Applicability of hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.) bark extract as a precursor of rigid carbon foam and activated carbon

Hybrid aspens have long attracted scientific interest, but the research on their use as feedstocks for chemical applications are still very limited. The bark biomass of the poplar species contains many valuable extractives that can be utilized as value-added products. This paper examines the applicability of hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.) bark extract as a precursor of rigid carbon foam and activated carbon. To explore this, the study considers 1) the basic chemical composition of the bark in terms of added value potential, 2) the basic chemical composition of the bark extract and the effect of its pretreatment on the extract composition, 3) the production of rigi…

Production of ethyl lactate by activated carbon-supported Sn and Zn oxide catalysts utilizing lignocellulosic side streams

Abstract In this study, activated carbon-supported Sn and Zn oxide catalysts were prepared from hydrolysis lignin and used for the conversion of model solutions of trioses, hexoses, and lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates to ethyl lactate. Both catalysts, SnO2@AC and ZnO@AC, were able to produce ethyl lactate in high yields. SnO2@AC was a more active and selective catalyst in triose (dihydroxyacetone) conversion, providing 99% yield to ethyl lactate. ZnO@AC, by contrast, was more selective in glucose and hydrolysate conversion, with a yield of 60% and 85%, respectively. The ethyl lactate yields were significantly higher than those from the optimized model solution experiments when using Zn…

Facile synthesis of sustainable activated biochars with different pore structures as efficient additive-carbon-free anodes for lithium- and sodium-ion batteries

The present work elucidates facile one-pot synthesis from biomass forestry waste (Norway spruce bark) and its chemical activation yielding high specific surface area (SBET) biochars as efficient lithium- and sodium-ion storage anodes. The chemically activated biochar using ZnCl2 (Biochar-1) produced a highly mesoporous carbon containing 96.1% mesopores in its structure as compared to only 56.1% mesoporosity from KOH-activated biochars (Biochar-2). The latter exhibited a lower degree of graphitization with disordered and defective carbon structures, while the former presented more formation of ordered graphite sheets in its structure as analyzed from Raman spectra. In addition, both biochars…

The Effect of Mechanocatalytic Pretreatment on the Structure and Depolymerization of Willow

In this study, the effect of a mechanocatalytic pretreatment on the structure of willow and sugar release from pretreated willow was explored. In the mechanocatalytic approach, the pretreatment consists of solvent-free impregnation with sulfuric acid and a mechanical treatment with ball milling. Willow sawdust and pretreated samples were analyzed with field emission scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The products in the sugar solution were determined as the total reducing sugars with the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid method and monosaccharides with capillary electrophoresis. According to the results, milling increased the sugar production, depending on the sulfuric acid load. T…

Co-precipitation of Mg-doped Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1(OH)₂:effect of magnesium doping and washing on the battery cell performance

Co-precipitation of Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1(OH)2 (NCM811) and Mg-doped (0.25 wt% and 0.5 wt%) NCM811 precursors is carried out from concentrated metal sulphate solutions. In this paper, the aim is to study the role of magnesium dopant in the co-precipitation step of NCM811, the cathode active material and further the Li-ion battery cell performance. Based on the results, magnesium was fully co-precipitated in the NCM811 precursors, as expected from thermodynamic calculations. The presence of magnesium in these precursors was also confirmed by several characterization methods and magnesium was evenly distributed in the sample. It was observed that tapped density decreased and surface area increased …

Use of Calcined Dolomite as Chemical Precipitant in the Simultaneous Removal of Ammonium and Phosphate from Synthetic Wastewater and from Agricultural Sludge

Phosphorus as phosphate and nitrogen as ammonium or nitrate are the main nutrients in wastewaters and agricultural sludges. They runoff easily to waterways and cause eutrophication in water bodies. However, ammonium and phosphate could be precipitated simultaneously and used as recycled nutrients. In this research, dolomite calcined at 650 &deg

Removal of total organic carbon from peat solution by hybrid method : electrocoagulation combined with adsorption

Humic substances end up in water from the drainage basin causing eutrophication and the spread of algae. These natural organic substances have an influence on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the water system. Adsorption and electrocoagulation (EC) are commonly used purification methods in the water and wastewater treatment. Both methods are used by themselves for removing a wide range of impurities. In this research, the novelty was to study the effect of combined activated carbon (AC) adsorption and electrocoagulation method on the removal of organic substances as total organic carbon (TOC) from the peat solution. With the hybrid method, TOC content was efficiently remo…

The removal of sulphate from mine water by precipitation as ettringite and the utilisation of the precipitate as a sorbent for arsenate removal.

Abstract The aim of this research was to investigate sulphate removal from mine water by precipitation as ettringite (Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12·26H2O) and the utilisation of the precipitate as a sorbent for arsenate removal. The mine water sulphate concentration was reduced by 85–90% from the initial 1400 mg/L during ettringite precipitation depending on the treatment method. The precipitation conditions were also simulated with MINEQL + software, and the computational results were compared with the experimental results. The precipitated solids were characterised with X-ray diffraction and a scanning electron microscope. The precipitated solids were tested as sorbents for arsenate removal from the…

Study of Ni, Pt, and Ru Catalysts on Wood-based Activated Carbon Supports and their Activity in Furfural Conversion to 2-Methylfuran

Bio‐based chemicals can be produced from furfural through hydrotreatment. In this study, 2‐methylfuran (MF), a potential biofuel component, was produced with Pt, Ru, and Ni catalysts supported on wood‐based activated carbons. The catalytic hydrotreatment experiments were conducted in a batch reactor at 210–240 °C with 2‐propanol as solvent and 40 bar H2 pressure. Two types of activated carbon supports were prepared by carbonization and activation of lignocellulosic biomass (forest‐residue‐based birch and spruce from Finland). Both types of activated carbons were suitable as catalyst supports, giving up to 100 % furfural conversions. The most important factors affecting the MF yield were the…

Carbons from second generation biomass as sustainable supports for catalytic systems

In this study activated carbons were produced from the wood of three different wood species (pine, birch, spruce). The resulting activated carbons were characterized in bulk for ash content, carbon content (elemental analyses), specific surface area, and pore size distribution, and at the surface by measuring the autogenerated pH and studying their structure by XPS. All the samples presented high surface areas and appeared to be mesoporous materials (mesopores >80%). The carbons were then used as support for AuPt nanoparticles and tested in the liquid phase oxidation of glycerol (GLY) and in the hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA), two important chemicals from cellulose-based biomass. The …

