Biomass valorisation towards zero waste Singapore

• Main Author: Ong, Yu Xiong
• Other Authors: Hong Li
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/166961
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Several applications, most notably the production of biofuel, could see the use of biomass in place of conventional fuels. It has enormous potential as a feedstock for bioconversion processes used to produce energy, fuels, and a wide range of chemicals. It is a renewable resource that is widely accessible. The carbon dioxide produced during its combustion has no effect on atmospheric carbon dioxide because it is biogenic. Despite these benefits, a significant issue that has prevented its widespread use has always been its recalcitrant nature in terms of its inherent characteristics, which are unfavourable to its use in bioconversion and bio refinery processes. For maximum product recovery, it is therefore essential that biomass be pre-treated before use in any conversion process. Pre-treatment is a crucial component of the cellulose conversion processes as it increases the availability of the cellulose to the enzymes that break down the carbohydrate polymers into fermentable sugars. There are numerous pre-treatment techniques already in use for biomass refineries, but not all of them can be put into practice because of the specific environmental requirements, such as substances at a specific temperature or pressure, or even substances that are valuable or difficult to obtain, for example like liquors, acid, and many more. After performing appropriate pre-treatment procedures on the biomass, including ball milling and NaOH pre-treatment, the results were evaluated. Through these experiments, whilst working hand-in-hand with research, there is a high possibility where biomass valorisation would replace conventional fuel as an alternative source which is environmentally friendly and a solution to zero waste Singapore.