Composition, biomass paper

There have been some indications that ion-exchange plays an important role in metal sorption by algal biomass. Although numerous papers on the metal-microorganism interactions are available in the literature, still large uncertainties exist. Biosorbents are complex and variable materials. The composition of cell wall, to which metal ions are bound, depends not only on biosorbent species, but also on environmental conditions of its growth. 

Varmuza, K., Liebmann, B., Friedl, A. University of Plovdiv Paisii Hilendarski —Bulgaria, Scientific Papers—Chemistry 35[5], 2007, 5-16. Evaluation of the heating value of biomass fuel from elemental composition and infrared data. 

The traditional pulp/paper composition metrics (e.g. specific lignin and cellulose contents) are based on chemical reaction (depolymerization) of the native biomass into fractions. Each separated fiaction is then independently pyrolysed, and the pyrolysis yields are fit to models, and the composite used to predict other woody species ... 

Our methods and experiments (UW) previously addressed composition effects in pyrolysis of RDF (Lai, et al 1993) and wood (Krieger-Brockett, et al 1997). In those papers and this one, even minor components are shown to alter pyrolysis slate when appropriate statistical methods are used. This paper briefly summarizes our work on pyrolysis product slates resulting from large- or macro-particle devolatilization (in which heat transfer is a slow process) of native biomass compositions in under-utilized species. The method has general applicability and owing to the limited scope of this article, the reader is referred to Somasundaram (1990), Lai (1991) and Rodriguez (1996) for details and extensive literature reviews with only a few relevant articles mentioned here,... 

We can only speculate on the true size of the total timber resource of the United States. To date, all of the inventories and surveys on a national scale have been based on volume measurements of the merchantable parts of trees. Tables I, II, and III reflect this. Merchantable volume is a vague term, particularly since merchantability limits are rapidly changing. The concept of whole-tree utilization has reinforced this confusion. With the development of whole-tree harvesting methods, previously non-merchantable parts of the tree are chipped and used for pulp and paper, composite products, and fuel. These new concepts of utilization make the whole tree the basic unit of measurement. Since accurate volume determination is difficult on irregular shaped objects, weight of biomass is the new standard of measure for all tree components. 

The composition and concentration of the inhibitors are dependent on the biomass substrate, pre-treatment method and pre-treatment condition. Tomas-Pejo et al. reported that in a steam explosion pre-treated wheat straw hydrolysate, furfural, HMF, acetic acid, formic acid and ferulic acid were detected with concentrations of 1.4, 0.1, 5.1, 1.3 and <0.1 g L , respectively. Figure 6.4 summarizes the common inhibitor concentrations based on the data reported in two recent review papers. The furfural concentration was found to be in the range of 0.15 to 2.2 g L , while the HMF was generally lower than 1 g except for spruce-derived hydrolysates. Acetic acid and formic acid concentrations were around 1.6 to 5.5 g and 0.7 to 3.1 g L, respectively. Phenolics had a wide spread from 0.1 to 4.5 g L , depending on the pre-treatment and detection methods. Only few publications reported levulinic acid inhibitor, which is mainly from woody biomass. 

Alen R. Structure and chemical composition of biomass feedstocks. In Alen R, editor. Biorefining forest resources. Helsinki (Finland) Paper Engineers Association/Paperi ja Puu 2011.p. 17—54. 

Therefore, bioplastics may prove to be the most rapidly growing new materials application for biomass. Industrial starches, fatty acids, and vegetable oils can serve as raw materials for bioplastics, including polymer composite materials. Waste paper and crop and forest wastes and virgin materials are being used as the basis of new composite materials and new fabrics, including Tencel, the first new textile fiber to be introduced in 30 years. 

Kim, S., Kim, H.J., and Park, J.C. (2009) Application of recycled paper sludge and biomass materials in manufacture of green composite pallet. Resour. Conserv. Recycl., 53, 674-679. 

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