The use of calcined paper mill sludge as a chemical precipitant in the simultaneous removal of ammonium and phosphate : paper mill waste recycling and reuse

Currently, recycling and re-use of materials is extremely important due to the diminishing of natural resources. The objective of the European Union’s circular economy strategy is to increase recycling and the use of industrial waste materials and side streams as secondary raw materials. In this study, a chemical precipitation method to simultaneously remove ammonium nitrogen and phosphate from the liquid phase of anaerobic digestate using calcined paper mill sludge was studied. Papermill sludge is a waste material that forms in the paper-making process. In addition, commercial calcium oxide (CaO) was used as a reference precipitant. The suitability of the formed precipitate’s composition f…

Utilization of waste sodium sulfate from battery chemical production in neutral electrolytic pickling

Several industrial activities produce metal sulfates, which are controlled by strict limitations for wastewater concentrations of sulfate. One emerging area where these activities occur is the production of lithium-ion battery chemicals in which sodium sulfates are formed because of cathode precursor co-precipitation. Several solutions for sulfate removal exist, but one option is to reuse the sulfate side stream in other processes to increase circular economy and atom efficiency. In this paper, the reuse of sodium sulfate solution in a steel industry pickling solution is considered. Neutral electrolytic pickling experiments were carried out to compare the pickling behavior of the electrolyt…

Optimized morphology and tuning the Mn3+ content of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode material for li-ion batteries

The advantages of cobalt-free, high specific capacity, high operating voltage, low cost, and environmental friendliness of spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) material make it one of the most promising cathode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. The disproportionation reaction of Mn3+ leads to Jahn–Teller distortion, which is the key issue in reducing the crystal structure stability and limiting the electrochemical stability of the material. In this work, single-crystal LNMO was synthesized successfully by the sol-gel method. The morphology and the Mn3+ content of the as-prepared LNMO were tuned by altering the synthesis temperature. The results demonstrated that the LNMO_11…

Use of Fe and Al containing electrocoagulation sludge as an adsorbent and a catalyst in water treatment

In this study, three different electrocoagulation (EC) sludges were studied as an adsorbent (removal of humic acids) and as a catalyst [catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of bisphenol A (BPA)]. The sludges originated from electrocoagulation process in which aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) electrodes were used for the treatment of mining industry wastewater. All the materials were used as dried sludge and calcined material. The stability of these materials was studied in neutral and alkaline conditions with analysis of the leached iron content in solution. Based on the EC sludge characterization with X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and diffuse-reflectance infrared Four…

Activated Carbon from Renewable Sources: Thermochemical Conversion and Activation of Biomass and Carbon Residues from Biomass Gasification

Activated carbon is one of the most widely applied adsorbent. As a porous carbon, it is used for the purification of both gaseous and liquid emissions. Activated carbon is prepared from fossil resources, such as coal, or from biomass through (hydro)thermal processing followed by chemical and/or physical activation. Further, some biomass thermal treatment processes, such as biomass gasification, produce carbon residues that can be modified to activated carbon with physical or chemical activation methods. The desired properties of activated carbon, i.e. high specific surface area and porosity, high carbon content and excellent sorption capacity, can be modified and optimized during thermochem…

Lignin-based activated carbon-supported metal oxide catalysts in lactic acid production from glucose

Abstract In this study, heterogeneous biomass-based activated carbon-supported metal oxide catalysts were prepared and tested for lactic acid production from glucose in aqueous solution. Activated carbons were produced from hydrolysis lignin by chemical (ZnCl2) or steam activation and modified with a nitric acid treatment and Sn, Al, and Cr chlorides to obtain carbon-based metal oxide catalysts. The modification of the carbon support by nitric acid treatment together with Sn and Al oxides led to an increase in lactic acid yield. The highest lactic acid yield (42 %) was obtained after 20 min at 180 °C with the Sn/Al (5/2.5 wt.%) catalyst on steam-activated carbon treated by nitric acid. Reus…

Water leaching of roasted vanadium slag : Desiliconization and precipitation of ammonium vanadate from vanadium solution

This research investigated water leaching of roasted vanadium slag and studied the effects of leaching parameters, such as agitation speed, temperature, liquid-to-solid ratio, and leaching time. Further, solution purification via desiliconization and precipitation of ammonium vanadate were studied using the vanadium solution obtained from the water leaching of roasted vanadium slag. Vanadium solution contains residual silicon (1.67 g/L), which should be removed before ammonium vanadate precipitation. Based on the results, vanadium can be effectively recovered from vanadium slag and a recovery efficiency of 96.9% was obtained under optimal water leaching conditions. During solution purificat…

Förgasning av biomassa till värme, elektricitet och biobränslen : publikation för HighBio-projektet

Dissolution and hydrolysis of fibre sludge using hydroxyalkylimidazolium hydrogensulphate ionic liquids

Abstract The dissolution and hydrolysis of wet fibre sludge in ionic liquids (ILs) with different reaction conditions are performed in this study. Novel types of hydroxyalkylimidazolium hydrogensulphate ILs, [glymim]HSO 4 , [hemim]HSO 4 and [hpmim]HSO 4 , are especially designed and aimed to combine the dissolution and hydrolysis of wet fibre sludge in a one-step pretreatment. The results were obtained based on the analysis of total reducing sugars (TRS) with the DNS method. The dissolution and hydrolysis of fresh wild horse chestnut fruit ( Aesculus hippocastanum ) with the same ILs were also carried out as a comparison reference. Since fibre sludge is cellulose based and horse chestnut fr…

Comparison of organic peracids in wastewater treatment: Disinfection, oxidation and corrosion.

