The environmental, social, and economic concerns regarding fossil fuels necessitate the demand for an efficient energy mix utilising renewable resources like biomass for sustainable development. Recent interest in the thermochemical conversion of coal and biomass into bioenergy via co-pyrolysis processes is gaining importance. This review critically assesses the behaviour of different types of coal and biomass blends during co-pyrolysis from various perspectives, including the effects of temperature, blending ratios, heating rate, synergistic and inhibitive behaviours, heat transfer mechanisms, nature of products, and their future applications. The possible synergies arising due to differences in the compositions of coal and biomass are discussed. In addition, the synergistic effect on co-pyrolysis yield is critically presented. Moreover, it is analysed that the co-pyrolysis offers higher yields of liquid and gaseous fuels compared to individual feedstock coal and biomass. Co-pyrolysis of coal and biomass can be promoted from a scientific standpoint; however, further research is still required for the integration of new technologies to enhance the effectiveness of co-pyrolysis.

본 연구는 비방사성 SrCl2를 이용하여 Sr 농도를 50, 100, 200mg·kg-1 및 토양 유기물 함량을 5%, 10% 및 15%로 달리하여 배추의 생육, 생체중, 엽록소 함량에 미치는 영향을 생육 시기별로 분석하였다. 그 결과, Sr 농도가 증가할수록 초장, 근장, 엽면적, 생체중 및 건물중이 유의하게 감소하였으며, 특히 Sr 200mg·kg-1 처리에서 생육 저 해가 뚜렷하였다. 반면, 엽록소 함량(SPAD)은 처리 간 유의한 차이를 보이지 않아 광합성 색소에는 Sr의 영향이 제 한적인 것으로 나타났다. 유기물 함량이 높은 토양에서는 Sr 처리에 따른 생육 저해가 완화되었으며, 특히 유기물 15% 조건에서 완충 효과가 가장 크게 나타났다. 이는 유기물이 Sr의 생물유효도를 감소시켜 식물체 흡수를 억제하 는 기작에 의한 것으로 판단된다. 본 연구는 비방사성 SrCl2를 이용한 실험을 통해 작물의 Sr 독성 반응과 유기물 기 반 토양 완충 효과를 정량적으로 규명하였으며, 향후 방사성 오염 토양의 생물학적 복원 및 안전 농산물 생산 전략 수립에 기초자료로 활용될 수 있다.

대광은 식물의 생장과 생리에 큰 영향을 미치는 핵심 환경 요소이다. 식물공장에서는 일반적으로 재배 기 간 동안 광도가 일정하게 유지된다. 본 연구는 동일한 누적 광량 조건 하에서 일일 광도 변동이 상추(Lactuca sativa L.)와 바질(Ocimum basilicum L.)의 생장 및 광합성에 미치는 영향을 평가하였다. 파종 후 25일(25 DAS)에 식물에 7일간 8가지의 광 처리(L1－L7)를 적용하였다. 대조구는 250 μmol·m-2·s-1의 일정한 광도를 유지하였고, L1부터 L7까지의 처리구는 150에서 350 μmol·m-2·s-1 사이의 일일 광도 변동을 수반하였다. 두 작물 모두에서 광합성 반응 은 전반적으로 광도 변동 패턴을 따랐다. 광도가 점진적으로 증가하는 경우에는 기공전도도에 영향이 없었으나, 급 격한 증가가 있을 경우에는 기공전도도가 유의미하게 감소하였다. 32 DAS 에는 상추에서 대조구와 L5 처리구(불 규칙한 변동)에서 가장 높은 생장이 나타났으며, 바질에서는 L2 처리구(점진적 증가 후 감소)에서 가장 높은 생장 이 관찰되었다. 이 결과는 수확 직전의 단기적인 일일 광도 조절이 생산성을 향상시킬 수 있으며, 그 반응은 작물별 로 다르게 나타난다는 것을 시사한다.

