Design of highly active Ni catalysts supported on carbon nanofibers for the hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellobiose.

The direct transformation of cellulose into sugar alcohols ( conversion) over supported nickel catalysts represents an attractive chemical route for biomass valorization, allowing the use of subcritical water in the hydrolysis step. The effectiveness of this process is substantially conditioned by the hydrogenation ability of the catalyst, determined by design parameters such as the active phase loading and particle size. Herein, mechanistic insights into catalyst design to produce superior activity were outlined using the hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellobiose as a model reaction.

Direct conversion of almond waste into value-added liquids using carbon-neutral catalysts: Hydrothermal hydrogenation of almond hulls over a Ru/CNF catalyst.

The almond industry leaves behind substantial amounts of by-products, with almond hulls being the primary residue generated. Given that one way to improve food security is by decreasing waste to reduce environmental impacts, developing sustainable processes to manage this by-product is necessary. Herein, we report on the hydrothermal hydrogenation of almond hulls over a carbon-neutral Ru supported on carbon nanofibres (Ru/CNF) catalyst, addressing the temperature, H pressure, time and catalyst loading.

Analysis and optimisation of a novel 'almond-refinery' concept: Simultaneous production of biofuels and value-added chemicals by hydrothermal treatment of almond hulls.

For the first time, this work investigates the achievability of developing a biorefinery concept around almond hulls by hydrothermal treatment (HTT), thoroughly scrutinising the influence of the temperature (200-300 °C), pressure (100-180 bar), time (20-180 min) and solid loading (5-25 wt%). This process allowed the conversion of almond hulls into four main products: gas (2-13%), bio-oil (2-12%), aqueous (4-69%) and hydro-char (17-89%). The gas consisted of a mix of H, CO, CO and CH with a LHV fluctuating from 1 to 13 MJ/m STP.

Biomass-derived nanocarbon materials for biological applications: challenges and prospects.

Biomass-derived nanocarbons (BNCs) have attracted significant research interests due to their promising economic and environmental benefits. Following their extensive uses in physical and chemical research domains, BNCs are now growing in biological applications. However, their practical biological applications are still in their infancy, requiring critical evaluations and strategic directions, which are provided in this review.

Enhanced Reduction of Few-Layer Graphene Oxide via Supercritical Water Gasification of Glycerol.

A sustainable and effective method for de-oxygenation of few-layer graphene oxide (FLGO) by glycerol gasification in supercritical water (SCW) is described. In this manner, reduction of FLGO and valorization of glycerol, in turn catalyzed by FLGO, are achieved simultaneously. The addition of glycerol enhanced FLGO oxygen removal by up to 59% due to the in situ hydrogen generation as compared to the use of SCW only.