• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.27-34
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• 2023

In this study, various plant-based biomass are recycled into carbon materials to employ as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Firstly, various biomass of rice husk, chestnut, tea bag, and coffee ground are collected, washed, and ground. The carbonization process is followed under a nitrogen atmosphere at 850℃. The morphological and chemical properties of materials are investigated using FE-SEM, EDS, and FT-IR to compare the characteristic differences between various biomass. It is noticeable that biomass-derived carbon materials vary in shape and degree of carbonization depending on their precursor materials. These materials are applied as anode materials to measure the electrochemical performance. The specific capacities of rice husk-, chetnut-, tea bag-, and coffee ground-derived carbon materials are evaluated as 65.8, 80.2, 90.6, and 104.7 mAh g^-1 at 0.2C. Notably, coffee ground-based carbon exhibited the highest specific capacity owing to the difference in elemental composition and the degree of carbonization. Conclusively, this study suggests the possibility of utilizing as energy storage devices by employing various plant-based biomass into active materials for anodes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 2010

This study was carried out to develop local allometric biomass regression equations and to estimate aboveground biomass of red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) stands among three regions (Hadong, Hamyang, Sancheong) from the western regions of Gyeongnam province. We selected three natural red pine stands with similar stand ages (about 40-year-old) from each region. The allometric regression equations were significant in all tree components (P<0.05) and the determination of coefficient ($R^2$) ranged 0.87 from 0.99. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the biomass of tree components among three regions. The biomass was 173.3 Mg/ha in Hadong, 131.0 Mg/ha in Sancheong, and 66.5 Mg/ha in Hamyang. The proportion of biomass was 70.4-77.1% in stemwood, 10.9-15.2% in branch, 8.9-10.4% in stembark, and 3.1-4.4% in needle. The results indicated that red pine stands in the western Gyeongnam regions showed the significant difference of aboveground biomass which was attributed to site quality and stand density.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.204-211
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• 2011

To yield high concentrations of protein expressed by genetically modified Escherichia coli, it is important that the bacterial strains are cultivated to high cell density in industrial bioprocesses. Since the expressed target protein is mostly accumulated inside the E. coli cells, the cellular product formation can be directly correlated to the bacterial biomass concentration. The typical way to determine this concentration is to sample offline. Such manual sampling, however, wastes time and is not efficient for acquiring direct feedback to control a fedbatch fermentation. An E. coli K12-derived strain was cultivated to high cell density in a pressurized stirred bioreactor on a pilot scale, by detecting biomass concentration online using a capacitance probe. This E. coli strain was grown in pure minimal medium using two carbon sources (glucose and glycerol). By applying exponential feeding profiles corresponding to a constant specific growth rate, the E. coli culture grew under carbon-limited conditions to minimize overflow metabolites. A high linearity was found between capacitance and biomass concentration, whereby up to 85 g/L dry cell weight was measured. To validate the viability of the culture, the oxygen transfer rate (OTR) was determined online, yielding maximum values of 0.69 mol/l/h and 0.98mol/l/h by using glucose and glycerol as carbon sources, respectively. Consequently, online monitoring of biomass using a capacitance probe provides direct and fast information about the viable E. coli biomass generated under aerobic fermentation conditions at elevated headspace pressures.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.325-331
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• 2021

In this study, bio-carbons were produced by activation process from unused biomass (Grade 3 wood pellet and spent coffee grounds) to determine the removal performance of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. The activation experiments were conducted in a fixed bed reactor using CO₂ as an activation agent. The temperature of the activation reactor and input of CO₂ were 900 ℃ and 1 L min^-1 for all the experiments. The maximum BET surface area of about 788 m² g^-1 was obtained for bio-carbon produced from Grade 1 wood pellet, whereas about 544 m² g^-1 was achieved with bio-carbon produced from spent coffee grounds. In all the experiments, the bio-carbons produced were mainly found to have micro-porous nature. A lower ash amount in raw material was favored for the high surface area of bio-carbons. In the removal test of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, the bio-carbon produced from spent coffee grounds showed excellent adsorption performance compared with woody biomass (Grade 1 wood pellet and Grade 3 wood pellet). In addition, the comparative experiment of commercial impregnated activated carbon and bio-carbon produced from spent coffee grounds was conducted. In terms of formaldehyde removal performance, the commercial impregnated bio-carbon was excellent, while bio-carbon produced from spent coffee grounds was excellent in acetaldehyde removal.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.689-694
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• 2006

We investigated the potential use of various carbon sources (fructose, glucose, mannose, lactose, and glycerol) for culturing Phaeodactylum tricornutum UTEX-640 in mixotrophic and heterotrophic batch cultures. Concentrations of carbon substrates tested ranged from 0.005 M to 0.2 M. P. tricornutum did not grow heterotrophically on any of the C-sources used, but successive additions of organic carbon in mixotrophic growth mode substantially increased the biomass concentration and productivity relative to photoautotrophic controls. The maximum biomass productivities in mixotrophic cultures for glycerol, fructose, and glucose were 21.30 mg/l h, 15.80 mg/l h, and 10.20 mg/l h, respectively. These values were respectively 10-, 8-, and 5-fold higher than those obtained in the corresponding photoautotrophic control cultures. Mannose and lactose did not significantly affect microalgal growth. The biomass lipids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and pigments contents were considerably enhanced with glycerol and fructose in relation to photoautotrophic controls. The EPA content was barely affected by the sugars, but were more than 2-fold higher in glycerol-fed cultures than in photoautotrophic controls.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• v.68
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• pp.257-266
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• 2018