Marine biomass (MB) offers an environmentally friendly and readily available carbon source from the ocean. However, the high concentration of alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs) in MB typically reduces the carbon yield and inhibits micropore formation during heat treatment due to catalytic gasification. In this study, we successfully synthesized activated carbon (AC) with a high specific surface area (> 1,500 m2/ g) and significant mesopore content (60%, mean pore size: 3.4 nm) from MB by employing preheating, controlled acid purification, and CO₂ activation. The formation of mesopores in the MB-derived AC was driven by catalytic gasification induced by intrinsic and residual AAEMs during preheating and physical activation processes. We evaluated the potential of the MB-derived AC as an electrode material for electric doublelayer capacitors (EDLCs). The material demonstrated high specific capacitance values of 25.9 F/g and 29.4 F/g at 2.7 V and 3.3 V, respectively, during charge–discharge cycles. These high capacitance values at elevated voltages were attributed to the increased number of solvated ions (e.g., 1.93 mmol/g at 3.3 V) present in the mesopores. Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance (19F solid-state NMR) analysis revealed a substantial increase in solvated ion concentration within the mesopores of the MB-derived AC electrode at 3.3 V, demonstrating enhanced ion mobility and diffusion. These findings highlight the potential of MB-derived AC as a promising electrode material for high-voltage energy storage applications.

Incorporation of pseudocapacitive materials into porous carbon is a promising strategy to boost electrochemical performance. Herein, composite of biomass-derived porous carbon and MnO2 (a typical pseudocapacitive material) was facilely fabricated through an in-situ synthesis approach with sorghum seeds derived porous carbon (SSC) as the skeleton for MnO2 deposition. The as-prepared composite ( MnO2@SSC) exhibits hierarchical porous structure with abundant interlaced MnO2 nanowires wrapping on the surface. While the porous structure is beneficial to the active sites exposure and electrolyte ions transport, the interlaced three-dimensional (3D) network of MnO2 nanowires significantly boosts the tolerance toward volume shrinkage/expansion during the cyclic process. Consequently, the MnO2@ SSC-based electrode delivered quite promising supercapacitive performance including superior specific capacitance of 482.7 F/g at 0.5 A/g, outstanding long-term cycling stability (95.8% specific capacitance retention after 20,000 cycles) and high energy density of 13.7 Wh/kg at power density of 298.1 W/kg. Furthermore, all-solid-state flexible supercapacitor based on MnO2@ SSC can be facilely bent to various angles (0° to 150°) without significant degradation in the capacitive performance. This study provides a facile, cost-effective, and sustainable approach for the fabrication of high-performance electrode materials.

The growing demand for clean energy and sustainable technologies has intensified the need for efficient energy storage systems (EES) that support renewable energy integration while minimizing environmental impact. Biomass, an abundant and renewable resource, presents a cost-effective and eco-friendly pathway for producing advanced carbon materials, particularly heteroatom-doped graphene derivatives. This transformation aligns with circular economy principles by converting waste streams into high-performance materials for EES applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of biomassderived heteroatom-doped graphene materials, focusing on their synthesis, properties, and applications in electrochemical energy storage systems. It addresses a critical gap in the literature by systematically examining the relationship between biomass sources, doping strategies, and their impact on graphene’s electrochemical performance. The study highlights the role of heteroatom doping such as nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and boron in enhancing graphene’s structural and electronic properties. These modifications introduce active sites, improve conductivity, and facilitate ion storage and transport, resulting in superior energy density, cycling stability, and charge–discharge performance in devices such as sodium/lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. Recent advancements in green synthesis methods, including pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, and chemical activation, are highlighted, focusing on their scalability and resource efficiency. By addressing both environmental and technological benefits, this review bridges the gap between laboratory research and practical applications. It underscores the critical role of biomass-derived graphene in achieving sustainable energy solutions and advancing the circular economy, offering a roadmap for future innovations in this rapidly evolving field.

The Indian Ocean is the second-largest tuna fishing ground in the world, accounting for approximately 1.2 million tonnes (23%) of the estimated 5.2 million tonnes of global commercial tuna catch in 2023. This study examined the relationship between tuna catches, specifically skipjack, bigeye, and yellowfin tunas, and prey biomass (Nautical Area Scattering Coefficient, NASC) estimated from acoustic surveys conducted in the southwestern Indian Ocean from 20 April to 15 May 2019. Environmental variables were derived from the Copernicus Ocean Model, and tuna length data from the IOTC. The estimated total tuna catch in the study area was approximately 166,400 tonnes, with the northwestern region showing the highest catches and NASC values. Tuna catches increased with NASC; however, the relationship was non-linear. While skipjack showed no significant correlation with NASC, bigeye and yellowfin tunas exhibited weak but significant positive correlations. Environmental analysis revealed that the northern waters had high surface temperatures, low salinity, and low oxygen levels, with mid and deep layers characterized by low temperature, salinity, oxygen, and chlorophyll. These findings offer a foundation for understanding tuna distribution in relation to prey and environmental conditions, highlighting the need for future species- and fishery-specific studies to support sustainable tuna resource management.

