Understanding the influence of microwave heating on biomass-solvent extraction

Taqi, Ali A. M. A. (2022) Understanding the influence of microwave heating on biomass-solvent extraction. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

Replacing fossil fuels with cleaner, more sustainable energy/chemical resources is key in tackling the current global challenges. Plant-based biomasses are an abundant resource offering direct access to a set of various fuels and platform chemicals. However, amongst many reasons, the lack of maturity of the available biomass processing techniques has hindered this sector from arriving at the envisaged industrial scales.

This thesis is concerned with biomass-solvent extraction, a process which returns high value-added components from plant-based biomass. Microwave heating is widely thought to enhance this process, but the cause of the enhancement is still unclear as the underpinning mechanisms are yet to be thoroughly described and quantified. Without such fundamental mechanistic understanding, it will not be possible to industrialise the process despite its promising prospects. The aim of this thesis is to characterise the influence of microwave heating on biomass-solvent extraction, thereby understanding whether/how microwaves enhance the process. A mathematical model is developed to quantify extraction at the cellular scale (i.e., <1

Item Type: Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors: Robinson, John
Binner, Eleanor
Farcot, Etienne
Keywords: Biomass-Solvent Extraction; Microwaves; Mathematical Model; Heat Transfer; Temperature Gradient; Mass Transfer; Pressure; Chemical Potential
Subjects: T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
T Technology > TP Chemical technology
Faculties/Schools: UK Campuses > Faculty of Engineering
Item ID: 69069
Depositing User: Taqi, Ali
Date Deposited: 01 Aug 2022 04:40
Last Modified: 01 Aug 2022 04:40
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/69069

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