Papers by Keyword: Biomass

Abstract: Traditional cooking methods and rocket stoves based on natural principles release high emissions due to the inefficient combustion of solid biomass fuel. Steam injection in combustion enhances combustion efficiency and reduces pollutant emissions. This technique improves stove performance and efficiency without relying on electrical power by leveraging the heat energy from the biomass stove for steam injection. This study evaluates the performance of a biomass stove using steam injection with Casuarina equisetifolia wood as fuel. The experiment varied the volume of steam injection water: 500 ml, 800 ml, and 1,200 ml. Among these, the 500 ml injection volume achieved the fastest boiling time during the high-power phase, taking 11 minutes and 6 seconds, with a thermal power output of 5.8708 kcal/s. The highest thermal efficiency of 51% was observed with the 1,200 ml water injection, accompanied by a specific fuel consumption of 0.0008 kg/s. The best CO emission performance, at 0.77% (7.7 g/kg), was achieved with the 500 ml water injection volume. These results highlight the potential of steam-injected biomass stoves for practical cooking applications.

Abstract: Conventional plastic waste poses a serious environmental problem due to its resistance to degradation. This study developed an eco-friendly bioplastic made from banana peel waste, reinforced with graphene oxide (GO) as a filler. The bioplastics were synthesized using the melt-blending method with GO concentrations of 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%. Tensile strength tests showed that the bioplastic with 2% GO exhibited the highest mechanical performance, with a tensile strength of 26.15 N/cm² and a Young’s modulus of 130.73 MPa, compared to the non-graphene sample which only reached 22.64 N/cm² and 113.23 MPa. Biodegradability tests using the soil burial method over 6 days revealed that the non-graphene sample had the fastest degradation rate, with a weight loss of up to 45%, outperforming the graphene-reinforced variants. The results indicate that while GO enhances mechanical properties, it reduces the biodegradation rate. Therefore, banana peel-based bioplastic offers a promising, sustainable alternative to conventional plastics adaptable either for high-strength applications or for products designed to degrade more rapidly in natural environments.

Abstract: This study investigates the thermal distribution characteristics during the pyrolysis of mahogany wood biomass in conjunction with a zeolite catalyst, utilizing a packed bed reactor modelled through ANSYS thermal transient software. The simulations were conducted at various temperatures, specifically 523 K, 623 K, and 823 K, with a consistent heating rate of 800 K/hour over 120 minutes. Our findings reveal that zeolite significantly outperforms mahogany wood in thermal efficiency, demonstrating faster, more uniform, and stable heating across the reactor volume. In contrast, mahogany biomass experiences delays in reaching optimal temperatures, particularly at lower settings. The disparity in thermal performance between the two materials becomes more pronounced with increasing temperatures. These results underscore the effectiveness of zeolite catalysts in not only expediting the attainment of pyrolysis temperatures but also improving heating efficiency and uniformity. This study positions zeolite as a promising catalyst for enhancing the performance and sustainability of biomass pyrolysis reactors, offering valuable insights for optimizing industrial applications.

Abstract: The global challenges of energy security and climate change highlight the urgent need for renewable energy technologies. Biomass gasification offers a promising thermochemical route for converting organic feedstocks into synthesis gas (syngas), which can serve as a clean fuel or chemical precursor. Despite its potential, large-scale application is constrained by low carbon conversion efficiency, excessive tar formation, unstable syngas composition, and catalyst deactivation. This study applies a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) guided by PRISMA 2020 to examine advances in sustainable catalytic and sorbent materials for improving syngas quality. Literature was retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar (2015–2025), focusing on experimental and simulation-based studies. Results indicate that eco-friendly catalysts such as Ni–Ce/CaO composites, multifunctional Ni/CaO–Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃, lanthanum-promoted Ni–Al₂O₃, red mud, biochar, zeolites, and CaO-based sorbents enhance hydrogen yield, reduce CO₂, and mitigate tar formation. Multifunctional materials combining catalytic and adsorptive properties, particularly in sorption-enhanced gasification, show strong potential but still face challenges of sintering, deactivation, and reactor-dependent variability. Beyond efficiency gains, sustainable catalysts contribute to circular economy principles by valorizing wastes and biomass residues. Future priorities include nanostructured catalyst design, reactor–catalyst integration, techno-economic feasibility, and life cycle assessment to enable industrial-scale deployment.

