IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2022i1p331-d1017626.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Bamboo as a Cost-Effective Source of Renewable Carbon for Sustainable Economic Development in Low- and Middle-Income Economies

Author

Listed:
  • Nneka B. Ekwe

    (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja 900107, Nigeria
    Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Abuja, Abuja 900105, Nigeria)

  • Maksim V. Tyufekchiev

    (Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA)

  • Ali A. Salifu

    (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja 900107, Nigeria
    Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA
    Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology for Development, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA)

  • Klaus Schmidt-Rohr

    (Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA)

  • Zhaoxi Zheng

    (Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA)

  • Alex R. Maag

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology for Development, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA)

  • Geoffrey A. Tompsett

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology for Development, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA)

  • Charles M. Cai

    (Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside,1084 California Ave, Riverside, CA 92507, USA)

  • Emmanuel O. Onche

    (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja 900107, Nigeria)

  • Ayten Ates

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, 58140 Sivas, Turkey)

  • Winston O. Soboyejo

    (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja 900107, Nigeria
    Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA
    Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology for Development, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA)

  • Robert Krueger

    (Department of Social Science and Policy Studies, Institute of Science and Technology for Development, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA)

  • Michael T. Timko

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology for Development, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA)

Abstract

Low- and middle-income countries have tremendous potential for renewable energy production, including production of renewable carbon from locally prolific crops. In this work, bamboo endemic to West Africa ( Bambusa vulgaris ) was studied as a feedstock for the production of renewable sugars as the gateway to the local production of biofuels and bio-based chemical products. The effectiveness of delignification and amorphization pretreatments was evaluated, with the observation that quantitative (97 ± 4%) sugar yields could be obtained with a rapid initial hydrolysis rate (82 ± 4 mg g −1 h −1 ) but only when amorphization was performed following delignification. Experimental measurements and further characterization using 13 C solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) helped establish the importance of amorphization and delignification and explained why the order of these treatments determined their effectiveness. The economics of the bamboo-based process were compared with those projected for corn stover, selected as a well-studied benchmark crop. Because of the higher bamboo growth rate compared with corn stover and the effectiveness of the pretreatment, the projected net present value (NPV) of the bamboo biorefinery was positive ($190 MM, U.S.), whereas the corn biorefinery projected to negative NPV (−$430 MM, U.S.). A socially sustainable framework for deployment of a bamboo biorefinery in a low- or middle-income economy was then proposed, guided by the principle of local ownership and stakeholder buy-in. The findings presented here motivate further investment in development of bamboo cultivation and conversion to sugars as a rapid route to decarbonization of low- and middle-income economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Nneka B. Ekwe & Maksim V. Tyufekchiev & Ali A. Salifu & Klaus Schmidt-Rohr & Zhaoxi Zheng & Alex R. Maag & Geoffrey A. Tompsett & Charles M. Cai & Emmanuel O. Onche & Ayten Ates & Winston O. Soboyejo , 2022. "Bamboo as a Cost-Effective Source of Renewable Carbon for Sustainable Economic Development in Low- and Middle-Income Economies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2022:i:1:p:331-:d:1017626
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/1/331/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/1/331/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Siqueira, Germano & Várnai, Anikó & Ferraz, André & Milagres, Adriane M.F., 2013. "Enhancement of cellulose hydrolysis in sugarcane bagasse by the selective removal of lignin with sodium chlorite," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 399-402.
    2. Aui, A. & Wang, Y. & Mba-Wright, M., 2021. "Evaluating the economic feasibility of cellulosic ethanol: A meta-analysis of techno-economic analysis studies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    3. Kirtika Kohli & Ravindra Prajapati & Brajendra K. Sharma, 2019. "Bio-Based Chemicals from Renewable Biomass for Integrated Biorefineries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-40, January.