The use of organic peracids in wastewater treatment is attracting increasing interest. The common beneficial features of peracids are effective anti-microbial properties, lack of harmful disinfection by-products and high oxidation power. In this study performic (PFA), peracetic (PAA) and perpropionic acids (PPA) were synthesized and compared in laboratory batch experiments for the inactivation of Escherichia coli and enterococci in tertiary wastewater, oxidation of bisphenol-A and for corrosive properties. Disinfection tests revealed PFA to be a more potent disinfectant than PAA or PPA. 1.5 mg L(-1) dose and 2 min of contact time already resulted in 3.0 log E. coli and 1.2 log enterococci r…

Conversion of furfural to 2-methylfuran over CuNi catalysts supported on biobased carbon foams

In this study, carbon foams prepared from the by-products of the Finnish forest industry, such as tannic acid and pine bark extracts, were examined as supports for 5/5% Cu/Ni catalysts in the hydrotreatment of furfural to 2-methylfuran (MF). Experiments were conducted in a batch reactor at 503 K and 40 bar H2. Prior to metal impregnation, the carbon foam from tannic acid was activated with steam (S1), and the carbon foam from pine bark extracts was activated with ZnCl2 (S2) and washed with acids (HNO3 or H2SO4). For comparison, a spruce-based activated carbon (AC) catalyst and two commercial AC catalysts as references were investigated. Compressive strength of the foam S2 was 30 times great…

Sulphate removal over barium-modified blast-furnace-slag geopolymer

Blast-furnace slag and metakaolin were geopolymerised, modified with barium or treated with a combination of these methods in order to obtain an efficient SO4(2-) sorbent for mine water treatment. Of prepared materials, barium-modified blast-furnace slag geopolymer (Ba-BFS-GP) exhibited the highest SO4(2-) maximum sorption capacity (up to 119mgg(-1)) and it compared also favourably to materials reported in the literature. Therefore, Ba-BFS-GP was selected for further studies and the factors affecting to the sorption efficiency were assessed. Several isotherms were applied to describe the experimental results of Ba-BFS-GP and the Sips model showed the best fit. Kinetic studies showed that th…

How to tackle the stringent sulfate removal requirements in mine water treatment-A review of potential methods.

Abstract Sulfate (SO₄²⁻) is a ubiquitous anion in natural waters. It is not considered toxic, but it may be detrimental to freshwater species at elevated concentrations. Mining activities are one significant source of anthropogenic sulfate into natural waters, mainly due to the exposure of sulfide mineral ores to weathering. There are several strategies for mitigating sulfate release, starting from preventing sulfate formation in the first place and ending at several end-of-pipe treatment options. Currently, the most widely used sulfate-removal process is precipitation as gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O). However, the lowest reachable concentration is theoretically 1500 mg L⁻¹ SO₄²⁻ due to gypsum’s solu…

Precipitation of potassium as hazenite from washing water of spent alkaline batteries

Hazenite (KNaMg2(PO4)2 × 14 H2O), a new type of struvite mineral, was precipitated from the potassium-rich washing water of spent alkaline battery black mass. Hazenite can be used as a fertilizer, which would be an additional benefit derived from the sustainable recovery of battery materials. Precipitation experiments were performed using different pH values (9.5–12), Mg:K:PO4 ratios ((1.0–1.5):1:(1.0–1.5)) and temperatures (10–40 °C). Based on the results, hazenite precipitated in a wide pH range under alkaline conditions. The precipitation kinetics were fast, and the purity of the hazenite was high. Overall, hazenite can be precipitated at room temperature without the addition of excess c…

Biomass gasification to heat, electricity and biofuels : HighBio project publication

Task-specific ionic liquid for the depolymerisation of starch-based industrial waste into high reducing sugars

Development of a simple route for the catalytic conversion of starch-based industrial waste (potato peels) and potato starch into reducing sugars was investigated in two ionic liquids for comparison – 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [AMIM]Cl and 1-(4-sulfobutyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride [SBMIM]Cl. Over a two hour period, a 20 wt% solution containing up to 43% and 98% of reducing sugars at low temperature in aqueous [SBMIM]Cl was achieved for the starch-based waste and the potato starch, respectively. In addition, the use of microwave and low frequency ultrasound to perform the depolymerisation of the raw starch-based material was explored and compared with conventional heating proc…

Sustainable Supercapacitors Based on Polypyrrole-Doped Activated Biochar from Wood Waste Electrodes

The synthesis of high-performance carbon-based materials from biomass residues for electrodes has been considered a challenge to achieve in supercapacitor-based production. In this work, activated biochar has been prepared as the active electrode material for supercapacitors (SCs), and an effective method has been explored to boost its capacitive performance by employing polypyrrole (PPy) as a biochar dopant. The results for physicochemical characterization data have demonstrated that PPy doping affects the biochar morphology, specific surface area, pore structure, and incorporation of surface functionalities on modified biochar. Biochar-PPy exhibited a surface area of 87 m2 g−1, while pris…

Activated Carbon Production from Peat Using ZnCl2 : Characterization and Applications

The process for producing activated carbon from peat was optimized. The peat was impregnated with different ratios of ZnCl2, and the impregnated biomass was activated at different temperatures. The specific surface area, pore size distribution, total carbon content, and yield of the activated carbon were investigated. The best results for the specific surface area and mesoporosity of the activated peat were obtained by using a high impregnation ratio (2) and high activation temperature (1073 K). Highly porous activated carbon was produced that had a specific surface area of approximately 1000 m2/g and total pore volume that was higher than 0.5 cm3/g for most samples. The activated carbon ha…

Carbons from second generation biomass as sustainable supports for catalytic systems

Abstract In this study activated carbons were produced from the wood of three different wood species (pine, birch, spruce). The resulting activated carbons were characterized in bulk for ash content, carbon content (elemental analyses), specific surface area, and pore size distribution, and at the surface by measuring the autogenerated pH and studying their structure by XPS. All the samples presented high surface areas and appeared to be mesoporous materials (mesopores >80%). The carbons were then used as support for AuPt nanoparticles and tested in the liquid phase oxidation of glycerol (GLY) and in the hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA), two important chemicals from cellulose-based biom…

Biomassan kaasutus sähköksi, lämmöksi ja biopolttoaineiksi : HighBio-projektijulkaisu

Activated carbon from hydrolysis lignin: Effect of activation method on carbon properties

This study presents the effects of different activation methods to produce activated carbon from the hydrolysis lignin. Pretreatment of the feedstock with common mineral acids (HCL, HNO3, and H3PO4), different steam rates for physical activation, and different chemical activating agents (ZnCl2, Na2CO3, and KOH) for chemical activation were investigated. The pretreated biomass was carbonized and activated in one-stage process and the surface characteristics, such as total pore volume, pore size distribution and specific surface area, were investigated. The results showed that the activated carbon surface properties were not greatly affected by acid pretreatment. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) …

