The Experts below are selected from a list of 42 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

J M Kenny - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • production of nanocrystalline cellulose from lignocellulosic Biomass Technology and applications
    Carbohydrate Polymers, 2013
    Co-Authors: Lucia Brinchi, Franco Cotana, Elena Fortunati, J M Kenny
    Abstract:

    The use of renewables materials for industrial applications is becoming impellent due to the increasing demand of alternatives to scarce and unrenewable petroleum supplies. In this regard, nanocrystalline cellulose, NCC, derived from cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer, is one of the most promising materials. NCC has unique features, interesting for the development of new materials: the abundance of the source cellulose, its renewability and environmentally benign nature, its mechanical properties and its nano-scaled dimensions open a wide range of possible properties to be discovered. One of the most promising uses of NCC is in polymer matrix nanocomposites, because it can provide a significant reinforcement. This review provides an overview on this emerging nanomaterial, focusing on extraction procedures, especially from lignocellulosic Biomass, and on technological developments and applications of NCC-based materials. Challenges and future opportunities of NCC-based materials will be are discussed as well as obstacles remaining for their large use.

Charles E. Wyman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Ethanol from lignocellulosic Biomass: Technology, economics, and opportunities
    Bioresource Technology, 1994
    Co-Authors: Charles E. Wyman
    Abstract:

    Production of ethanol from agriculutural and forestry residues, municipal solid waste, energy crops, and other forms of lignocellulosic Biomass could improve energy security, reduce trade deficits, decrease urban air pollution, and contribute little, if any, net carbon dioxide accumulation to the atmosphere. Dilute acid can open up the Biomass structure for subsequent processing. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process is favored for producing ethanol from the major fraction of lignocellulosic Biomass, cellulose, because of its low cost potential. Technology has also been developed for converting the second largest Biomass fraction, hemicellulose, into ethanol. The remaining fraction, containing mostly lignin, can be burned as boiler fuel to power the conversion process and generate extra electricity to export. Developments in conversion Technology have reduced the projected gate price of ethanol from about US$0.95/liter (US$3.60/gallon) in 1980 to only about US$0.32/liter (US$1.22/gallon) in 1994. Technical targets have been identified to bring the selling price down to about US$0.18/liter (US$0.67/gallon), a level that is competitive when oil prices exceed US$25/barrel. However, at current projected costs, ethanol from Biomass could be competitive with ethanol from corn, particularly if lower cost feedstocks or other niche markets are capitalized upon. © 1995.

Deepak Pant - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Biohydrogen production from lignocellulosic Biomass: Technology and sustainability
    Energies, 2015
    Co-Authors: Anoop Singh, Dheeraj Rathore, Ibrahim M. Abu-reesh, Surajbhan Sevda, Karolien Vanbroekhoven, Deepak Pant
    Abstract:

    Among the various renewable energy sources, biohydrogen is gaining a lot of traction as it has very high efficiency of conversion to usable power with less pollutant generation. The various technologies available for the production of biohydrogen from lignocellulosic Biomass such as direct biophotolysis, indirect biophotolysis, photo, and dark fermentations have some drawbacks (e.g., low yield and slower production rate, etc.), which limits their practical application. Among these, metabolic engineering is presently the most promising for the production of biohydrogen as it overcomes most of the limitations in other technologies. Microbial electrolysis is another recent Technology that is progressing very rapidly. However, it is the dark fermentation approach, followed by photo fermentation, which seem closer to commercialization. Biohydrogen production from lignocellulosic Biomass is particularly suitable for relatively small and decentralized systems and it can be considered as an important sustainable and renewable energy source. The comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) of biohydrogen production from lignocellulosic Biomass and its comparison with other biofuels can be a tool for policy decisions. In this paper, we discuss the various possible approaches for producing biohydrogen from lignocellulosic Biomass which is an globally available abundant resource. The main technological challenges are discussed in detail, followed by potential solutions.