Abstract: Iraq faces chronic electricity shortages despite abundant agricultural biomass resources. This study evaluates a small-scale biomass power plant in rural Latifiyah, Iraq as a model for renewable energy integration. Using the NREL System Advisor Model (SAM), we simulate a direct-combustion plant of approximately 14-20 MW capacity fueled by local corn stover residues. The resource assessment confirms ample feedstock availability (on the order of 10⁵ tonnes per year of corn residues), enabling annual electricity generation of roughly 100 GWh. SAM performance results indicate a net conversion efficiency around 25% and a capacity factor of 75%, reflecting continuous year-round operation. However, the economic analysis reveals challenges: the levelized cost of electricity is estimated in the range of $0.10-0.15 per kWh, and the project’s payback period extends to nearly 20 years under current market conditions. These Fig.s exceed typical benchmarks, underscoring the need for financial incentives or policy support. Despite the economic constraints, the biomass plant offers significant environmental benefits, including substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and the elimination of open-field residue burning, along with improvements in rural energy access and local development. As a case study, this work shows the potential and challenges of deploying agricultural biomass power in Iraq’s energy transition.

Abstract: This research presents a technical and economic assessment of a hybrid energy system for electricity generation, accessibility, sustainability and consumption in rural and semi urban locations in Nigeria. The aim is to determine the sizes, technical and economic considerations of the hybrid microgrid renewable energy infrastructure that could be suitable for 40 rural and semi-urban locations selected to cut across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and all the 36 states in the country. The cost of the components of the hybrid system and the energy generated per renewable energy (RE) source from the microgrid are determined for all the locations. The projected yearly electricity generated for each location for the hybrid system were determined using the hybrid optimization of multiple electric renewables (HOMER) energy modelling software for a period of 10 years from 2024 to 2033. TheWorld Bank population growth rate of 2.5% was used to estimate the population each year and the associated load demand. Each location was assumed to have a minimum electric load of 0.76 kWh per day per person. To simulate longterm continuous implementation of the hybrid system, average solar irradiation, wind speed and available biomass resources for the selected locations were used. The mean annual wind speed ranged from 3.45 to 7.15 m/s. The solar radiation ranged from 4.43 to 6.24 kWh/m2/day. The per capita net present cost (NPC) ranged from 776.37 to 4130.21 USD per kWh, while the cost of energy (COE) ranged from 0.00196 to 0.0231 USD /kWh, respectively for the period. The results show that Nigeria as a country has ample renewable energy resource availability to meet minimum electric power demand for the locations consdered.With a strong political determination, optimal utilization of these renewable resources (solar, wind and biomass) can be actualized. Researchers, Industrialists, Policy Makers and the Nigerian government should therefore take advantage of these abundant renewable energy resources in the country to develop a sustainable energy generation and consumption plan through its maximum utilization.

Abstract: The potential for biomass as an alternative source of energy is being studied widely. In this study, process flow design is done to analyse the pyrolysis of biomass and its products and how energy can be generated from its products. The energy used per process is calculated and the heat required in the processes were also calculated. The optimization of process parameters for the production of energy from wood biomass via pyrolysis was conducted using the Response Surface Methodology (RS) in the Design Expert 2022 environment using the following range of process parameters: temperature (400-1000°C), vapour residence time (5-30 min) and particle size (0.5-2.0 mm). The feasible combination of process parameters from the design of experiment was validated via physical experimentation having three responses namely: yield of char, yield of biofuel and yield of syngas. The designed experiments and corresponding outcomes produced three predictive models for estimating the yields of char, biofuel and syngas as a function of temperature, vapour residence time and particle size. The results obtained indicated that low temperature favours the formation of biochar while moderate temperature favours the formation of biofuel and the production of syngas is favoured by elevated temperature. The optimal values of process parameters and responses obtained include: temperature (642.271 °C), vapour residence time (6.248 min), particle size (0.603 mm), yield of char (71.9%), yield of biofuel (71.9%) and yield of syngas (76.5%). This study adds to the literature on the pyrolysis process for the conversion of wood biomass to energy. It also contributes to the fields of renewable and sustainable energy generation.Keywords: Biomass, biofuel, char, renewable and sustainable energy, RSM, syngas