    4. Shivangi Jha & Sonil Nanda & Bishnu Acharya & Ajay K. Dalai, 2022. "A Review of Thermochemical Conversion of Waste Biomass to Biofuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-23, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhou, Man & Fakayode, Olugbenga Abiola & Ahmed Yagoub, Abu ElGasim & Ji, Qinghua & Zhou, Cunshan, 2022. "Lignin fractionation from lignocellulosic biomass using deep eutectic solvents and its valorization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    2. Diana Constantinescu-Aruxandei & Florin Oancea, 2023. "Closing the Nutrient Loop—The New Approaches to Recovering Biomass Minerals during the Biorefinery Processes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-52, January.
    3. Bogusława Waliszewska & Mieczysław Grzelak & Eliza Gaweł & Agnieszka Spek-Dźwigała & Agnieszka Sieradzka & Wojciech Czekała, 2021. "Chemical Characteristics of Selected Grass Species from Polish Meadows and Their Potential Utilization for Energy Generation Purposes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Gomes, Michelle Garcia & Gurgel, Leandro Vinícius Alves & Baffi, Milla Alves & Pasquini, Daniel, 2020. "Pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse using citric acid and its use in enzymatic hydrolysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 332-341.
    5. Aui, Alvina & Wang, Yu, 2022. "Post-RFS supports for cellulosic ethanol: Evaluation of economic and environmental impacts of alternative policies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    6. Md Sumon Reza & Juntakan Taweekun & Shammya Afroze & Shohel Ahmed Siddique & Md. Shahinoor Islam & Chongqing Wang & Abul K. Azad, 2023. "Investigation of Thermochemical Properties and Pyrolysis of Barley Waste as a Source for Renewable Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-18, January.
    7. Guzelciftci, Begum & Park, Ki-Bum & Kim, Joo-Sik, 2020. "Production of phenol-rich bio-oil via a two-stage pyrolysis of wood," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    8. Prabodh Illukpitiya & Firuz Yuldashev & Kabirat Nasiru, 2022. "Designing Harvesting and Hauling Cost Models for Energy Cane Production for Biorefineries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-12, July.
    9. Bartolucci, L. & Cordiner, S. & Di Carlo, A. & Gallifuoco, A. & Mele, P. & Mulone, V., 2024. "Platform chemicals recovery from spent coffee grounds aqueous-phase pyrolysis oil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    10. Chen, Wei-Cheng & Sheng, Chung-Teh & Liu, Yu-Cheng & Chen, Wei-Jen & Huang, Wen-Luh & Chang, Shih-Hsien & Chang, Wei-Che, 2014. "Optimizing the efficiency of anhydrous ethanol purification via regenerable molecular sieve," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 483-489.
    11. Martyna Przydacz & Marcin Jędrzejczyk & Jacek Rogowski & Małgorzata Szynkowska-Jóźwik & Agnieszka M. Ruppert, 2020. "Highly Efficient Production of DMF from Biomass-Derived HMF on Recyclable Ni-Fe/TiO 2 Catalysts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-14, September.
    12. Saaida Khlifi & Marzouk Lajili & Patrick Perré & Victor Pozzobon, 2022. "A Numerical Study of Turbulent Combustion of a Lignocellulosic Gas Mixture in an Updraft Fixed Bed Reactor," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    13. Ribeiro, Flaviana C.P. & Santos, Jamily L. & Araujo, Rayanne O. & Santos, Vanuza O. & Chaar, Jamal S. & Tenório, Jorge A.S. & de Souza, Luiz K.C., 2024. "Sustainable catalysts for esterification: Sulfonated carbon spheres from biomass waste using hydrothermal carbonization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    14. Vellaiyan, Suresh, 2023. "Recent advancements in water emulsion fuel to explore efficient and cleaner production from various biodiesels: A retrospective review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    15. Shalfoh, Ehsan & Ahmad, Mardiana Idayu & Binhweel, Fozy & Shaah, Marwan Abdulhakim & Senusi, Wardah & Hossain, Md Sohrab & Alsaadi, Sami, 2024. "Fish waste oil extraction using supercritical CO2 extraction for biodiesel production: Mathematical, and kinetic modeling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    16. Gabrielle M. Myers & Daniel S. Andersen & Bobby J. Martens & D. Raj Raman, 2023. "Cost Assessment of Centralizing Swine Manure and Corn Stover Co-Digestion Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-17, May.
    17. Li Ji & Pengfei Li & Fuhou Lei & Xianliang Song & Jianxin Jiang & Kun Wang, 2020. "Coproduction of Furfural, Phenolated Lignin and Fermentable Sugars from Bamboo with One-Pot Fractionation Using Phenol-Acidic 1,4-Dioxane," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-17, October.
    18. Ibrahim, Qusay & Arauzo, Pablo J. & Kruse, Andrea, 2020. "The effect of using different acids to catalyze the prehydrolysis stage on the organosolv delignification of beech wood in two-stage process," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 1479-1487.
    19. Aui, Alvina & Wang, Yu, 2023. "Cellulosic ethanol production: Assessment of the impacts of learning and plant capacity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    20. Jun Sheng Teh & Yew Heng Teoh & Heoy Geok How & Mohamad Yusof Idroas & Thanh Danh Le & Huu Tho Nguyen, 2022. "Experimental Studies of Combustion and Emission Characteristics of Biomass Producer Gas (BPG) in a Constant Volume Combustion Chamber (CVCC) System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-18, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2022:i:1:p:331-:d:1017626. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.