Here, a controlled green synthesis route involving hydrothermal pre-carbonization cum pyrolysis is reported that converts cucumber into graphene-like carbon nanosheets for supercapacitor application. Transmission electron microscopy analysis reveals the formation of ultra-thin carbon nanosheets with distributed pores. This cucumber derived carbon exhibits high specific capacitance of $143F\;g^{-1}$ in aqueous electrolyte. The two-electrode symmetric cell exhibits a specific capacitance of $58F\;g^{-1}$ at high current density, and high capacitance retention of 97% after 1000 cycles. This simple low-cost process involving widely available cucumber as biomass precursor is a promising, commercially viable approach for developing high-performance supercapacitors.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

Application of biochar to soils is proposed as a significant, long-term, sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide in terrestrial ecosystems. In addition to reducing emissions and increasing the sequestration of carbon, production of biochar and its application to soils will contribute improve soil quality and crop productivity. Objectives were i) to evaluate biochar productivity from crop residues using a low-cost field scale mobile pyrolyzer and ii) to evaluate characteristics of feedstocks and biochars from locally collected crop residues. Pyrolysis experiments were performed in a reactor operated at $400-500^{\circ}C$ for 3-4 hours using biomass samples of post-harvest residues of corn (Zea mays L.), cotton (Gossypium spp.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Feedstocks differed, but average conversion to biochar was 23%. Carbon content of biomass feedstock and biochar samples were 445 g $kg^{-1}$ and 597 g $kg^{-1}$, respectively. Total carbon content of biochar samples was 34% higher than its feedstock samples. Significant increases were found in P, K, Ca, Mg, and micro-nutrients contents between feedstock and biochar samples. Biochar from corn stems and rice hulls can sequester by 60% and 49% of the initial carbon input into biochar respectively when biochar is incorporated into the soils. Pyrolysis conversion of corn and rice residues sequestered significant amounts of carbon as biochar which has further environmental and production benefits when applied to soils. Field experiment with crop residue biochar will be investigated the stability of biochars to show long-term carbon sequestration and environmental influences to the cropping systems.

• Carbon letters
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• v.22
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• pp.81-88
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• 2017

In the present study, biomass-based lignin was extracted from industrial waste black liquor and the extracted lignin was characterized by means of attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and $^1H-nuclear$ magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The extracted lignin was carbonized at different temperatures and then activated with steam at $850^{\circ}C$. The extracted lignin in powder state was transformed into a bulky carbonized lignin due to possible fusion between the lignin particles occurring upon carbonization. The carbonized and then pulverized lignin exhibits brittle surfaces, the increased thermal stability, and the carbon assay with increasing the carbonization temperature. The scanning electron microscopic images and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller result indicate that the steam-activated carbon has the specific surface area of $1718m^2/g$, which is markedly greater than the carbonized lignin. This study reveals that biomass-based activated carbon with highly porous structure can be produced from costless black liquor via steam-activation process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.704-710
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• 2014

Biomass is considered an alternative energy which can solve an greenhouse gas problem like $CO_2$ which is a major contributor to global warming. The biomass can be converted to various energy sources through thermochemical conversion. In this study, a continuous gasifier was engineered for a wood biomass gasification. The biomass was used a waste wood. The experiments of $CO_2$ gasification were achieved as the gasification temperature, moisture content and input $CO_2$ concentration. The results showed that the yield of producer gas increased with an increasing the gasification temperature. The amount of the light tar increased due to the decomposition of gravimetric tar by the thermal cracking, and the char was confirmed pore development through the SEM analysis. The CO concentration was increased with an increased input $CO_2$ concentration from Boudouard reaction. Through the parametric screening studies, the hydrogen and carbon monoxide concentration were 32.91% and 48.33% at the optimal conditions of this test rig.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 2022

To abate the environmental burdens arising from CO₂ emissions, biochar offers a strategic means to sequester carbons due to its recalcitrant nature. Also, biochar has a great potential for the use as carbon-based adsorbent because it is a porous material. As such, developing the surface properties of biochar increases a chance to produce biochar with great adsorption performance. Given that biochar is a byproduct in biomass pyrolysis, characteristics of biochar are contingent on pyrolysis operating parameters. In this respect, this work focused on the investigation of surface properties of biochar by controlling temperature and reaction medium in pyrolysis of pine sawdust as case study. In particular, CO₂ was used as reaction medium in pyrolysis process. According to pyrolytic temperature, the surface properties of biochar were indeed developed by CO₂. The biochar engineered by CO₂ showed the improved capability on CO₂ sorption. In addition, CO₂ has an effect on energy recovery by enhancing syngas production. Thus, this study offers the functionality of CO₂ for converting biomass into engineered biochar as carbon-based adsorbent for CO₂ sorption while recovering energy as syngas.