@article{woods_berrio_qiu_berlin_clauser_sagues_2024, title={Biomass composting with gaseous carbon dioxide capture}, url={https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SU00411B}, DOI={10.1039/D3SU00411B}, abstractNote={Biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) technologies must scale rapidly to mitigate climate change via the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. BiCRS technologies passively concentrate atmospheric CO2...}, journal={RSC Sustainability}, author={Woods, Ethan and Berrio, Vanessa Rondon and Qiu, Yaojing and Berlin, Perry and Clauser, Nicolas and Sagues, William Joe}, year={2024} }
 @article{lower_dey_vook_nimlos_park_sagues_2023, title={Catalytic Graphitization of Biocarbon for Lithium‐Ion Anodes: A Minireview}, url={https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202300729}, DOI={10.1002/cssc.202300729}, abstractNote={The demand for electrochemical energy storage is increasing rapidly due to a combination of decreasing costs in renewable electricity, governmental policies promoting electrification, and a desire by the public to decrease CO2 emissions. Lithium-ion batteries are the leading form of electrochemical energy storage for electric vehicles and the electrical grid. Lithium-ion cell anodes are mostly made of graphite, which is derived from geographically constrained, non-renewable resources using energy-intensive and highly polluting processes. Thus, there is a desire to innovate technologies that utilize abundant, affordable, and renewable carbonaceous materials for the sustainable production of graphite anodes under relatively mild process conditions. This review highlights novel attempts to realize the aforementioned benefits through innovative technologies that convert biocarbon resources, including lignocellulose, into high quality graphite for use in lithium-ion anodes.}, journal={ChemSusChem}, author={Lower, Lillian and Dey, Shaikat Chandra and Vook, Trevor and Nimlos, Mark and Park, Sunkyu and Sagues, William Joe}, year={2023}, month={Dec} }
 @article{molina_vook_sagues_kim_labbe_park_kelley_2023, title={Green Needle Coke Production from Pyrolysis Biocrude toward Bio-based Anode Material Manufacture: Biochar Fines Addition Effect as ?Physical Template? on the Crystalline Order}, volume={11}, ISSN={["2168-0485"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c06952}, DOI={10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c06952}, abstractNote={A new method for producing green needle coke (GNC) is developed by replacing the “heavy fraction” of petroleum pitch delayed coking with fast pyrolysis biocrude. A series of alternative biocrude distillation, carbonization, and calcination conditions were investigated to determine the influence of these processing parameters onto the crystalline structure of the resulting graphitized material. For the first time, the addition of biochar fines was found to serve as a “physical template” to increase the graphitic nature of the final product. During the initial biocrude carbonization (350–450 °C), volatile compounds are released, and aromatics in pyrolysis biocrude experience condensation, resulting in GNC solids with carbon contents above 95 wt % and some early lamellar structure. In the second stage of the thermal process (25–1500 °C), there are additional thermal decomposition reactions with an increase in the aromatic nature of the graphitized solid. It was found that systematic addition of biochar fines induces a nucleating effect during the GNC development. Thermogravimetric analysis suggests that biochar fines promote polycondensation reactions by modifying the biopitch structure and molecular weight, while elemental analysis (CHN) shows a reduction in both H/C and O/C ratios which are consistent with the increase in aromaticity and removal of oxygenated compounds as thermal treatment evolves. The effects of different bio-based pitch materials (after distillation) and GNC intermediates were evaluated by pyrolysis-gas chromatography mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared, displaying slight changes on product yields and quality. X-ray diffraction patterns taken after graphitization evidence an increase in the graphitic order with the addition of biochar fines. Transmittance electron microscopy depicts an improvement on graphitic morphology as biochar fine content increases. The use of biochar fines showed a significant increase in graphitic ordering at addition levels above 0.01 wt %. These results show that thermally treated biocrude/biochar fine systems can produce graphitic structures (hard carbon-like) that might be suitable for the manufacture of sodium-ion batteries.}, number={18}, journal={ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING}, author={Molina, Eliezer A. Reyes and Vook, Trevor and Sagues, William J. and Kim, Keonhee and Labbe, Nicole and Park, Sunkyu and Kelley, Stephen S.}, year={2023}, month={May}, pages={6944–6955} }
