Longlong Ma

Single cell oil production from low-cost substrates: The possibility and potential of its industrialization

Currently, single cell oils (SCO) attract much attention because of their bi-function as a supplier of functional oils and feedstock for biodiesel production. However, high fermentation costs prevent their further application, and the possibility and potential of their industrialization is suspected. Therefore, various low-cost, hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates were utilized for SCO production. Of these substrates, lignocellulosic biomass, which is the most available and renewable source in nature, might be an ideal raw material for SCO production. Although many reviews on SCO have been published, few have focused on SCO production from low-cost substrates or evaluated the possibility and potential of its industrialization. Therefore, this review mainly presents information on SCO and its production using low-cost substrates and mostly focuses on lignocellulosic biomass. Finally, the possibility and potential of SCO industrialization is evaluated.

Effects of metal catalysts on CO2 gasification reactivity of biomass char

The effects of five metal catalysts (K, Na, Ca, Mg, and Fe) on CO(2) gasification reactivity of fir char were studied using thermal gravimetric analysis. The degree of carbonization, crystal structure and morphology of char samples was characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The CO(2) gasification reactivity of fir char was improved through the addition of metal catalysts, in the order K>Na>Ca>Fe>Mg. XRD analysis indicated that Na and Ca improved the formation of crystal structure, and that Mg enhanced the degree of carbon structure ordering. SEM analysis showed that spotted activation centers were distributed on the surface of char samples impregnated with catalysts. Moreover, a loose flake structure was observed on the surface of both K-char and Na-char. Finally, the kinetic parameters of CO(2) gasification of char samples were calculated mathematically.

High yield production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from cellulose by high concentration of sulfates in biphasic system

A high 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) yield of 53 mol% was obtained by direct degradation of cellulose in a biphasic system with concentrated NaHSO4 and ZnSO4 as co-catalysts, with 96% of cellulose conversion in 60 min. The high concentration of catalysts in the aqueous solution and the high volume ratio of organic phase to aqueous phase were responsible for the excellent performance. The depolymerization of cellulose is the rate-determine step, and the formed glucose could be efficiently converted by concentrated catalysts in the aqueous solution, leading to low concentration of glucose in the solution and thus suppressing the side reactions such as humin and char formation.

Hydrodeoxygenation of Methyl Palmitate over Supported Ni Catalysts for Diesel-like Fuel Production

Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of vegetable oils to renewable alkane-type biofuels has attracted more and more concern in recent years. However, the presently used catalysts were mainly focused on the sulfided CoMo and NiMo catalysts, which inevitably posed sulfur contamination in final products. Therefore, exploring nonsulfured catalyst for this processing is of fundamental importance, but it is still an open challenge. In this paper, we prepared the sulfur free Ni supported on SiO2, γ-Al2O3, SAPO-11, HZSM-5, and HY by incipient wetness impregnation and tested the catalytic performance in HDO of methyl palmitate. Alkanes with long carbon chains were mainly produced with two possibly parallel approaches: hydrogenation of hexadecanal to hexadecanol, followed by dehydration/hydrogenation to C16 alkane and decarbonylaton/decarboxylation of hexadecanoic acid to C15 alkane. The acidity of catalysts significantly influenced their catalytic performance, and the Ni/SAPO-11 catalysts with weak and medium acidi...

Oil production by the yeast Trichosporon dermatis cultured in enzymatic hydrolysates of corncobs

Corncob was hydrolyzed with Trichoderma reesei cellulase and used as substrate for growth by the oleaginous yeast Trichosporon dermatis without detoxification or addition of a nitrogen source or trace elements. A total biomass of 24.4g/L with a lipid content of 40.1% (corresponding to a lipid yield of 9.8g/L), and a high lipid coefficient (lipid yield per mass of sugar, %g/g) of 16.7 could be achieved after cultivation for 7days. Therefore, T. dermatis is a promising strain for microbial oil production from lignocellulosic biomass.

A review of thermal-chemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass in China

Biomass, a renewable, sustainable and carbon dioxide neutral resource, has received widespread attention in the energy market as an alternative to fossil fuels. Thermal-chemical conversion of biomass to produce biofuels is a promising technology with many commercial applications. This paper reviewed the state-of-the-art research and development of thermal-chemical conversion of biomass in China with a special focus on gasification, pyrolysis, and catalytic transformation technologies. The advantages and disadvantages, potential of future applications, and challenges related to these technologies are discussed. Conclusively, these transformation technologies for the second-generation biofuels with using non-edible lignocellulosic biomass as feedstocks show prosperous perspective for commercial applications in near future.

An efficient and economical process for lignin depolymerization in biomass-derived solvent tetrahydrofuran.