Microalgae, such as Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus, are highly efficient at capturing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, converting it into valuable biomass. This biomass can be further processed into carbon materials with applications in various fields, including water treatment. The reinforcement learning (RL) method was used to dynamically optimize environmental conditions for microalgae growth, improving the efficiency of biodiesel production. The contributions of this study include demonstrating the effectiveness of RL in optimizing biological systems, highlighting the potential of microalgae-derived materials in various industrial applications, and showcasing the integration of renewable energy technologies to enhance sustainability. The study demonstrated that Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus, cultivated under controlled conditions, significantly improved absorption rates by 50% and 80%, respectively, showcasing their potential in residential heating systems. Post-cultivation, the extracted lipids were effectively utilized for biodiesel production. The RL models achieved high predictive accuracy, with R2 values of 0.98 for temperature and 0.95 for oxygen levels, confirming their effectiveness in system regulation. The development of activated carbon from microalgae biomass also highlighted its utility in removing heavy metals and dyes from water, proving its efficacy and stability, thus enhancing the sustainability of environmental management. This study underscores the successful integration of advanced machine learning with biological processes to optimize microalgae cultivation and develop practical byproducts for ecological applications.

Marine biomass (MB) is gaining attention as a sustainable and eco-friendly carbon source within the carbon cycle, particularly in regions with extensive coastlines. However, the high content of alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs) in MB poses challenges in producing functional carbon materials, like activated carbon (AC), with a high specific surface area (SSA). In this study, we employed a two-step CO2 activation process, coupled with acid treatment, to successfully convert MB into highly porous AC. Preheating followed by nitric acid washing reduced AAEM content from 22.4 to 2.5 wt%, and subsequent atmospheric CO2 activation produced AC with an SSA of 1700 m2/ g and mesopores of 3–5 nm. A further treatment with a mixed acid solution of nitric and acetic acids reduced impurities to below 1.0 wt%. A second pressurized CO2 activation at 1 MPa yielded AC with an SSA exceeding 2100 m2/ g, with mesopores accounting for more than 50% of the total pore volume. This method demonstrates an effective approach to producing high-performance AC from MB for advanced applications.

Industrialization and increasing consumerism have driven up energy demand and fossil fuel consumption, significantly contributing to global climate change and environmental pollution. While renewable energy sources are sustainable, their intermittent nature necessitates the development of efficient energy storage devices to ensure uninterrupted power supply and optimal energy utilization. Electrochemical energy storage devices are promising for sustainable energy. Traditionally, carbon electrode materials for these devices come from non-renewable sources. However, using biomass and biomass–coal blends can help substitute fossil fuels, reducing environmental impact. Recent advancements in carbon materials have achieved specific surface areas of over 2500 m2/ g, resulting in supercapacitor capacitances of 250–350 F/g and cycling stability exceeding 10,000 cycles with < 5% capacity loss. In lithium-ion batteries, biomass-based anodes deliver 400–600 mA h/g, outperforming graphite. Doped carbon materials enhance charge-transfer efficiency by 20–30%, while CO₂ emissions from production are reduced by 40–60%. With 50–70% lower costs than fossil-based alternatives, biomass-derived carbons present a viable pathway for scalable, eco-friendly energy storage solutions, accelerating the transition toward sustainable energy systems. Overall, this work highlights the influence of carbon materials on the electrochemical properties and hydrogen storage capacity of biomass-based carbon materials. This also underscores their potential application in energy storage.

The synthesis of functional carbon materials with controllable morphology and structure using a simple, effective, and green process starting from biomass has been an attractive and challenging topic in recent years. After decades of technological development, high value-added biomass-derived carbon nanomaterials with different morphologies and structures prepared by low-temperature hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) have been gradually developed into a huge system covering different series in different dimensions, and are widely used in the fields of adsorption, electrochemical energy storage, and catalysis. However, due to a vague understanding of the fundamental structure–performance correlation and the absence of customized material design strategies, the diverse needs in practical applications cannot be well met. Herein, we reviewed the mechanism, modifications, and applications of the low-temperature HTC method for biomass. The synthesis mechanisms, structural designs strategies, and related applications of biomass-derived hydrochar are highlighted and summarized in different dimensions, including six major categories: zero-dimensional spherical structure, one-dimensional fibrous and tubular structure, two-dimensional lamellar structure, three-dimensional hierarchical porous structure, and special-shaped asymmetric structure. Then a sustainability assessment is conducted on the hydrothermal carbonization process. Finally, the controllable preparation of biomass-derived hydrochar is summarized and prospected for the application requirements in different fields.