 @article{dees_sagues_woods_goldstein_simon_sanchez_2023, title={Leveraging the bioeconomy for carbon drawdown}, volume={4}, ISSN={["1463-9270"]}, DOI={10.1039/d2gc02483g}, abstractNote={A review and analysis of opportunities for long-term carbon dioxide removal and storage in biomass-derived products.}, journal={GREEN CHEMISTRY}, author={Dees, John P. and Sagues, William Joe and Woods, Ethan and Goldstein, Hannah M. and Simon, A. J. and Sanchez, Daniel L.}, year={2023}, month={Apr} }
 @article{peng_bao_wang_cote_sagues_hagelin-weaver_gao_xiao_tong_2023, title={Selective Depolymerization of Lignin Towards Isolated Phenolic Acids Under Mild Conditions}, volume={8}, ISSN={["1864-564X"]}, DOI={10.1002/cssc.202300750}, abstractNote={The selective transformation of lignin to value-added biochemicals in high yields is incredibly challenging due to its structural complexity and the vast number of possible reaction pathways. Phenolic acids (PAs) are key building blocks for various aromatic polymers, but the isolation of PAs from lignin is below 5 wt.% and requires harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we demonstrate an effective route to selectively convert lignin into isolated PAs in a high yield (up to 20 wt.% of lignin) using a low-cost graphene oxide-urea hydrogen peroxide (GO-UHP) catalyst system under mild conditions (<120 °C, ambient pressure). The lignin conversion yield is up to 95%, and the remaining low molecular weight organic oils can work as aviation fuel precursors to complete lignin utilization. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that pre-acetylation allows the selective depolymerization of lignin to aromatic aldehydes with a decent yield by GO through the Ca activation of β-O-4 cleavage.  A UHP oxidative process is followed to effectively transform aldehydes in the depolymerized product to PAs, by avoiding undesired Dakin side reaction due to the electron-withdrawing effect of the acetyl group.  This work opens a new way to selectively cleave lignin side chains to isolated biochemicals under mild reaction conditions.}, journal={CHEMSUSCHEM}, author={Peng, Wenbo and Bao, Hanxi and Wang, Yigui and Cote, Elizabeth and Sagues, William J. and Hagelin-Weaver, Halena and Gao, Ji and Xiao, Dequan and Tong, Zhaohui}, year={2023}, month={Aug} }
 @article{vook_dey_yang_nimlos_park_han_sagues_2023, title={Sustainable Li-ion anode material from Fe-catalyzed graphitization of paper waste}, volume={73}, ISSN={["2352-1538"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2023.109242}, DOI={10.1016/j.est.2023.109242}, abstractNote={A novel method for the conversion of paper towel waste to biographite anode material is developed and optimized for use in Li-ion batteries. The surge in demand for Li-ion battery anode materials coupled with the unsustainable and inefficient methods of producing battery-grade graphite necessitate alternative carbon feedstocks and graphitization technologies. Paper waste (PW) is identified as a suitable carbon feedstock for iron-catalyzed graphitization due to its sustainability, low cost, low ash content, and ample supply for the intended end use. A Box Behnken experimental design for statistical optimization is pursued for untreated and pre‑carbonized PW with factors of temperature (1100–1300 °C), hold time (1–5 h), and iron catalyst loading (0.5–1.5× fixed carbon content) with biographite crystal size as the primary response variable. Temperature and iron catalyst loading are found to be significant factors, whereas hold time is found to be insignificant. Reversible capacities of the biographite anodes are found to be 340–355 mAh g−1 with 99 % capacity retention over 100 cycles, indicating good electrochemical performance relative to commercial graphite anodes. The initial Coulombic efficiency of untreated and pre‑carbonized biographites, however, are 77 % and 75 %, respectively, suggesting parasitic reactions including electrolyte decomposition.}, journal={JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE}, author={Vook, Trevor and Dey, Shaikat Chandra and Yang, Junghoon and Nimlos, Mark and Park, Sunkyu and Han, Sang-Don and Sagues, William Joe}, year={2023}, month={Dec} }
 @article{lower_cunniffe_cheng_sagues_2022, title={COUPLING CIRCULARITY WITH CARBON NEGATIVITY IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS}, volume={65}, ISSN={["2769-3287"]}, DOI={10.13031/ja.14908}, abstractNote={HighlightsMany technologies required for circularity have the added benefit of carbon negativity.Precision agriculture, soil carbon sequestration, and biorefining couple circularity with carbon negativity.Stakeholders from many disciplines are needed to successfully couple circularity with carbon negativity.Abstract. Achieving a circular economy is critical for a sustainable future, particularly in sectors that currently produce resource-intensive products in a linear fashion, such as food and agriculture. At the same time, technologies that remove atmospheric CO2, often referred to as carbon dioxide removal (CDR) or carbon negativity, must