Abstract: The conversion of biomass to graphite requires a catalyst to promote the graphitization process. Effective pre-treatment and activation of the carbon precursor are crucial for improving the efficiency and success of biomass graphitization using metal catalysts. In this work, we investigate the combined effects of HCl pre-treatment and single-step impregnation carbon with K₂FeO₄, along with KOH activation, on the graphitization process of Empty Palm Oil Fruit Bunches (EPOFB). X-ray fluorescence (XRF) data reveal that HCl pre-treatment effectively eliminates significant impurities, such as alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and transition metals, which can hinder the graphitization process. XRD and Raman spectroscopy results indicate that the combination of HCl pre-treatment and single-step impregnation carbon with K₂FeO₄, along with KOH activation significantly improves the graphitic quality of the carbon. High-quality graphitic carbon with an IG/ID ratio of 12.35 for the sample CpreHCl_K₂FeO₄(0.07)_KOH_1200 (EPOFB carbon pre-treated with HCl, followed by impregnation with K₂FeO₄ and activation with KOH, and then pyrolyzed at 1200°C). This particular sample displays a porous surface morphology and has a surface area of 876.407 m²/g. This study underscores the importance of acid pre-treatment and chemical activation in optimizing the preparation of high-quality graphitic carbon from biomass.

Abstract: High nickel content in nickel manganese cobalt (NMC811, LiNi_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1O₂) resulted in high capacity but low structural stability. Surface modification of NMC811 via silica (SiO₂) coating is known to counter this problem, leading to better electrochemical performance. In this work, silica was synthesized from rice husk through sol-gel method with alkaline extraction followed by acidification process. The resulting silica was coated onto commercially available NMC811 to modify its surface via solid-state reaction method. The characterization results showed that the silica coated NMC811 demonstrated a higher conductivity and lithium diffusion coefficient of 2.85 x 10^-5 S/cm and 2.52 x 10^-14 cm²/s, respectively, compared to that of bare NMC811 (8.17 x 10^-6 S/cm and 1.75 x 10^-15 cm²/s, respectively). This result confirms that the silica derived from rice husk can be used as a potential low-cost material to modify the surface and thus to increase the electrochemical performance of commercial NMC811.

Abstract: In recent years, particular attention has been paid to the use of renewable energy, particularly biomass, for reasons related to both climate change and waste management. Biogas is frequently used in low value-added applications such as heating and fuel in engines, while it can be reformed into hydrogen, through certain process such as the process of dry reforming, of partial oxidation, of bi-reforming, or even of tri-reforming. The literature has indicated that the tri-reforming process is better than other reforming processes. Biogas tri-reforming is a simultaneous combination of endothermic dry reforming and steam reforming with exothermic methane oxidation, carried out in a single reactor to produce syngas which is an important feedstock for chemical production and energy vectors. Second, the process of tri-reforming overcomes several weaknesses of each main reform process. This article presents a new mathematical model of tri-reforming which will further optimize this type of process. The developed mathematical model was validated with literature data. Thus, the literature data used are among others, the optimal feed ratio in the tri-reforming process, CH₄/CO₂/H₂O/O₂ = 1:0.291:0.576:0.088. For optimal temperature and pressure, the data used are 1223 K and 5 bar respectively. This mathematical model makes it possible to achieve high conversion of methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) coupled with high selectivity in hydrogen. The conversion rate of methane (CH₄) can reach 99% and that of carbon dioxide (CO₂) can reach 97%. The model is adapted with a high hydrogen selectivity: 2.88.