Maize (Zea mays. L) is one of the major sources of green fodder for livestock in Pakistan. Crop management plays a key role in obtaining high yields for green fodder. Fertilizer application, seed rate, and row spacing are critical components of crop management, which can significantly affect crop biomass. To determine the best production technology, a two-year (2021-2023) study was conducted at the research area of National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad. Plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, green fodder yield per acre, and green fodder yield per hectare were recorded. Various row spacing (15 cm, 30 cm, 45 cm, and 60 cm), fertilizer ratio (N: P = 55:30, 65:40, 75:50, and 85:60), and seed rates (30 kg/ac, 35 kg/ac, 40 kg/ac, and 45 kg/ac) were applied. Results obtained experiments revealed that in both growing seasons, the maximum green fodder yield was obtained when fertilizer N: P ratio was 75:50 (green fodder biomass: 74.61 t/ha and 72.56 t/ha). Similarly, the optimal seed rate was found to be 40 kg/ac, which resulted in the highest green fodder yield (73.41 t/ha and 72.88 t/ha in two seasons). Furthermore, the plant of maize at row spacing of 30 cm was found to generate the maximum green fodder yield (72.39 t/ha and 72.40 t/ha, respectively). Green fodder yield per hectare was found to be positively correlated with plant height, number of leaves, and leaf area. These findings underscore the significance of applying a fertilizer ratio of N: P = 75:50, a seed rate 40 kg/ac, and a row spacing of 45 cm for higher yields of green fodder in maize crop.

Production technology trials for PARC’s new fodder oat cultivar (PARC-Oat) were conducted at the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) under rain-fed conditions in Islamabad from 2021 to 2023. The effects of different fertilizer doses, planting densities (seed rates), and inter-row spacing on green fodder yield were studied. The experiment comprised four fertilizer doses of nitrogen and phosphorus (N:P) (55:30, 65:40, 75:50, and 85:60 kg/ha), four seed rate densities (30 kg/ac, 35 kg/ac, 40 kg/ac, and 45 kg/ac), and four inter-row spacings (15 cm, 30 cm, 45 cm, and 60 cm). Results based o n k ey p arameters a ffecting t he y ield of PARC-O at—namely plant height (cm), leaf area (cm²), leaves per tiller, number of tillers per plant, and green fodder yield (t/ha)—indicated that the maximum yield of 72.74 t/ha was observed with the fertilizer dose of 75:50 kg/ha (N:P). Similarly, a seed rate of 40 kg/ha produced optimal planting densities, resulting in the highest green fodder yield of 72.85 t/ha, while an inter-row spacing of 30 cm yielded the maximum green fodder yield of 74.30 t/ha. These results suggest that to achieve maximum green fodder biomass of oats, best management practices should include the application of a fertilizer dose of 75:50 (N:P), a seed rate of 40 kg/ha, and an inter-row spacing of 30 cm.

Microalgae are efficient fatty acid producers owing to their high photosynthetic activities. They can act as sources of biofuel, feed, and various bioactive compounds. This study aimed to determine optimal culture conditions, including culture medium, temperature, and light intensity, to enhance the biomass and fatty acid content of the indigenous freshwater microalga, Tetradesmus obliquus. Evaluation using a high-throughput photobioreactor revealed that the optimal culture temperature and light intensity were 25°C and 300 μmol m-2 s-1, respectively. Additionally, we optimized components (N, P, and Mg) of the BG-11 medium to enhance the microalgal biomass. Modified BG-11 medium increased the T. obliquus biomass by 37% compared to the standard BG-11 medium. Subsequently, the culture medium was replaced with N- and P-depleted media to determine the abiotic stress factor that could increase the cellular fatty acid content. Notably, fatty acid content was significantly increased from 8.5% up to 14.6% on day 7 of culture in N-deficient (N-P+ and N-P-) media. Sequential optimization effectively increased the biomass by 83% and fatty acid content by >76% in T. obliquus. Our optimization method can be used to enhance the biomass and fatty acid contents of various other microalgae.