be developed and deployed rapidly if we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Circularity and CDR are often assessed and discussed independently, even though they are highly intertwined. Innovations to food and agriculture systems are essential to achieving a circular economy and enabling rapid deployment of CDR technologies. We explore critical areas of technology that must undergo rapid innovation (upstream and downstream) to food processing and consumption, namely precision and regenerative agriculture and biorefining, respectively. If implemented at scale, these two areas of technology have the potential to couple circularity with carbon negativity in food production systems. Keywords: Biorefining, Carbon dioxide removal, Circularity, Food and agriculture systems, Precision agriculture, Soil carbon sequestration.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE ASABE}, author={Lower, Lillian and Cunniffe, Julia and Cheng, Jay J. and Sagues, William Joe}, year={2022}, pages={849–864} }
 @article{sagues_yang_monroe_han_vinzant_yung_jameel_nimlos_park_2020, title={A simple method for producing bio-based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries}, volume={22}, url={https://doi.org/10.1039/D0GC02286A}, DOI={10.1039/d0gc02286a}, abstractNote={A simple and scalable method for producing graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries is developed and demonstrated. A low-cost, earth abundant iron powder is used to catalyze the conversion of softwood, hardwood, cellulose, glucose, organosolv lignin, and hydrolysis lignin biomaterials to crystalline graphite at relatively low temperatures ( 99% coulombic efficiency.}, number={20}, journal={Green Chemistry}, publisher={Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)}, author={Sagues, William J. and Yang, Junghoon and Monroe, Nicholas and Han, Sang-Don and Vinzant, Todd and Yung, Matthew and Jameel, Hasan and Nimlos, Mark and Park, Sunkyu}, year={2020}, pages={7093–7108} }
 @article{sagues_assis_hah_sanchez_johnson_acharya_jameel_park_2020, title={Decarbonizing agriculture through the conversion of animal manure to dietary protein and ammonia fertilizer}, volume={297}, ISSN={["1873-2976"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122493}, abstractNote={The decarbonization of agriculture faces many challenges and has received a level of attention insufficient to abate the worst effects of climate change and ensure a sustainable bioeconomy. Agricultural emissions are caused both by fossil-intensive fertilizer use and land-use change, which in turn are driven in part by increasing demand for dietary protein. To address this challenge, we present a synergistic system in which organic waste-derived biogas (a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide) is converted to dietary protein and ammonia fertilizer. This system produces low-carbon fertilizer inputs alongside high-quality protein, addressing the primary drivers of agricultural emissions. If the proposed system were implemented across the United States utilizing readily available organic waste from municipal wastewater, landfills, animal manure, and commercial operations, we estimate 30% of dietary protein intake and 127% of ammonia usage could be displaced while reducing land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.}, journal={BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Sagues, William J. and Assis, Camilla A. and Hah, Phillip and Sanchez, Daniel L. and Johnson, Zackary and Acharya, Madhav and Jameel, Hasan and Park, Sunkyu}, year={2020}, month={Feb} }
 @article{bao_sagues_wang_peng_zhang_yang_xiao_tong_2020, title={Depolymerization of Lignin into Monophenolics By Ferrous/ Persulfate Reagent Under Mild Conditions}, volume={10}, DOI={10.1002/cssc.202002240}, abstractNote={This study aims to use a persulfate plus transition metal ions as the reagent to effectively depolymerize lignin into monophenolic compounds under mild conditions (ambient pressure, temperature < 100 °C). The Box-Behnken experimental design in combination with the response surface methodology is applied to obtain optimized reaction conditions. The results show that this reagent can depolymerize up to 99% of lignin dimers to mainly veratraldehyde. This reaction also successfully depolymerizes the industrial lignins to the high yield of phenolic oils and monophenolic compounds. Quantum chemistry calculations using the density functional theory level indicate that the persulfate free radical attacks Cβ to break the β-O-4 bond of lignin through a five-membered ring mechanism. This mechanism using persulfate free radicals has a lower activation barrier than that using hydroxyl radicals. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (2D-NMR) demonstrate the effective cleavage of the β-O-4 bonds of lignin after depolymerization.}, journal={ChemSusChem}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Bao, Hanxi and Sagues, William J. and Wang, Yigui and Peng, Wenbo and Zhang, Lin and Yang, Shunchang and Xiao, Dequan and Tong, Zhaohui}, year={2020}, month={Oct} }
