Development of High Energy and Fuel Economy Ceramic Insulated Biomass Multi Cooking System

In IMRE, we developed a series of technologies for cascade utilization of SCG to achieve “zero waste”. The whole process includes solvent extraction, transesterification, compounding, moulding etc, and we are able to obtain various functional materials from SCG, such as coffee oil, surfactants, bioplastics. 

Cascade utilization of spent coffee grounds towards a zero-waste strategy

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are often disposed by conventional waste disposal methods which are environmentally unfriendly. As such, we aim to maximize the potential of SCGs for coffee oil and as a filler material for bio-based composites. Approximately 10 % of coffee oil was successfully extracted from the SCGs. Its chemical composition was evaluated and was proven to exhibit radical scavenging activity. Afterwards, the extracted SCGs (ESCGs) were added as fillers into epoxy resin to form ESCG composites. Although the composites displayed lower mechanical properties relative to epoxy, improvements were seen for ESCG composites in comparison to SCG composites. Composites filled with acetone ESCGs demonstrated the most improvement with tensile strength, flexural modulus and flexural strength up to 23.4 MPa, 3.02 GPa and 42.9 MPa respectively. This work suggests an alternative method to repurpose common food waste while moving towards a more sustainable future.

An environmental alternative to composites using waste coffee grounds

Concerns over dwindling oil reserves, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel sources and associated climate change is driving the need for clean, renewable energy supplies. If average global temperature rises induced by greenhouse gases are not to exceed 1.5 °C, then estimates indicate that a large proportion of crude oil, gas and coal reserves must remain untouched.1 Biomass, derived from agricultural and forestry residues, or non-food sources of triglycerides are a sustainable source of carbon that can provide low cost solutions for transportation fuels and organic chemicals. Akin to petroleum refining, biorefining will integrate biomass conversion processes to produce fuels, power, and chemicals, thereby increasing the economic viability of bio-derived processes. Indeed, the US DoE identified a range of sugar derived ‘Platform Chemicals’ produced via chemical or biochemical transformation of lignocellulosic biomass as potential targets for manufacture in biorefineries.2 Catalytic technologies played a critical role in the economic development of both the petrochemical industry and modern society, underpinning 90 % of chemical processes and contributing to over 20% of all industrial products. In a post-petroleum era, catalysis will underpin biorefinery technology, and researchers will need to rise to the challenge of synthesising chemical intermediates and advanced functional materials and fuels from such non-petroleum based feedstocks.3 

This presentation will discuss the challenges faced in catalytic biomass processing, and highlight recent successes in catalyst design facilitated by advances in nanotechnology and careful tuning of catalyst formulation. Specific case studies will explore (i) how the effects of pore architecture and acid strength can impact upon process efficiency in biodiesel synthesis;4,5 (ii) how catalytic pre-treatments improve transportation fuel production from pyrolysis oil,6 and (iii) the role of bifunctional catalysts in the hydrodeoxygenation of phenolic components in bio-oils,7 and the aqueous phase processing of sugars to important platform chemicals and fuel precursors such as 5-HMF derivatives.8



References. 
1. M. Jakob, J. Hilaire, Nature, 517 (2015) 150.
2. J.J. Bozell, G.R. Petersen, Green Chemistry, 12 (2010) 539.
3. K. Wilson, A. F. Lee Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A, 374 (2016) 20150081.
4. A.F. Lee, K Wilson, Catalysis Today, 242 (2015) 3. 
5. M.A. Isaacs, C.M.A. Parlett, N. Robinson, L.J. Durndell, J.C. Manayil, S.K. Beaumont, S. Jiang, N.S. Hondow, A.C. Lamb, M.L. Johns, K. Wilson, A.F. Lee, Nature Catalysis, 3 (2020), 921.
6. L. Ciddor, J.A. Bennett, J.A. Hunns, K. Wilson, A.F. Lee J. Chem. Tech. Biotech., 90 (2015) 780. 
7. A. Shivhare, J.A. Hunns, L.J. Durndell, C.M.A. Parlett, M.A. Isaacs, A.F. Lee, K. Wilson, ChemSusChem, 13 (2020), 4771.
8. A. Osatiashtiani, A.F. Lee, D.R. Brown, J.A. Melero, G. Morales, K. Wilson, Cat. Sci. Tech., 4 (2014), 333. 


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Development of High Energy and Fuel Economy Ceramic Insulated Biomass Multi Cooking System

Cascade utilization of spent coffee grounds towards a zero-waste strategy

An environmental alternative to composites using waste coffee grounds

Catalysts for a Sustainable Future

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