Exploring hemp seed hull biomass for an integrated C-5 biorefinery:Xylose and activated carbon

Large quantities of hemp hulls can be completely utilized for creation of value-added products (cost effective biofuels and biochemicals) through a biorefinery approach. A sustainable approach in making xylose, a low calorie sweetener and high surface area activated carbons (AC) for super capacitors, attracts interest. The AC when leveraged as a co-product from biorefinery process makes it more cost effective and, in this paper, we discuss the production of xylose and AC from hemp seed hull with methane sulphonic acid (MSA) hydrolysis. Xylose recovery with MSA hydrolysis was 25.15 g/L when compared to the traditional sulphuric acid (SA) hydrolysis of 19.96 g/L at the same acid loading of 1.8 %. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra indicate partial delignification along with hemicellulose hydrolysis responsible for high xylose recovery. Post hydrolysis fibers were KOH activated and carbonized to make AC. The MSA hydrolyzed and KOH activated fiber produced pure, fluffier and finer particle AC with a drastic increase in surface area 1 452 m2/g when compared to SA hydrolyzed of 977 m2/g. These results indicate the potential of MSA in dilute acid hydrolysis of biomass for xylose recovery and production of high surface area activated carbon. From a production standpoint this can lead to increased use of sustainable low-cost agricultural biomass for making high surface area AC as components in supercapacitors.

Utilization of residual fatty acids in matter organic non-glycerol from a soy biodiesel plant in filaments used for 3D printing

Matter organic non-glycerol(MONG)is a considerable waste output(20%−25%of crude glyc-erol)typically landfilled by soy biodiesel plants.In this work,soy MONG was characterized for potential use as a copolymer to produce filaments for 3D printing with an intent to add value and redirect it from landfills.As a copolymer,MONG was evaluated to reduce the synthetic polymer content of the natural fiber composites(NFC).Even though the general thermal behavior of the MONG was compared to that of a thermoplastic polymer in composite applications,it is depen-dent on the composition of the MONG,which is a variable depending on plant discharge waste.In order to improve the thermal stability of MONG,we evaluated two pretreatments(acid and acid+peroxide).The acid+peroxide pretreatment resulted in a stabilized paste with decreased soap content,increased crystallinity,low molecular weight small chain fatty acids,and a sta-ble blend as a copolymer with a thermoplastic polymer.This treatment increased formic acid(17.53%)in MONG,along with hydrogen peroxide,led to epoxidation exhibited by the increased concentration of oxirane(5.6%)evaluating treated MONG as a copolymer in polymer processing and 3D printing.