Turning Herbal Waste into Clean Energy and Pollution Filters

Jenn Hoskins
17th February, 2024

Turning Herbal Waste into Clean Energy and Pollution Filters

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Imagine you're cooking up something new in the kitchen, something eco-friendly, and packed with potential to give our traditional energy sources a run for their money. Well, interestingly, some sharp minds have been toiling away in their science kitchens (aka labs) doing just that, but with plants you might usually find in your teas—nettle, sage, mint, and lemon balm. These aren't your usual herbs though; they've undergone a transformation, sort of like a food going through a gourmet makeover. The process they went through is called pyrolysis—it's like grilling them without letting any air in (which would otherwise burn them to a crisp). This special treatment turns these plants into a rich, carbon-rich material called biochar. Think of biochar as the charcoal you might use on a BBQ, but with a pinch of plant magic. Now, scientists have been looking at these biochars from all angles, poking and prodding to uncover their secrets, particularly their physical and chemical characteristics. What's cool here is that the properties of these biochars seem to get their spark from the original makeup of the plants used—specifically, their lignocellulose composition. Fancy word, right? Lignocellulose is basically the stuff plants are made of: a mix of lignin (that gives plants their sturdy structure), cellulose and hemicellulose (the fibers and sugars that plants are built with). So what did the researchers find? For one, they discovered that the mineral content in these plants plays a big role in creating a larger surface area in the biochars. Think of it like having a bigger dance floor—the more space you have, the more room there is to boogie, or in this case, the more room for the biochar to work its magic in various applications. Another interesting takeout was how the hemicellulose level (those plant sugars and fibers) affected the presence of functional groups on the biochar surface. Functional groups are like the little hands of a molecule—they can grab onto other substances, which can be mighty useful. Now, brace yourselves for the really hot stuff—these biochars pack some serious power. Their heating value, that’s the amount of energy they give off when they’re used as fuel, is on par with some of the usual suspects we depend on for energy. And here's the kicker: the lemon balm biochar is the high-roller of this herbaceous energy casino, with an impressive higher heating value of 20.36 MJ/kg. To put that into perspective, it's kind of like comparing premium unleaded gasoline to regular—you get more 'oomph' for every kilo. These biochars have one more trick up their sleeve; they can also play the role of environmental super cleaners. The scientists tested out how these biochars could interact with ionic polymers from various solutions. Why care about these? Well, ionic polymers are everywhere—think of things like water treatments, and these biochars might help in the purification processes. The initial results are like the first steps on the moon—small but super promising. Biochars showed they could help in the adsorption of polymers like polyethylenimine and polyacrylic acid, essentially suggesting they can sort of 'grab' these polymers out of solutions, potentially making them useful in cleaning up various messes. The plant world has always been a source of inspiration and wonder, from giving us the air we breathe to flavors that delight our taste buds. And now, it's showing us other kinds of potential—from sustainable energy to environmental protection. Turning aromatic herbs into high-energy biochars opens up an array of possibilities that are not only scientifically fascinating but also potentially revolutionary for how we approach energy and environmental challenges. It's a classic example of peering into nature's cookbook and coming out with recipes that might just redefine how we power our world and protect our ecosystems. So next time you sip on that herbal tea, imagine the untapped potential you've got brewing in your cup!

HerbsSustainabilityBiotech

References

Main Study

1) Preparation of biochars by conventional pyrolysis of herbal waste and their potential application for adsorption and energy purposes.

Published 16th February, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202300507


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