Jonatha R Mielenz - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • ethanol production from Biomass Technology and commercialization status
    Current Opinion in Microbiology, 2001
    Co-Authors: Jonatha R Mielenz
    Abstract:

    Owing to technical improvements in the processes used to produce ethanol from Biomass, construction of at least two waste-to-ethanol production plants in the United States is expected to start this year. Although there are a number of robust fermentation microorganisms available, initial pretreatment of the Biomass and costly cellulase enzymes remain critical targets for process and cost improvements. A highly efficient, very low-acid pretreatment process is approaching pilot testing, while research on cellulases for ethanol production is expanding at both enzyme and organism level.

David R Mills - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • appropriate market strategy for solar thermal electricity
    2016
    Co-Authors: David R Mills
    Abstract:

    Direct solar electricity is unlikely to contribute significantly to global emissions reduction before 2035, but becomes essential to meeting climate goals after this time. To fulfil this long term role, rapid growth must ensue now and be continued for decades so that full market share can be achieved. With the above background, in this chapter we argue for a new industry market approach has important differences from current STE industry visions for the future. The STE industry advocates installation of ISCCS and solar/gas hybrids as Global Environmental Facility (GEF) projects in developing countries. These are not the most emissions effective modes of installation, nor do they address the very large emissions 'debt' in developed nations. The main features of the suggested industry approach outlined in the chapter can be summarised as follows: • The primary market for STE should mostly be in developed countries, rather than in developing countries under GEF projects. • Until 2035, four transition markets which use hybridisation but not thermal or chemical storage are recommended to create strong STE industry growth. These applications can all use low cost line focus Technology. They are: 1. Solar Biomass hybrids with a significant solar fraction to provide firm capacity in both developed and developing countries 2. Solar fossil (mainly coal) hybrids with a significant solar fraction for use in developing countries 3. Solar coal savers supplying main boiler steam for developed nations at a low solar fraction 4. Solar coal savers supplying reheat thermal energy for developed nations at a low solar fraction Evidence presented in this paper suggests that solar thermal electricity and other renewable energy options are likely to be less expensive as a total societal cost than conventional fuel, and may be highly competitive against pure wind and Biomass Technology without the invocation of storage. The main bounds on future growth will come from the performance of renewable energy competitors rather than fossil fuel. Future storage options applied to line focus Technology may improve CO2 avoided cost, as will large scale production. This paper does not address policy issues, but it is essential to the development of the STE industry that full life cycle costing information be adequately developed as an essential energy policy input so that equitable societal costing of different energy options can be performed.

  • development strategies for solar thermal electricity generation
    Advances in solar energy, 2001
    Co-Authors: David R Mills
    Abstract:

    Solar thermal electricity (STE) is unlikely to contribute significantly to global emissions reduction before 2035, but becomes essential to meeting climate stabilisation goals after this time. To fulfil this role, rapid STE industry growth must ensue now and be continued for decades so that the full cost reductions made possible by large manufacturing capacity can be achieved. To accelerate development, the STE industry currently advocates the installation of integrated solar/combined cycle gas and solar/gas hybrids as Global Environmental Facility (GEF) projects in developing countries. These are not the most emissions-effective modes of STE installation, nor do they address the very large emissions debt' in developed nations. In this chapter we propose an alternative market approach for the STE industry. The main features of this approach can be summarised as follows: ○ The primary market for STE should mostly be in developed countries rather than in developing countries under GEF projects. ○ Until 2035, four transition markets which use hybridisation, but not necessarily including thermal or chemical storage, are recommended to be targeted for creating strong STE industry growth. These applications can all use low cost line focus Technology. They are: ○ Solar/Biomass hybrids with a significant solar fraction to provide firm capacity in both developed and developing countries; ○ Solar/fossil (mainly coal) hybrids with a significant solar fraction for use in developing countries; ○ Solar coal savers supplying main boiler steam for developed nations at a low solar fraction ; and ○ Solar coal savers reheat thermal energy for developed nations at a low solar fraction. Arguments presented in this chapter suggests that solar thermal electricity and other renewable energy options are likely to be less expensive in total societal cost terms than electricity generated from conventional fuels, and may be highly competitive against pure wind and Biomass Technology without a strong requirement for energy storage. The main bounds on future growth in STE will come from the performance of renewable energy competitions rather than from fossil fuel technologies.