolite, as well as ZnAl-layered double hydroxides (LDHs), further enhance reaction performance through their high activity and stability. Enzymatic catalysts, particularly immobilized lipases, provide a more environmentally friendly option, offering high yields (>90%) and the ability to operate under mild conditions. However, their high cost and limited reusability pose significant challenges. Ionic liquid catalysts, such as tetrabutylphosphonium carboxylate, streamline the process by eliminating the need for drying and lipid extraction, achieving yields as high as 98% from wet biomass. The key novelty of this work lies in its detailed focus on the use of ionic liquids and nanocatalysts in microalgae-based biodiesel production, which are often underrepresented in previous reviews that primarily discuss homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. #Microalgae #GreenChemistry #RenewableEnergy

Team Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) completed a landmark pilot authenticating #biofuels and verifying the quantities blended across six supply chains. In all, 10,400 MT of biofuel blends was bunkered, resulting in 24% #emissions reduction.🥳 https://lnkd.in/gFzNgTtR This report is one building block in our comprehensive biofuels initiative. It looks at whether and how we can use physical #tracers in today’s operations, and which tracer is most compatible for #maritime use.🧪 Report here: https://lnkd.in/gBFrvyzn Why is this important? Because concerns with biofuels use persist despite the many #certification schemes out there. Was the feedstock what the supplier claimed?🧐 How much emissions abatement can we credibly count?🧐 These questions matter even more now with the International Maritime Organization’s recent approval of its net-zero emissions framework.   And while physical tracers are used to authenticate land transport fuels,⛽️ they have not been used to validate #shipping fuel supply chains.🚢 We trialled one tracer each from three technologies: synthetic DNA, elemental metalloid, and organic tracers. Each tracer was introduced as far upstream as possible, some directly at production, others at blending, and we followed these fuels as they made their way to the receiving vessels. And we sampled at key transfer points and tested a range of fuel mix: #FAME or #HVO, blended with #HFO, #VLSFO or #MGO.🛢️ So, what did we learn?👩🏻🏫 Deploying physical tracers can be practical and affordable.💵 But not all tracers are created equal. Marine fuels are tough; the constituents can be acidic, heterogenous and opaque. And they are often stored under harsh environmental conditions.🌊 The synthetic DNA tracer we used struggled. In one supply chain, we could not detect it even after numerous dosing, likely because it had denatured, or the testing matrix was poisoned by contaminants in the fuel mix.🙅🏻♀️ The inorganic elemental tracer we tested was solid; we detected it at all sampling points. But at our dosing levels, it couldn’t provide accurate quantification.🤷🏻♀️ The organic tracer we used performed the best of the lot. It was detected quantitatively🔢 at all sampling points, and testing used existing lab instruments (GC-MS already used for fuel quality tests).👍🏻 Bottom line: tracers can work, and when judiciously selected, should be used to bolster confidence in biofuels supply chains.✅✅ Next up: a report on Project #LOTUS, looking at the impact of long-term, continuous use of biofuels on engine performance and fuel system operations. And another on the suitability of crude algae oil as a marine fuel. A big thank you❤️ to the many partners who joined us on this journey — for your guidance, for recognising the importance of pushing the envelope, and for allowing us to test on your vessels. We couldn’t have done this without you.🫶🏻 Together, we are stronger; together, we can💪🏻