Bio-MeGaFuel is an European project focused on establishing a novel, efficient, and scalable process to convert low-value biogenic residues and organic waste into biomethanol at low cost. By developing chemical looping gasification coupled with membrane reactors, the project aims to achieve Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL 5) by 2028. The project also aims to intensify the process, reduce the need for downstream treatments, and create synergies with renewable energy sources, such as renewable hydrogen integration. This breakthrough will pave the way for greater adoption of biomethanol in the chemical industry, marine transportation and notably as a feedstock to produce sustainable fuel alternative (SAF) for hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation. By reducing production costs and scaling up biomethanol output, Bio-MeGaFuel aims to offer a renewable, economically viable solution to the fuel challenges faced by sectors critical to the global economy.
CO2 emissions are one of the main environmental problems in recent decades. The conversion of captured CO2 into chemicals and fuels using renewable energy and materials is a promising option. Among them, thermocatalytic hydrogenation process to produce methanol stands out. This work reports the use of carbon fibres derived from lignin, a co-product of the paper industry, as catalyst/support to improve the sustainability of the process. The catalysts were prepared by two different techniques, electrospinning of the lignin solution, carbonization and active phase precursors wet impregnation of the carbon fibres and the direct electrospinning of lignin solution containing the active phase precursors followed by subsequent carbonization. In both cases, the active phase (Cu/Zn) precursors were added to obtain a final Cu/Zn mass ratio of 3/2. The catalysts were evaluated in the hydrogenation reaction of CO2 at H2/CO2: 3/1, 220-340 degrees C and 30 bar. The results show that the catalysts obtained by wet impregnation are the most active in the reaction, obtaining the highest methanol yield at 260 degrees C.
CO2 emissions are one of the main environmental problems in recent decades. The conversion of captured CO2 into chemicals and fuels using renewable energy and materials is a promising option. Among them, thermocatalytic hydrogenation process to produce methanol stands out. This work reports the use of carbon fibres derived from lignin, a co-product of the paper industry, as catalyst/support to improve the sustainability of the process. The catalysts were prepared by two different techniques, electrospinning of the lignin solution, carbonization and active phase precursors wet impregnation of the carbon fibres and the direct electrospinning of lignin solution containing the active phase precursors followed by subsequent carbonization. In both cases, the active phase (Cu/Zn) precursors were added to obtain a final Cu/Zn mass ratio of 3/2. The catalysts were evaluated in the hydrogenation reaction of CO2 at H2/CO2: 3/1, 220-340 degrees C and 30 bar. The results show that the catalysts obtained by wet impregnation are the most active in the reaction, obtaining the highest methanol yield at 260 degrees C.
Since 2014, the Mexican Caribbean has received more than 2360 m3 of Sargassum per km of coast. This sargassum is gathered with any treatment, and in the high temperatures it decomposes rapidly, generating pollution on the seashore and health problems in the local community. This work proposes a train of solar treatment for the valorization of Sargassum fluitans III, which consists of drying and pyrolysis for the production of biochar. Findings show that the drying time is around 90 min, independent of the type of solar dryer (i.e., greenhouse solar dryer (GHD) or open-sun drying. Results from the pyrolysis process show that the main characteristics of the biochar are affected by the temperatures of the process. At 800 degrees C, an amorphous char is obtained, with some inorganic compounds, such as potassium, sodium, phosphorus, sulfur, and chlorine, characteristics that are attractive for its use in energy storage, or as a biofertilizer.
Hard carbons (HCs) have emerged as promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their ability to store sodium ions in surface functionalities, structural defects within the amorphous region, pseudographitic domains, and micropores. In this study, HCs were synthesized from vine shoots (VS) and waste hemp hurd (WHH) using a twostep process involving HCl-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment followed by carbonization at 800 degrees C or 1 000 degrees C. The resulting HCs demonstrated remarkable electrochemical performance in sodium- ion half-cells, achieving reversible specific capacities of up to 368 mAh g-1 at a current density of 0.1 A g-1. This excellent behavior is attributed to the appropriate physicochemical properties of the prepared HCs, particularly their hierarchical pore size distribution and tailored carbonaceous structure.