Direct acid-catalysed mechanical depolymerisation of fibre sludge to reducing sugars using planetary milling

Abstract This study performed a direct solvent-free acid-catalysed mechanical depolymerisation of fibre sludge to reducing sugars which involves one step of acid milling in a planetary mill. The common reported ‘solvent-free’ mechanocatalytic depolymerisation of lignocellulose which includes 1) acid impregnation, 2) vacuum evaporation and 3) mechanocatalytic depolymerisation was also performed as a reference. The major converted monosaccharides were determined by capillary electrophoresis and the results of total reducing sugar (TRS) yields were carried out based on the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method. The results showed that the TRS conversion of direct acid-catalysed mechanical dep…

Acid-catalyzed mechanocatalytic pretreatment to improve sugar release from birch sawdust : Structural and chemical aspects

This study examined acid-catalyzed mechanocatalytic pretreatment of birch sawdust without a separate impregnation step. Catalyst amount and pretreatment time were the key variables. Pretreated material was mixed with water for hydrolysis (100 °C, 60 min). The efficient release of total reducing sugars from birch sawdust is significant to the path towards biofuels and biochemicals. Based on the results, the structure and surface of birch sawdust changed as a function of mechanocatalytic pretreatment. Milling time caused significant transformations in birch structure and also increased the yields of reducing sugars. The highest yield of total reducing sugar from pretreated sawdust was 23.0% a…

Catalytic conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural over biomass-based activated carbon catalyst

Selective and efficient dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has been widely explored research problem recently, especially from the perspective of more sustainable heterogeneous catalysts. In this study, activated carbon was first produced from a lignocellulosic waste material, birch sawdust. Novel heterogeneous catalysts were then prepared from activated carbon by adding Lewis or Brønsted acid sites on the carbon surface. Prepared catalysts were used to convert glucose to HMF in biphasic water:THF system at 160 °C. The highest HMF yield and selectivity, 51% and 78%, respectively, were obtained in 8 h with a catalytic mixture containing both Lewis and Brønsted acid sites…

Solid acid-catalyzed depolymerization of barley straw driven by ball milling

This study describes a time and energy saving, solvent-free procedure for the conversion of lignocellulosic barley straw into reducing sugars by mechanocatalytical pretreatment. The catalytic conversion efficiency of several solid acids was tested which revealed oxalic acid dihydrate as a potential catalyst with high conversion rate. Samples were mechanically treated by ball milling and subsequently hydrolyzed at different temperatures. The parameters of the mechanical treatment were optimized in order to obtain sufficient amount of total reducing sugar (TRS) which was determined following the DNS assay. Additionally, capillary electrophoresis (CE) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometr…

Biomass-based composite catalysts for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of bisphenol A : preparation and characterization studies

Abstract The wet granulation process was used to prepare new, efficient, and cost-effective granular biomass-based composite catalysts for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of bisphenol A (BPA). The most stable composite granules was prepared by mixing biomass-based carbon residue (CR) with metakaolin (MK) combined with calcium oxide (CaO) or cement and a solvent (NaOH or KOH). For all the prepared composite granules, the optimized binding agents to carbon ratio was 0.3, the solvent to carbon ratio 1.2, and the agitation rate 1200 rpm. The specific surface area of the prepared catalysts was 152–205 m2/g. The composite granular catalyst (CR + MK + CaO + NaOH) had the most durable and s…

Preparation and Characterization of Pulp and Paper Mill Sludge-Activated Biochars Using Alkaline Activation : A Box–Behnken Design Approach

This study utilized pulp and paper mill sludge as a carbon source to produce activated biochar adsorbents. The response surface methodology (RSM) application for predicting and optimizing the activated biochar preparation conditions was investigated. Biochars were prepared based on a Box–Behnken design (BBD) approach with three independent factors (i.e., pyrolysis temperature, holding time, and KOH:biomass ratio), and the responses evaluated were specific surface area (SSA), micropore area (Smicro), and mesopore area (Smeso). According to the RSM and BBD analysis, a pyrolysis temperature of 800 °C for 3 h of holding and an impregnation ratio of 1:1 (biomass:KOH) are the optimum conditions f…

Effect of doping and crystallite size on the electrochemical performance of Li4Ti5O12

Defect spinel phase lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12) has been suggested as a promising negative electrode material for next generation lithium ion batteries. Flame spray pyrolysis has been shown to be a viable fast, one-step process for synthesis of nanoparticulate Li4Ti5O12. However, due to the rapid quenching that is integral to the process the crystallite size remain very small and non-uniform. To overcome this shortcoming a vertical flow tube furnace was used to increase the high-temperature residence time. This resulted in an increase in the crystallite size and crystallinity of the product. As a result of this increase the electrochemical performance of the Li4Ti5O12 was markedly improved…

Efficiency of acetic acid and formic acid as a catalyst in catalytical and mechanocatalytical pretreatment of barley straw

Abstract In this study, the potential of organic acids (formic acid, acetic acid) in a catalytical and mechanocatalytic conversion of lignocellulosic barley straw to valuable sugars is explored using sulfuric acid as a reference. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis has been carried out with acid-impregnated samples as well as unmodified barley straw. In the mechanocatalytical approach, pretreatment consists of impregnation with the acid catalyst and mechanical treatment by ball milling following chemical hydrolysis. Straw samples and residues were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) whereas hydrolysate analysis was based on total reducing sugar (TRS) determination following th…

Acid-catalyzed mechanocatalytic pretreatment to improve sugar release from birch sawdust: Structural and chemical aspects

Abstract This study examined acid-catalyzed mechanocatalytic pretreatment of birch sawdust without a separate impregnation step. Catalyst amount and pretreatment time were the key variables. Pretreated material was mixed with water for hydrolysis (100 °C, 60 min). The efficient release of total reducing sugars from birch sawdust is significant to the path towards biofuels and biochemicals. Based on the results, the structure and surface of birch sawdust changed as a function of mechanocatalytic pretreatment. Milling time caused significant transformations in birch structure and also increased the yields of reducing sugars. The highest yield of total reducing sugar from pretreated sawdust wa…

