Chapters authored
Pretreatment of Crop Residues by Application of Microwave Heating and Alkaline Solution for Biofuel Processing: A Review
The effect of microwave-assisted alkaline pretreatments and enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic agricultural crop residues are reviewed. Pretreatment is a major step for the efficient and effective biochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuel. Microwave-assisted alkali pretreatment is one of the promising techniques used in the bioconversion of biomass into useful energy product. The advantages of microwave heating coupled with alkaline pretreatment include reduction of the process energy requirement, rapid and super heating, and low toxic compound formation. This chapter reviews recent microwave-assisted alkali pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification techniques on different agricultural residues highlighting lignocellulosic biomass treatments and reducing sugar yields, and recovery. In addition, compiled up-to-date research studies, development efforts and research findings related to microwave-assisted alkali, and enzymatic hydrolysis are provided.
Part of the book: Renewable Resources and Biorefineries
Biodiesel Refining and Processing Strategies
Biodiesel fuel is produced from triglyceride fats, and oils obtained from plant and animal sources. Typically, triglycerides are first transesterified to produce fatty acid alkyl esters (FAAE) and then refined. Traditional FAAE refining strategies are often energy-intensive, requiring large amounts of water (e.g., wet washing), adsorbents, and/or chemicals. Refining, in turn, produces substantial amounts of waste and is accompanied by the loss of biodiesel as neutral oil entrained in waste. A wide array of methods and technologies have been developed for industrial oil purification. Successful refining practices minimize waste and limit neutral oil losses. Recent studies have explored the use of adsorbents, solvent purification processes, membrane filtration, as well as novel applications of electrostatic field treatments to remove polar impurities (including free fatty acids, residues, soaps, and glycerides), and particulates from oils. This chapter will review and compare traditional current and novel strategies for refining FAAE for use as biodiesel.
Part of the book: Advanced Biodiesel