Metabolic Engineering of Biosynthetic Pathway for Production of Renewable Biofuels

Metabolic engineering is an important area of research that involves editing genetic networks to overproduce a certain substance by the cells. Using a combination of genetic, metabolic, and modeling methods, useful substances have been synthesized in the past at industrial scale and in a cost-effective manner. Currently, metabolic engineering is being used to produce sufficient, economical, and eco-friendly biofuels. In the recent past, a number of efforts have been made towards engineering biosynthetic pathways for large scale and efficient production of biofuels from biomass. Given the adoption of metabolic engineering approaches by the biofuel industry, this paper reviews various approaches towards the production and enhancement of renewable biofuels such as ethanol, butanol, isopropanol, hydrogen, and biodiesel. We have also identified specific areas where more work needs to be done in the future.     

Advanced Biofuels and Beyond: Chemistry Solutions for Propulsion and Production

Sustainably produced biofuels, especially when they are derived from lignocellulosic biomass, are being discussed intensively for future ground transportation. Traditionally, research activities focus on the synthesis process, while leaving their combustion properties to be evaluated by a different community. This Review adopts an integrative view of engine combustion and fuel synthesis, focusing on chemical aspects as the common denominator. It will be demonstrated that a fundamental understanding of the combustion process can be instrumental to derive design criteria for the molecular structure of fuel candidates, which can then be targets for the analysis of synthetic pathways and the development of catalytic production routes. With such an integrative approach to fuel design, it will be possible to improve systematically the entire system, spanning biomass feedstock, conversion process, fuel, engine, and pollutants with a view to improve the carbon footprint, increase efficiency, and reduce emissions.     

Biofuels from microalgae biomass: A review of conversion processes and procedures

Achieving the EU 2030 vision of a 15% minimum amount of biofuels utilized in the road transportation require more research on biofuel production from biomass feedstock. To this end, this review study examines the use of green, deep eutectic solvents and direct transesterification approaches for biomass conversion to biofuels. Next, biogas production from anaerobic co-digestion of microalgae biomass is presented. Lastly, the effect of operating conditions, as well as advantages and limitations of several biomass conversion techniques are outlined. Of note, this study presents promising microalgae conversion processes which could be progressed are the use of bio-based solvents and supercritical fluids for biodiesel production, hydrothermal liquefaction for biogas production, microwave-induced pyrolysis for syngas production, and ultrasound/microwave enhanced extraction for bio-oil production. These are based on the possibility of high yield and process economics. We have also enumerated knowledge gaps needed to propel future studies.     

Biofuels today and tomorrow: effects of fuel composition on exhaust gas emissions

Due to current and future policy targets, and rapid technical developments, biofuel options are already available and in use in commercial applications. However, there is still doubt about which of the more promising alternatives will be widely accepted in future within the transportation sector. This includes aspects of biofuel properties and their effects on exhaust gas emissions and engine technology. This article addresses the status of current technology, reviews the progress of commercialisation of biofuel production, and gives an outline of its future development. Moreover, it provides an insight into the influence of biofuel composition on the internal combustion process and exhaust gas emissions. To assess biofuel sustainability, all aspects such as fuel production, fuel chemical composition, combustion behaviour, engine technology, and exhaust gas emissions have to be taken into account. Potential application fields and emerging challenges for measurement technology are identified in all these areas.     

Catalytic Removal of NOx from Gas Mixtures Simulating Emissions from the Combustion of Biofuels

The activity of knitted silica-fibre supported Pd, Pt, Pt-Ni, Pd-Ni and Pd-Pt-Ni catalysts as well as Pd based H-ZSM-5 and H-ZSM-35 catalysts was studied in the conversion of gas mixtures containing 200 ppm CH₄, 2500 ppm CO, 500 ppm pyridine (or 500 ppm NO), 10 vol.% O₂ (or 0.155 vol.% O₂), 12 vol.% CO₂, 12 vol.% H₂O, balanced with He at GHSV of 60000 h^–1. Pyridine was found to inhibit both CO and CH₄ oxidation. IR studies indicated that NO adsorbed on Pd²⁺ is the principal adsorbed species on the Pd/HZSM-5 catalyst.     

Biofuels and biomass-to-liquid fuels in the biorefinery: catalytic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass using porous materials

At a time when the focus is on global warming, CO(2) emission, secure energy supply, and less consumption of fossil-based fuels, the use of renewable energy resources is essential. Various biomass resources are discussed that can deliver fuels, chemicals, and energy products. The focus is on the catalytic conversion of biomass from wood. The challenges involved in the processing of lignocellulose-rich materials will be highlighted, along with the application of porous materials as catalysts for the biomass-to-liquids (BTL) fuels in biorefineries. The mechanistic understanding of the complex reactions that take place, the development of catalysts and processes, and the product spectrum that is envisaged will be discussed, along with a sustainable concept for biorefineries based on lignocellulose. Finally, the current situation with respect to upgrading of the process technology (pilot and commercial units) will be addressed.     

Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Supermicroporous Iron(III) Phosphonate Nanoparticles as an Efficient Catalyst for the Synthesis of Biofuels

Here we report a novel family of crystalline, supermicroporous iron(III) phosphonate nanomaterials (HFeP‐1‐3, HFeP‐1‐2, and HFeP‐1‐4) with different Fe^III‐to‐organophosphonate ligand mole ratios. The materials were synthesized by using a hydrothermal reaction between benzene‐1,3,5‐triphosphonic acid and iron(III) chloride under acidic conditions (pH≈4.0). Powder X‐ray diffraction, N₂ sorption, transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM) image analysis, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA‐DTA), and FTIR spectroscopic tools were used to characterize the materials. The triclinic crystal phase [P$\bar 1$ (2) space group] of the hybrid iron phosphonate was established by a Rietveld refinement of the PXRD analysis of HFeP‐1‐3 by using the MAUD program. The unit cell parameters are a=8.749(1), b=8.578(1), c=17.725(3) Å; α=104.47(3), β=97.64(1), γ=113.56(3)°; and V=1013.41 ų. With these crystal parameters, we proposed an 24‐membered‐ring open framework structure for HFeP‐1. Compound HFeP‐1‐3, with an starting Fe/ligand molar ratio of 3.0, shows the highest Brunauer–Emmett–Telller (BET) surface area of 556 m²g^?1 and uniform supermicropores of approximately 1.1 nm. The acidic surface of the porous iron(III) phosphonate nanoparticles was used in a highly efficient and recyclable catalytic transesterification reaction for the synthesis of biofuels under mild reaction conditions.