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ECO-FRIENDLY FUELS FROM BLACK LIQUOR WASTE THROUGH BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL VALORIZATION
Abstract
Lately, the waste black liquor generated through paper manufacturing, has been increased in amounts, which represents a threat to the environment and human health. On the other hand, there is a great concern related to the energy crisis occurring all over the world. The use of fossil fuels through the combustion process generates greenhouse gas emissions being harmful to the environment. For this reason, the principle of the circular economy must be taken into account, ``nothing is lost, everything is transformed'', as it is necessary to develop alternative fuels, friendly to the environment, developed from waste, to replace fossil fuels over time. Black liquor waste can be valorized chemically and biologically. Chemical valorization is based on thermochemical processes to obtain products and develop alternative fuels from black liquor, such as: pyrolysis, gasification, wet oxidation. Chemical utilization develops the following alternative fuels: syngas, methanol, bio-oil, aromatic hydrocarbons, bio-char. Biological valorization is based on the development of products and alternative fuels from black liquor, through photofermentation, microbial carbon monoxide conversion, bioelectrolysis, fermentation in the dark, anaerobic digestion. Biological utilization develops the following alternative fuels: biogas, biodiesel, hydrogen, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), organic acid. Black liquor waste can successfully contribute to the development of alternative, sustainable and environmentally friendly fuels.
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