Nanomaterials Utilization in Biomass for Biofuel and Bioenergy Production

Abstract

The world energy production trumped by the exhaustive utilization of fossil fuels has highlighted the importance of searching for an alternative energy source that exhibits great potential. Ongoing efforts are being implemented to resolve the challenges regarding the preliminary processes before conversion to bioenergy such as pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and cultivation of biomass. Nanotechnology has the ability to overcome the challenges associated with these biomass sources through their distinctive active sites for various reactions and processes. In this review, the potential of nanotechnology incorporated into these biomasses as an aid or addictive to enhance the efficiency of bioenergy generation has been reviewed. The fundamentals of nanomaterials along with their various bioenergy applications were discussed in-depth. Moreover, the optimization and enhancement of bioenergy production from lignocellulose, microalgae and wastewater using nanomaterials are comprehensively evaluated. The distinctive features of these nanomaterials contributing to better performance of biofuels, biodiesel, enzymes and microbial fuel cells are also critically reviewed. Subsequently, future trends and research needs are highlighted based on the current literature.

A Sustainable Approach for the Production of Green Energy With the Holistic Treatment of Wastewater Through Microbial Electrochemical Technologies: A Review

“…Also, other emergent contaminants like 4-nitrophenol, phenol, and n-butanol, n-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone and, different volatile organic matters and pathogens were successfully detected through MFC-based biosensor (Kannan et al, 2019;Godain et al, 2020;Olias et al, 2020). Therefore, removal of organic, inorganic and emerging pollutants from wastewater with recovery of different economically viable resources through METs can abet this technology toward its commercialization (Khoo et al, 2020;Ahmed et al, 2021).…”

“…This BMES successfully removed 74% of different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(k)fluoranthene, from river sediment along with the recovery of maximum 63 ± 3 mW m −2 of power density. Therefore, a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds and other emerging pollutants have been extensively treated through MFCs, thus demonstrating the field-scale applicability of this technology (Abbasi et al, 2016;Khoo et al, 2020;Ahmed et al, 2021).…”

The Combined Effect of ZnO and CeO2 Nanoparticles on Pisum sativum L.: A Photosynthesis and Nutrients Uptake Study

“…Nowadays, synthetic nanomaterials (NMs) are finding applications in almost all material aspects of human life and are particularly vital for contemporary technology and medicine [1][2][3][4][5]. The most important are sustainable energy production and storage, electronic devices, catalysts, sensors and adhesives, high-quality petro-and agrochemicals [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Their widespread use raises fundamental questions related to the environment, pollution, and safety [15][16][17].…”

Pelletization of Biomass Feedstocks: Effect of Moisture Content, Particle Size and a Binder on Characteristics of Biomass Pellets

“…Energy production from biomass sources such as forestry residues, woody biomass, dedicated energy crops and sewage sludge has been renowned as promising way to reduce environmental pollution. After coal, oil and gas, biomass is considered as the fourth largest source of energy and has a potential to be used as clean and green fuel to substitute fossil fuel (e.g., coal) in many applications [2][3][4]. Due to intrinsic properties of raw biomass such as higher moisture content (MC), low density, scattered distribution etc., application of raw biomass are limited.…”