The use of industrial waste materials for the simultaneous removal of ammonium nitrogen and phosphate from the anaerobic digestion reject water

The European Union’s circular economy strategy aims to increase the recycling and re-use of products and waste materials. According to the strategy, the use of industry waste materials and side flows is required to be more effective. In this research, a chemical precipitation method to simultaneously remove ammonium and phosphate from the reject water of anaerobic digestion plant using calcined paper mill sludge and fly ash as a precipitant, was tested. Paper mill sludge is a waste material formed in the paper-making process, and fly ash is another waste material formed in the power plant. Objective of this research was to test whether these industrial waste streams could be used as low cos…

Correlation of aluminum doping and lithiation temperature with electrochemical performance of LiNi1-xAlxO2 cathode material

Abstract This article presents a process for producing LiNi1-xAlxO2 (0 <  ×  < 0.05) cathode material with high capacity and enhanced cycle properties of 145 mAh/g after 600 cycles. The LiNi1-xAlxO2 (0 <  ×  < 0.05) cathode material is prepared by mixing coprecipitated Ni(OH)2 with LiOH and Al(OH)3, followed by lithiation at temperature range of 650–710 °C, after which any residual lithium from lithiation is washed from the particle surfaces. Electrochemical performance was studied within full-cell and half-cell application; in addition, different material characterization methods were carried out to explain structure changes when certain amount of aluminum is introduced in the …

Catalytic effect of transition metals (copper, iron, and nickel) on the foaming and properties of sugar-based carbon foams

Abstract Recently, bio-based carbon foams have gained much interest in many chemical industry fields because of their unique structure and properties. This study provides new information on the effects of catalytic metals (iron, nickel, and copper) on the foaming process. Specifically, the effects of these catalysts on the density, foam growth, and cell size and then further on the pore size distribution and specific surface areas after the physical activation are considered. Furthermore, some of the activated sugar foams were used in adsorption tests using methylene blue as adsorbent. Results showed that the highest effect on foam density was obtained using the iron catalyst in the foaming…

The Use of Ca- and Mg-Rich Fly Ash as a Chemical Precipitant in the Simultaneous Removal of Nitrogen and Phosphorus - Recycling and Reuse

The European Union’s circular economy strategy aims to increase the recycling and re-use of products and waste materials. According to the strategy, the use of industry waste material should be more effective. A chemical precipitation method to simultaneously remove phosphorus and nitrogen from synthetic (NH4)2HPO4 solution and the liquid phase of anaerobic digestate using fly ash as a precipitant was tested. Fly ash is a waste material formed in the power plant process. It mainly contains calcium oxide (CaO) and magnesium oxide (MgO). Saturated precipitant solution was prepared from fly ash, which was added in small proportions to (NH4)2HPO4 solution during the experiment. Fly ash’s effect…

Leaching characteristics of Sc-enriched, Fe-depleted acidic slags

Scandium is currently classified as a critical raw material for the European Union, and several research projects focus on the search for new sources to supply to its expected increasing demand. The Kiviniemi mafic intrusion in Finland is a potential primary source for Sc; at Kiviniemi, Sc occurs mainly within the lattices of ferrous silicates, clinopyroxene and amphibole. Some of the main challenges in leaching of Kiviniemi-type feed material are related to either the complexity of Fe and Ti separation from Sc-containing solutions or a possible gelation problem when leaching a material with a high SiO2 content. According to preliminary beneficiation tests, direct acid leaching of the Kivin…

Brønsted and Lewis acid catalyzed conversion of pulp industry waste biomass to levulinic acid

Enormous amounts of fiber sludge are generated annually by the pulp industry as a by-product. As a cellulose-rich material, its current usage, mainly as fuel, is inefficient from a material efficiency point of view. This work studied the utilization of fiber sludge from a Finnish and a Swedish pulp mill as a potential feedstock to produce levulinic acid, a valuable platform chemical. The conversion experiments of fiber sludge to levulinic acid were performed in a microwave reactor with a mixture of H2SO4 and Lewis acid as the catalyst. The reaction conditions, which included reaction time and temperature as well as the H2SO4 and Lewis acid concentrations, were studied in detail. The highest…

Sulphate removal over barium-modified blast-furnace-slag geopolymer

Blast-furnace slag and metakaolin were geopolymerised, modified with barium or treated with a combination of these methods in order to obtain an efficient SO42− sorbent for mine water treatment. Of prepared materials, barium-modified blast-furnace slag geopolymer (Ba-BFS-GP) exhibited the highest SO42− maximum sorption capacity (up to 119 mg g−1) and it compared also favourably to materials reported in the literature. Therefore, Ba-BFS-GP was selected for further studies and the factors affecting to the sorption efficiency were assessed. Several isotherms were applied to describe the experimental results of Ba-BFS-GP and the Sips model showed the best fit. Kinetic studies showed that the so…

Utilization of waste sodium sulfate from battery chemical production in neutral electrolytic pickling

Abstract Several industrial activities produce metal sulfates, which are controlled by strict limitations for wastewater concentrations of sulfate. One emerging area where these activities occur is the production of lithium-ion battery chemicals in which sodium sulfates are formed because of cathode precursor co-precipitation. Several solutions for sulfate removal exist, but one option is to reuse the sulfate side stream in other processes to increase circular economy and atom efficiency. In this paper, the reuse of sodium sulfate solution in a steel industry pickling solution is considered. Neutral electrolytic pickling experiments were carried out to compare the pickling behavior of the e…

From Norway Spruce Bark to Carbon Foams : Characterization, and Applications

Fresh bark from spruce Picea abies was milled and extracted with hot water. The extracts were purified in a number of steps in order to get tannin-extracts pure enough to prepare tannin-based carbon foams. The chemical composition of the extracts were analyzed. The foams were maturated and thermally treated to obtain desired properties, such as specific surface area, porosity, and compressive strength. It was possible to produce carbon foams even if they contained carbohydrate impurities. Differences in the properties of the carbon foams such as compressive strength, specific surface areas, and pore size distributions might be related to the compositions of the extracts. The foams were fina…

Biomass to energy and chemicals : HighBio2 project publication

Effects of Lithium Source and Content on the Properties of Li-Rich Layered Oxide Cathode Materials

