Application of Hydrochar, Digestate, and Synthetic Fertilizer to a Miscanthus x giganteus Crop: Implications for Biomass and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Adjuik, Toby A.; Rodjom, Abbey; Miller, Kimberley E.; Reza, M. Toufiq; Davis, Stephen

doi:10.3390/app10248953

Cited by 23 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…grass has become a popular bioenergy feedstock in the UK and worldwide due to its high crop yield (8-32 tonne/ha) and high energy output (140-560 GJ/ha) relative to other feedstocks [1]. It has also been cultivated for environmental remediation, such as CO 2 fixation [2] and heavy metal remediation [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Bioethanol Production Potential of Miscanthus Cultivars

et al. 2021

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Miscanthus is a fast-growing perennial grass that attracts significant attention for its potential application as a feedstock for bioethanol production. This report explores the difference in the lignocellulosic composition of various Miscanthus cultivars, including Miscanthus × giganteus cultivated at the same location (mainly Lincoln, UK). It also assesses the sugar release profiles and mineral composition profiles of five Miscanthus cultivars harvested over a growing period from November 2018 to February 2019. The results showed that Miscanthus × giganteus contains approximately 45.5% cellulose, 29.2% hemicellulose and 23.8% lignin (dry weight, w/w). Other cultivars of Miscanthus also contain high quantities of carbohydrates (cellulose 41.1–46.0%, hemicellulose 24.3–32.6% and lignin 21.4–24.9%). Pre-treatment of Miscanthus using dilute acid followed by enzymatic hydrolysis released 63.7–80.2% of the theoretical glucose content. Fermentation of a hydrolysate of Miscanthus × giganteus using Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC2592 produced 13.58 ± 1.11 g/L of ethanol from 35.13 ± 0.46 g/L of glucose, corresponding to a yield of 0.148 g/g dry weight Miscanthus biomass. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology of raw and hydrolysed Miscanthus samples, which provided visual proof of Miscanthus lignocellulose degradation in these processes. The sugar release profile showed that a consequence of Miscanthus plant growth is an increase in difficulty in releasing monosaccharides from the biomass. The potassium, magnesium, sodium, sulphur and phosphorus contents in various Miscanthus cultivars were analysed. The results revealed that these elements were slowly lost from the plants during the latter part of the growing season, for a specific cultivar, until February 2019.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Bioethanol Production Potential of Miscanthus Cultivars

et al. 2021

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“…The solid product derived from HTC, also known as hydrochar, has been demonstrated to attain benefits when added as a supplement in anaerobic digestion and composting, similar to those reported by biochar obtained from pyrolysis processes [37][38][39][40][41][42]. Other reports have also demonstrated that char may act as an active compound, improving nutrient management in crops [43,44]. Given these features, the coupling of HTC processes and anaerobic digestion leads to additional improvements associated with the enhancement in organic degradation and reactor productivity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Feasibility of Coupling Anaerobic Digestion and Hydrothermal Carbonization: Analyzing Thermal Demand

et al. 2021

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Anaerobic digestion is a biological process with wide application for the treatment of high organic-containing streams. The production of biogas and the lack of oxygen requirements are the main energetic advantages of this process. However, the digested stream may not readily find a final disposal outlet under certain circumstances. The present manuscript analyzed the feasibility of valorizing digestate by the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process. A hypothetical plant treating cattle manure and cheese whey as co-substrate (25% v/w, wet weight) was studied. The global performance was evaluated using available data reported in the literature. The best configuration was digestion as a first stage with the subsequent treatment of digestate in an HTC unit. The treatment of manure as sole substrate reported a value of 752 m3/d of biogas which could be increased to 1076 m3/d (43% increase) when coupling an HTC unit for digestate post-treatment and the introduction of the co-substrate. However, the high energy demand of the combined configurations indicated, as the best alternative, the valorization of just a fraction (15%) of digestate to provide the benefits of enhancing biogas production. This configuration presented a much better energy performance than the thermal hydrolysis pre-treatment of manure. The increase in biogas production does not compensate for the high energy demand of the pre-treatment unit. However, several technical factors still need further research to make this alternative a reality, as it is the handling and pumping of high solid slurries that significantly affects the energy demand of the thermal treatment units and the possible toxicity of hydrochar when used in a biological process.

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“…Other European countries like Paraguay, the Netherlands, and Germany followed suit, and in 1908, the international non‐profit organization IVU (International Vegetarian Union) was founded. Ever since, this dietetic concept has amassed considerable flamboyance globally with neoteric concerns associated with functional food consumption, environmental conservation and sustainability, personal health, religious ethics, ceremonial rites, animal welfare, and economic effects (Adjuik et al, 2020; Lawore, 2021; Ruby, 2012).…”

Section: The Sprouting Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation of bioactive peptides and multiple nutraceuticals of antidiabetic and antioxidant functionalities through sprouting: Recent advances

Kehinde

Majid

Hussain³

2022

Journal of Food Biochemistry

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The employment of proteases directly from enzymes or indirectly from microorganisms during fermentation for the purpose of proteolysis of food proteins has been the conventional trend for the derivation of bioactive peptides from food matrices. However, recent studies have shown that inherent protease enzymes can be activated for this activity for vegetable foods using the sprouting process. The benefits of ease of operation, and reduced processing costs are formidable advantages for the optimal consideration of this technique. On another note, the demand for functional foods with therapeutic health effects has increased in recent years. Globally, plant foods are perceived as dietetic choices bearing sufficient quantities of concomitant nutraceuticals. In this manuscript, the sprouting route for the isolation of peptides and glucosinolates, and for the enhancement of total phenolic contents, polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles, and other bioactive constituents was explored. Advances regarding the phytochemical transformations in the course of sprouting, the therapeutic functionalities, and microbiological safety concerns of vegetable sprouts are delineated. In addition, consumption of vegetable sprouts has been shown to be more efficient in supplying nutraceutical components relative to their unsprouted counterparts. Biochemical mechanisms involving the inhibition of digestive enzymes such as α‐amylase, β‐glucosidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP‐IV), single electron transfer, and metal chelation, for impartation of health benefits, have been reported to occur from bioactive components isolated from vegetable sprouts. Practical applications Sprouting initiates proteolysis of vegetable proteins for the release of bioactive peptides. Abiotic stresses can be used as elicitors during the sprouting process to achieve enhanced phytochemical profiles of sprouts. Sprouting is a relatively more convenient approach to the improvement of the health benefits of vegetable foods. Vegetable sprouts are potential for the management of metabolic syndrome disorders.

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Application of Hydrochar, Digestate, and Synthetic Fertilizer to a Miscanthus x giganteus Crop: Implications for Biomass and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Cited by 23 publications

References 56 publications

Exploring the Bioethanol Production Potential of Miscanthus Cultivars

Exploring the Bioethanol Production Potential of Miscanthus Cultivars

Feasibility of Coupling Anaerobic Digestion and Hydrothermal Carbonization: Analyzing Thermal Demand

Isolation of bioactive peptides and multiple nutraceuticals of antidiabetic and antioxidant functionalities through sprouting: Recent advances

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