In the context of sustainable electrochemical hydrogen production, metal-free carbon-based materials are emerging as scalable and versatile alternatives. Graphene-derived materials, in particular, stand out due to their high electrical conductivity and tunable properties forspecific applications. This work presents borocarbonitrides as efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under alkaline conditions due to their remarkable stability across a wide pH range. Optimizing synthetic parameters such as calcination temperature and time revealed that 900 degrees C and 10 h produced the most favorable conditions, providing a high surface area, enhanced reduction, and improved crystallinity. XPS analyses confirmed a high degree of homogeneity on B-C-N surfaces, the restoration of graphene aromaticity, and a significant presence of graphitic nitrogen. Additionally, the boric acid/urea ratio was studied as a critical variable, and the optimal performance was obtained at a ratio of 0.5:40. The most active electrocatalyst exhibited excellent stability under high current density conditions (12 h and 1,000 LSV cycles) and achieved electrochemical activation with an eta 10 of 295 mV.
Traditional cancer treatments encompass chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery which lead to terrible collateral damage mainly due to a lack of specificity between the treatment and the affected area. To solve this problem, nanotheranostics involves the use of nanotechnology to obtain both better treatments and diagnosis by improving the tumor screening and the targeting in drug release. In this context, carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs), such as fullerenes, graphene quantum dots (GQDs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphene oxide (GO), are promising nanomaterials due to their unique properties. The functionalization of these materials is expected to be a key process to improve their solubility, stability and biocompatibility for their use in several biomedical applications like biosensing, drug delivery or tissue engineering. Moreover, a novel form of cellulose named 'nanocellulose' seems to be a promising tool in cancer therapy as it can be combined with the aforementioned nanomaterials, improving their therapeutic effectiveness against cancer cells. In summary, carbon-based nanocomposites and nanocellulose offer significant potential to improve cancer treatment through better drug delivery, reduced side effects, and enhanced targeting of cancer cells.
Carbon-based structures are the most versatile (nano)materials used in the modern fields of catalysis (e.g. photocatalysis and electrocatalysis), renewable energy (in both generation and storage) and environmental science. The main achievements of our research group towards the development of hybrid and doped carbon based (nano)materials for eco-sustainable catalysis, biomass valorization, energy technologies and smart devices were previously reviewed in Boletin no 54 (December 2019). In the present article, we will provide an update, focusing on our recent works.
We are currently facing a new energy scenario, in which it is necessary to implement new negative emission technologies to eliminate CO2 from the atmosphere. These technologies include the BECCUS processes (bioenergy with carbon capture, utilization, and storage). Due to their relevance in the context of bioenergy, both biogas and biomethane are postulated as important renewable energy sources. The use of biomethane contained in biogas, as a substitute for methane of fossil origin (natural gas), necessarily requires a purification, or upgrading, which is a process that separates the CO2. In order to evaluate the environmental benefit of this technology, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biogas purification process is proposed. This process integrates a PSA (pressure swing adsorption) unit, which is a fundamental part of the CO2/CH4 separation process. Whether considering the recovered CO2 as a waste or as a product, the results obtained showed that, regardless of the energy source used (renewable or fossil), biogas purification with CO2 capture results in a negative environmental impact value, since, firstly, carbon dioxide emissions are reduced (which is not emitted into the atmosphere), and also the captured CO2 could have a second useful life. It is, therefore, a clear example of a circular economy.
The coupling of concentrated solar technologies and thermochemical biomass conversion is a promising alternative because there is an improvement on the process efficiency and a reduction of the environmental impact related to the use of fossil fuels for heat process. Therefore, the use of solar pyrolysis of agro-industrial wastes into fuels results attractive due to the biomass versatility to be transformed in a variety of products. In the present work, leaves of agave Angustifolia were used as raw material to performed the solar pyrolysis in the IER-UNAM solar furnace (Mexico) to produce amorphous carbon. The experiments were performed in a borosilicate reactor at different temperatures (450-1550 degrees C), with an average heating rate of 30 degrees C/min and 60 min of residence time. The main results show a variety of yields in the char produced from 28-14%, and conversion up to 85%. In addition, according to the temperature range, the amorphous chars produced may be suitable for energy storage in symmetric supercapacitors as carbon electrodes.
Bionanofabrication refers to the production of nanomaterials derived from living beings. Within this strategy, bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) finds its place, which is produced by specific bacteria directly in the nanoscale. This concept emerges as a sustainable alternative, since it is generated in its pure form, being able to dispense with the purification steps typically required to obtain cellulose of vegetable origin. BNC is initially produced as a hydrogel and can be subsequently dried through a variety of methos to yield an aerogel or a xerogel, each having numerous beneficia' characteristics that allow it to be used across diverse fields, ranging from the food industry to biomedicine. Due to its excellent properties and enormous potential, it becomes necessary to explore new methodologies and strategies that can reduce production time while aiming for improved BNC generation, encompassing new features and functionalities.