Lithium-rich layered oxide (LLO) are considered high-capacity cathode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. In this study, LLO cathode materials were synthesized via the hydroxide coprecipitation method followed by a two-step lithiation process using different lithium contents and lithium sources. The effects of lithium content and lithium source on structure and electrochemical performance were investigated. This study demonstrated the clear impact of Li/TM ratio on electrochemical performance. Lower Li/TM ratio reduced the irreversible capacity loss in the first cycle and provided better cycling stability among all samples. The best results exhibited an initial discharge ca…

Removal of ammonium from municipal wastewater with powdered and granulated metakaolin geopolymer

Abstract Ammonium (NH₄⁺) removal from municipal wastewater poses challenges with the commonly used biological processes. Especially at low wastewater temperatures, the process is frequently ineffective and difficult to control. One alternative is to use ion-exchange. In the present study, a novel NH4+ ion-exchanger, metakaolin geopolymer (MK-GP), was prepared, characterised, and tested. Batch experiments with powdered MK-GP indicated that the maximum exchange capacities were 31.79, 28.77, and 17.75 mg/g in synthetic, screened, and pre-sedimented municipal wastewater, respectively, according to the Sips isotherm (R² ≥ 0.91). Kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order rate equation in all case…

H2-TPR, XPS and TEM Study of the Reduction of Ru and Re promoted Co/γ-Al2O3, Co/TiO2 and Co/SiC Catalysts

<p class="1Body">Effects of Ru and Re promoters on Co-CoO<sub>x </sub>catalysts supported on γ-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, TiO<sub>2</sub> and SiC were investigated to improve the understanding of the role of promoters of the active phase of Co-CoO<sub>x</sub>-Ru and Co-CoO<sub>x</sub>-Re. The influence of promoter addition on the composition and activity of the catalysts was characterized by several methods, such as H<sub>2</sub>-TPR, XPS, chemisorption and TEM. Furthermore, the role of support and metal-support interaction was especially studied and different support materials were compared.</p&g…

Utilisation of barium-modified analcime in sulphate removal: Isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics studies

Abstract Analcime and commercial zeolite were employed as a precursor for preparing sorbent material for SO42− removal over barium modification. Three sorbents were prepared: barium-modified analcime (ANA-Na-Ba), barium-modified acid-washed analcime (ANA-Ac-Na-Ba) and barium-modified zeolite (ZSM5-Na-Ba). Of the prepared materials, ANA-Ac-Na-Ba was the most efficient sorbent material for SO42− removal, with a maximum sorption uptake of 13.7 mg g−1 at room temperature. Batch sorption experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of initial pH, initial SO42− concentration, sorbent dosage, temperature and contact time of sorption. Several isotherms were applied to describe the experimental…

Comparison of the Properties of Activated Carbons Produced in One-Stage and Two-Stage Processes

Activated carbons (ACs) can be produced from biomass in a thermal process either in a direct carbonization-activation process or by first carbonizing the biomass and later activating the bio-chars into activated carbons. The properties of the ACs are dependent on the type of process used for production. In this study, the properties of activated carbons produced in one-stage and two-stage processes are considered. Activated carbons were produced by physical activation of two types of starting materials: bio chars produced from spruce and birch chips in a commercial carbonization plant and from the corresponding raw chips. The activated carbons produced were characterized regarding specific …

Comparison of adsorption equilibrium models and error functions for the study of sulfate removal by calcium hydroxyapatite microfibrillated cellulose composite.

In the present study, the adsorption of sulfates of sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) by calcium hydroxyapatite-modified microfibrillated cellulose was studied in the aqueous solution. The adsorbent was characterized using elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscope and elemental analysis in order to gain the information on its structure and physico-chemical properties. The adsorption studies were conducted in batch mode. The effects of solution pH, contact time, the initial concentration of sulfate and the effect of competing anions were studied on the performance of synthesized adsorbent for sulfate removal. Adsorption kinetics indica…

Rapid one-step solvent-free acid-catalyzed mechanical depolymerization of pine sawdust to high-yield water-soluble sugars

Abstract One-step absolute solvent-free acid-catalyzed mechanical depolymerization of pine sawdust (PSD) and commercially available α-cellulose to water-soluble sugars was carried out using ball milling. For comparison purposes, the commonly reported “solvent-free” mechanocatalytic depolymerization of lignocellulose method, which normally involves three steps (acid impregnation in solvent, vacuum drying, and mechanical depolymerization of lignocellulose), was performed. The 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method was used to measure the total reducing sugar (TRS) of the obtained sugar solution, and major monosaccharides in the solution were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis (CE). More th…

Efficiency of acetic acid and formic acid as a catalyst in catalytical and mechanocatalytical pretreatment of barley straw

In this study, the potential of organic acids (formic acid, acetic acid) in a catalytical and mechanocatalytic conversion of lignocellulosic barley straw to valuable sugars is explored using sulfuric acid as a reference. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis has been carried out with acid-impregnated samples as well as unmodified barley straw. In the mechanocatalytical approach, pretreatment consists of impregnation with the acid catalyst and mechanical treatment by ball milling following chemical hydrolysis. Straw samples and residues were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) whereas hydrolysate analysis was based on total reducing sugar (TRS) determination following the DNS met…

Sulphate Removal from Water by Carbon Residue from Biomass Gasification: Effect of Chemical Modification Methods on Sulphate Removal Efficiency

Sulphate removal from mine water is a problem because traditional chemical precipitation does not remove all sulphates. In addition, it creates lime sediment as a secondary waste. Therefore, an inexpensive and environmental-friendly sulphate removal method is needed in addition to precipitation. In this study, carbon residues from a wood gasification process were repurposed as precursors to a suitable sorbent for SO42- ion removal. The raw material was modified using ZnCl2, BaCl2, CaCl2, FeCl3, or FeCl2. Carbon residues modified with FeCl3 were selected for further consideration because the removal efficiency toward sulphate was the highest. Batch sorption experiments were performed to eval…

Dissolution and hydrolysis of fibre sludge using hydroxyalkylimidazolium hydrogensulphate ionic liquids