The depolymerization of renewable lignin for phenolic monomer, a versatile biochemical and precursor for biofuel, has attracted increasing attention. Here, an efficient base-catalyzed depolymerization process for this natural aromatic polymer is presented with cheap industrial solid alkali MgO and biomass-derived solvent tetrahydrofuran (THF). Results showed that more than 13.2% of phenolic monomers were obtained under 250°C for 15 min, because of the excellent lignin dissolution of THF and its promotion effect on the catalytic activity of MgO. Furthermore, comparison characterization on the raw material, products and residual solid using elemental analysis, FT-IR, TG-DSC, Py-GC-MS and chemo-physical absorption and desorption demonstrated that this base-catalyzed process can inhibit char formation significantly. Whereas, the fact that thermal repolymerization of oligomer on the pore and surface of catalyst resulting in the declination of the catalytic performance is responsible for the residue formation.

Conversion of Cellulose and Cellobiose into Sorbitol Catalyzed by Ruthenium Supported on a Polyoxometalate/Metal–Organic Framework Hybrid

Cellulose and cellobiose were selectively converted into sorbitol over water-tolerant phosphotungstic acid (PTA)/metal- organic-framework-hybrid-supported ruthenium catalysts, Ru-PTA/MIL-100(Cr), under aqueous hydrogenation conditions. The goal was to investigate the relationship between the acid/metal balance of bifunctional catalysts Ru-PTA/MIL-100(Cr) and their performance in the catalytic conversion of cellulose and cellobiose into sugar alcohols. The control of the amount and strength of acid sites in the supported PTA/MIL-100(Cr) was achieved through the effective control of encapsulated-PTA loading in MIL-100(Cr). This design and preparation method led to an appropriately balanced Ru-PTA/MIL-100(Cr) in terms of Ru dispersion and hydrogenation capacity on the one hand, and acid site density of PTA/MIL-100(Cr) (responsible for acid-catalyzed hydrolysis) on the other hand. The ratio of acid site density to the number of Ru surface atoms (nA /nRu ) of Ru-PTA/MIL-100(Cr) was used to monitor the balance between hydrogenation and hydrolysis functions; the optimum balance between the two catalytic functions, that is, 8.84<nA /nRu <12.90, achieves maximum conversion of cellulose and cellobiose into hexitols. Under the applied reaction conditions, optimal results (63.2% yield in hexitols with a selectivity for sorbitol of 57.9% at complete conversion of cellulose, and 97.1% yield in hexitols with a selectivity for sorbitol of 95.1% at complete conversion of cellobiose) were obtained using a Ru-PTA/MIL-100(Cr) catalyst with loadings of 3.2 wt % for Ru and 16.7 wt % for PTA. This research thus opens new perspectives for the rational design of acid/metal bifunctional catalysts for biomass conversion.

Investigation on the structural effect of lignin during the hydrogenolysis process

Structure has a significant effect on the lignin degradation, so the investigation of structural effect on the lignin depolymerization is important and imperative. In this study, hydrogenolysis of three typical lignins with different structures, dealkaline lignin, sodium lignosulfonate and organosolv lignin, was intensively compared over the synergistic catalyst of CrCl3 and Pd/C. The effects of reaction temperature, time, hydrogen pressure and catalyst dosage on the catalytic performance of lignin species were investigated. The structure evolution of lignins during the hydrogenolysis process was also compared. The results showed that organosolv lignin was more sensitive for hydrogenolysis than others due to its high unsaturation degree and low molecular weight. Further analysis indicated that the hydrogenolysis, hydrodeoxygenation and repolymerization reactions took place and competed intensely. Wherein, the depolymerization products with unsaturated carbonyl groups were prone to repolymerize. And the methylation was helpful to stabilize the depolymerization products and suppress the further repolymerization.

Catalytic conversion of xylose and corn stalk into furfural over carbon solid acid catalyst in γ-valerolactone

A novel carbon solid acid catalyst was synthesized by the sulfonation of carbonaceous material which was prepared by carbonization of sucrose using 4-BDS as a sulfonating agent. TEM, N2 adsorption-desorption, elemental analysis, XPS and FT-IR were used to characterize the catalyst. Then, the catalyst was applied for the conversion of xylose and corn stalk into furfural in GVL. The influence of the reaction time, temperature and dosage of catalyst on xylose dehydration were also investigated. The Brønsted acid catalyst exhibited high activity in the dehydration of xylose, with a high furfural yield of 78.5% at 170°C in 30min. Whats more, a 60.6% furfural yield from corn stalk was achieved in 100min at 200°C. The recyclability of the sulfonated carbon catalyst was perfect, and it could be reused for 5times without the loss of furfural yields.