Dioxin concentrations and congener distribution in biomass ash from small to large scale biomass combustion plants.

Biomass plays a pivotal role in global energy production, with a significant share allocated for industrial heat and power generation. The combustion of biomass generates biomass ash, which is widely utilized as a fertiliser. However, concerns arise regarding the presence of dioxins in biomass ash, which may limit its continued use.

Ecotoxicity assessment of ashes from calcium-rich fuel combustion: contrasting results and regulatory implications.

The European Union's (EU) regulation for the waste classification based on their ecotoxicological hazard (hazardous property HP14) came into force on 5 July 2018. The regulation advocates the utilisation of computational formulae for the hazard classification of waste associated with hazardous property HP14. Concurrently, ecotoxicological testing remains an alternative.

Co-gasification of biomass and oil shale under CO atmosphere: Comparative analysis of fixed-bed reactor, gas chromatography and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy (TGA-MS).

Co-gasification of biomass with oil shale offers potential for integrating renewable and fossil energy sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Biomass (pine and birch wood and bark) and oil shale blends (10-30 wt%) were gasified under CO conditions using thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry (TGA-MS), fixed-bed reactor, and gas chromatography. Results revealed an interaction between oil shale and biomass, enhancing CO and CH concentrations in the producer gas.

Efficient Lignin Fractionation from Scots Pine () Using Ammonium-Based Protic Ionic Liquid: Process Optimization and Characterization of Recovered Lignin.

Lignin-based chemicals and biomaterials will be feasible alternatives to their fossil-fuel-based counterparts once their breakdown into constituents is economically viable. The existing commercial market for lignin remains limited due to its complex heterogenous structure and lack of extraction/depolymerization techniques. Hence, in the present study, a novel low-cost ammonium-based protic ionic liquid (PIL), 2-hydroxyethyl ammonium lactate [N11H(2OH)][LAC], is used for the selective fractionation and improved extraction of lignin from Scots pine () softwood biomass (PWB).

Characterization of Organosolv Lignins and Their Application in the Preparation of Aerogels.

The production of novel materials and value-added chemicals from lignin has received considerable attention in recent years. Due to its abundant occurrence in nature, there is a growing interest in utilizing lignin as a feedstock for functional materials production, for example aerogels. Much like in the synthesis of phenol-based resins, the vacant ortho positions of the aromatic rings in lignin can crosslink with formaldehyde and form polymeric gels.

Mineral and Heavy Metal Composition of Oil Shale Ash from Oxyfuel Combustion.

Oxyfuel combustion can reduce CO emissions from fossil fuels. Hence, it is currently being investigated for potential use in oil shale-fired power plants, which currently produce most of Estonia's electricity. Here, experiments were performed with kukersite oil shale for both oxyfuel and conventional combustion in a 60 kW circulating fluidized bed combustor.

Long-term mineral transformation of Ca-rich oil shale ash waste.

Power generation and other industries using solid fossil fuels like coal, lignite, oil shale and peat are responsible for producing large quantities of solid residues that are often chemically reactive and/or unstable and are disposed in holding ponds and deposition sites. Stability and long-term behaviour of such deposits are typically studied in short-term laboratory experiments that cannot describe nor predict long-term changes taking place in these materials. Here, we study long-term (>40 years) transformations, in highly alkaline conditions, of the Ca-rich ash deposit in Estonia composed of oil shale processing residues from the Eesti power plant.