The dissolution and hydrolysis of wet fibre sludge in ionic liquids (ILs) with different reaction conditions are performed in this study. Novel types of hydroxyalkylimidazolium hydrogensulphate ILs, [glymim]HSO4, [hemim]HSO4 and [hpmim]HSO4, are especially designed and aimed to combine the dissolution and hydrolysis of wet fibre sludge in a one-step pretreatment. The results were obtained based on the analysis of total reducing sugars (TRS) with the DNS method. The dissolution and hydrolysis of fresh wild horse chestnut fruit (Aesculus hippocastanum) with the same ILs were also carried out as a comparison reference. Since fibre sludge is cellulose based and horse chestnut fruit is starch ba…

New processes of the circular economy in water and wastewater treatment : Waterpro project publication

This report presents results of research done in the WaterPro project New processes of the circular economy in water and wastewater treatment. In this project, water treatment solutions based on material streams produced as sidestreams or wastestreams of industrial processes or mining were researched and developed. These materials were modified for use as adsorbents or precipitation chemicals for water treatment solutions aiming to remove nutrients or metals. Materials such as paper mill sludge, slag, fly ash, jarosite, analcime, and brucite were used. Adsorption, chemical precipitation, and electrochemical precipitation were applied as water purification methods. Experiments were performed…

Biomass-based composite catalysts for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of bisphenol A:preparation and characterization studies

The wet granulation process was used to prepare new, efficient, and cost-effective granular biomass-based composite catalysts for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of bisphenol A (BPA). The most stable composite granules was prepared by mixing biomass-based carbon residue (CR) with metakaolin (MK) combined with calcium oxide (CaO) or cement and a solvent (NaOH or KOH). For all the prepared composite granules, the optimized binding agents to carbon ratio was 0.3, the solvent to carbon ratio 1.2, and the agitation rate 1200 rpm. The specific surface area of the prepared catalysts was 152–205 m2/g. The composite granular catalyst (CR + MK + CaO + NaOH) had the most durable and stable str…

Efficient removal of bisphenol A from wastewaters: Catalytic wet air oxidation with Pt catalysts supported on Ce and Ce–Ti mixed oxides

Catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of an aqueous solution of bisphenol A (BPA) was investigated at 160 ℃ and 2.0 MPa of air in a batch reactor. Activity of supported platinum catalysts (2.5 wt%), prepared by wet impregnation, was compared with pure cerium and cerium–titanium oxide catalysts. Supported platinum catalysts showed higher activities in the removal of BPA than pure CeO2, Ce0.8Ti0.2O2 and Ce0.2Ti0.8O2. The oxidation reaction was followed the pseudo-first order rate law and the highest BPA removal, 97% and 95%, was achieved with Pt/CeO2 and Pt/Ce0.8Ti0.2O2 catalysts respectively. The CWAO of BPA aqueous solution was not a surface area specific reaction but the more important factor…

Pretreatment and fractionation of lignocellulosic barley straw by mechanocatalysis

Abstract This study focuses on the mechanocatalytical process combining dilute acid pretreatment and mechanical processing driven by ball milling. Milled and hydrolyzed barley straw samples are subject to reducing sugar analysis by DNS assay and capillary electrophoresis. Optimization of the saccharification conditions was carried out with two different sulfuric acid concentrations, 0.5 mol kg −1 and 1.0 mol kg −1 , and compared. A significant yield of total reducing sugar (53.4%) was obtained from barley straw impregnated with sulfuric acid (1.0 mol kg −1 ) after milling for only 20 min. Glucose and xylose concentrations accounted for 3.5% and 11.3%, respectively. Strikingly, the present s…

Sustainable Biomass-Derived Carbon Electrodes for Potassium and Aluminum Batteries: Conceptualizing the Key Parameters for Improved Performance

The development of sustainable, safe, low-cost, high energy and density power-density energy storage devices is most needed to electrify our modern needs to reach a carbon-neutral society by ~2050. Batteries are the backbones of future sustainable energy sources for both stationary off-grid and mobile plug-in electric vehicle applications. Biomass-derived carbon materials are extensively researched as efficient and sustainable electrode/anode candidates for lithium/sodium-ion chemistries due to their well-developed tailored textures (closed pores and defects) and large microcrystalline interlayer spacing and therefore opens-up their potential applications in sustainable potassium and alumin…

Precipitation and Calcination of High-Capacity LiNiO2 Cathode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

This article presents the electrochemical results that can be achieved for pure LiNiO2 cathode material prepared with a simple, low-cost, and efficient process. The results clarify the roles of the process parameters, precipitation temperature, and lithiation temperature in the performance of high-quality LiNiO2 cathode material. Ni(OH)2 with a spherical morphology was precipitated at different temperatures and mixed with LiOH to synthesize the LiNiO2 cathode material. The LiNiO2 calcination temperature was optimized to achieve a high initial discharge capacity of 231.7 mAh/g (0.1 C/2.6 V) with a first cycle efficiency of 91.3% and retaining a capacity of 135 mAh/g after 400 cycles. These a…

Effect of doping and crystallite size on the electrochemical performance of Li4Ti5O12

Abstract Defect spinel phase lithium titanate (Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 ) has been suggested as a promising negative electrode material for next generation lithium ion batteries. Flame spray pyrolysis has been shown to be a viable fast, one-step process for synthesis of nanoparticulate Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 . However, due to the rapid quenching that is integral to the process the crystallite size remain very small and non-uniform. To overcome this shortcoming a vertical flow tube furnace was used to increase the high-temperature residence time. This resulted in an increase in the crystallite size and crystallinity of the product. As a result of this increase the electrochemical performance of the Li 4 Ti 5 …

Removal of total organic carbon from peat solution by hybrid method—Electrocoagulation combined with adsorption

Abstract Humic substances end up in water from the drainage basin causing eutrophication and the spread of algae. These natural organic substances have an influence on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the water system. Adsorption and electrocoagulation (EC) are commonly used purification methods in the water and wastewater treatment. Both methods are used by themselves for removing a wide range of impurities. In this research, the novelty was to study the effect of combined activated carbon (AC) adsorption and electrocoagulation method on the removal of organic substances as total organic carbon (TOC) from the peat solution. With the hybrid method, TOC content was efficie…

Effective saccharification of lignocellulosic barley straw by mechanocatalytical pretreatment using potassium pyrosulfate as a catalyst

The catalytic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass is attractive due to the feasible generation of valuable products such as reducing sugars which constitute the basic substrates for chemical and transportation fuel production, as well as the production of renewable hydrogen. This study shows the efficient conversion of lignocellulose, especially hemicellulose, into reducing sugars such as xylose and galactose, by mechanocatalysis using potassium pyrosulfate, K2S2O7, as an effective salt catalyst. Ball milling was performed, introducing a mechanical force which, combined with chemical pretreatment, leads to reducing sugar yields (40%) almost as high as when commonly used sulfuric acid was …

Conversion of Xylose to Furfural over Lignin-Based Activated Carbon-Supported Iron Catalysts

In this study, conversion of xylose to furfural was studied using lignin-based activated carbon-supported iron catalysts. First, three activated carbon supports were prepared from hydrolysis lignin with different activation methods. The supports were modified with different metal precursors and metal concentrations into five iron catalysts. The prepared catalysts were studied in furfural production from xylose using different reaction temperatures and times. The best results were achieved with a 4 wt% iron-containing catalyst, 5Fe-ACs, which produced a 57% furfural yield, 92% xylose conversion and 65% reaction selectivity at 170 &deg

Electrocoagulation treatment of peat bog drainage water containing humic substances

Abstract Electrocoagulation (EC) treatment of 100 mg/L synthetic wastewater (SWW) containing humic acids was optimized (achieving 90% CODMn and 80% DOC removal efficiencies), after which real peat bog drainage waters (PBDWs) from three northern Finnish peat bogs were also treated. High pollutant removal efficiencies were achieved: Ptot, TS, and color could be removed completely, while Ntot, CODMn, and DOC/TOC removal efficiencies were in the range of 33–41%, 75–90%, and 62–75%, respectively. Al and Fe performed similarly as the anode material. Large scale experiments (1 m3) using cold (T = 10–11 °C) PBDWs were also conducted successfully, with optimal treatment times of 60–120 min (applying…

Removal of ammonium ions from aqueous solutions using alkali-activated analcime as sorbent

Five alkali-activated analcime (ANA) sorbents (ANA-MK 1, ANA 2, ANA 3, ANA-MK 4, and ANA-MK 5) were developed for ammonium (NH4+) ion removal. Acid treatment and calcination were used as pre-treatments for analcime, and metakaolin (MK) was used as a blending agent in three sorbents. Sorption experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of sorbent dosage (1–20 g L−1), initial NH4+ ion concentration (5–1000 g L−1), and contact time (1 min–24 h). ANA-MK 1, ANA 2, and ANA-MK 4 were the most efficient sorbents for NH4+ ion removal, with a maximum experimental sorption uptake of 29.79, 26.00, and 22.24 mg g−1, respectively. ANA 3 and ANA-MK 5 demonstrated…

Zinc Adsorption by Activated Carbon Prepared from Lignocellulosic Waste Biomass

Sawdust was used as a precursor for the production of biomass-based activated carbon. Carbonization and activation are single-stage processes, and steam was used as a physical activation agent at 800 &deg

Alkali-Activated Adsorbents from Slags: Column Adsorption and Regeneration Study for Nickel(II) Removal

Alkali-activated adsorbents were synthesized by mixing three different slags from the steel industry: blast furnace slag (BFS), ladle slag (LS), and Lintz–Donawitz converter slag (LD). These powdered slag-based geopolymers (GP) were used to remove nickel(II) from aqueous solutions in fixed-bed column studies. The experiments were conducted in pH 6 using a phosphate buffer with initial nickel(II) concentration of 50 mg/L. Samples were taken at time intervals of between 5 and 90 min. Three adsorption–desorption cycles were implemented with a flow rate of 5 mL/min. The geopolymers were characterized by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Field Emissi…

Metakaolin geopolymer characterization and application for ammonium removal from model solutions and landfill leachate

Abstract Geopolymers are aluminosilicate compounds that are amorphous analogues of zeolites, and thus possess similar cation-exchange properties. Geopolymers have been successfully applied to remove toxic metals and organic dyes from aqueous solutions. In this study, geopolymer was synthesized from metakaolin and applied to remove ammonium (NH 4 + ) from model solutions and landfill leachate. Geopolymerization increased the ammonium removal capacity, surface area and average pore width and changed the chemical structure of metakaolin. The maximum NH 4 + removal capacity of the geopolymer was 21.07 mg g − 1 which was 46% higher than the capacity of the reference clinoptilolite–heulandite zeo…

Physical activation and characterization of tannin-based foams enforced with boric acid and zinc chloride

In this study, tannin-furanic-based foams enforced with H3BO3 and ZnCl2 are investigated, as well as their properties such as mechanical strength, specific surface area, and pore size distribution. From an industrial point of view, the aforementioned properties of these foams play a key role when used as catalyst, adsorbent, or gas storing materials. Therefore, this study aims to prove that such enforced tannin-furanic foams are promising materials for these types of applications. According to the results, materials that are up to five times stronger can be achieved by carbonizing the foams in comparison to maturing them. With physical activation, it was possible to obtain a specific surfac…

Catalytic conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural over biomass-based activated carbon catalyst

Abstract Selective and efficient dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has been widely explored research problem recently, especially from the perspective of more sustainable heterogeneous catalysts. In this study, activated carbon was first produced from a lignocellulosic waste material, birch sawdust. Novel heterogeneous catalysts were then prepared from activated carbon by adding Lewis or Bronsted acid sites on the carbon surface. Prepared catalysts were used to convert glucose to HMF in biphasic water:THF system at 160 °C. The highest HMF yield and selectivity, 51% and 78%, respectively, were obtained in 8 h with a catalytic mixture containing both Lewis and Bronsted a…

Effect of Reaction Conditions on the Coprecipitation of Ni(OH)2 for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Electrochemical performance of cathode active materials (CAMs) is dependent on the properties of coprecipitated precursors (pCAMs). This is a sensitive process affected by several reaction parameters such as temperature, pH, concentration of reactants, agitation rate, and residence time. In this paper, the effect of parameters influencing the particle size growth and the physical properties, such as particle morphology and tapped density, was studied in the coprecipitation of Ni(OH)2. Formation of a homogeneous population with narrow particle size distribution was observed, followed by a more heterogeneous population of dense particles. Ammonia concentration and residence time had significa…