 @article{sagues_jameel_sanchez_park_2020, title={Prospects for bioenergy with carbon capture & storage (BECCS) in the United States pulp and paper industry}, volume={13}, url={https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE01107J}, DOI={10.1039/d0ee01107j}, abstractNote={The pulp and paper industry utilizes more biomass for stationary heat and power than any other industry in the United States. In total, pulp and paper mills in the US emit ∼150 million metric tons of CO2 each year, of which 77% is biogenic. Thus, the pulp and paper industry has significant potential to indirectly remove atmospheric CO2 through bioenergy with CO2 capture and storage (BECCS). In addition, avenues for CO2 utilization exist in pulp and paper processing. Here, we analyze the technical and economic potential of integrating carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) technologies at pulp and paper mills in the US through top-down, industry-wide screening and bottom-up, chemical process modeling techniques. We estimate costs of capturing and transporting CO2 from pulp and paper mills using post-combustion amine chemisorption in the year 2026 with application of the existing federal tax credit for carbon capture and sequestration (Section 45Q). Costs are highly dependent on scenario-specific details, such as waste heat or power generation at the mill, idling or stranded assets, and proximity to suitable geologic storage opportunities. Some CCS implementation scenarios produce significant economic returns for pulp and paper mills, indicating a near-term opportunity to accelerate CCS in the US. Finally, we qualitatively assess alternative techniques for CO2 capture through process innovation, and opportunities for CO2 utilization at pulp and paper mills.}, number={8}, journal={Energy & Environmental Science}, publisher={Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)}, author={Sagues, W. J. and Jameel, H. and Sanchez, D. L. and Park, S.}, year={2020}, pages={2243–2261} }
 @article{sagues_jain_brown_aggarwal_suarez_kollman_park_argyropoulos_2019, title={Are lignin-derived carbon fibers graphitic enough?}, volume={21}, ISSN={1463-9262 1463-9270}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C9GC01806A}, DOI={10.1039/c9gc01806a}, abstractNote={The extent of graphitization is an overlooked limitation to lignin-derived carbon fiber development.}, number={16}, journal={Green Chemistry}, publisher={Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)}, author={Sagues, William J. and Jain, Ankush and Brown, Dylan and Aggarwal, Salonika and Suarez, Antonio and Kollman, Matthew and Park, Seonghyun and Argyropoulos, Dimitris S.}, year={2019}, pages={4253–4265} }
 @article{sagues_park_jameel_sanchez_2019, title={Enhanced carbon dioxide removal from coupled direct air capture-bioenergy systems}, volume={3}, ISSN={["2398-4902"]}, DOI={10.1039/c9se00384c}, abstractNote={Synergistic integration of BECCS and DAC systems decreases costs, increases carbon removal, and extends the impact of scarce biomass resources.}, number={11}, journal={SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS}, publisher={Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)}, author={Sagues, William J. and Park, Sunkyu and Jameel, Hasan and Sanchez, Daniel L.}, year={2019}, month={Nov}, pages={3135–3146} }
 @article{castro_nieves_rondón_sagues_fernández-sandoval_yomano_york_erickson_vermerris_2017, title={Potential for ethanol production from different sorghum cultivars}, volume={109}, DOI={10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.08.050}, abstractNote={This work presents the ethanol production results using three sweet sorghum cultivars. The sugar rich juice was fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli. The residual bagasse was further pretreated by dilute phosphoric acid steam explosion. The resulting slurry was submitted to Liquefaction plus Simultaneous Saccharification and co-Fermentation (L + SScF) process using Novozymes Cellic CTec3 enzymes and an engineered ethanologenic E. coli strain. Results show a sugar concentration in the juice ranging from 140 to 170 g/L, which were almost completely converted into ethanol by yeast. Concerning the L + SScF, the final ethanol concentration produced increased with enzyme dosage, with little difference among all three sorghum cultivars, reaching up to 27.5 g EtOH/L at enzyme concentrations of 11.5 FPU/gDW. Considering the ethanol produced from juice and from Sweet Sorghum Bagasse (SSB), there is a potential of producing up to 10,600 L of ethanol per hectare, improving on the values reported for corn ethanol.}, journal={Industrial Crops and Products}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Castro, Eulogio and Nieves, Ismael U. and Rondón, Vanessa and Sagues, William J. and Fernández-Sandoval, Marco T. and Yomano, Lorraine P. and York, Sean W. and Erickson, John and Vermerris, Wilfred}, year={2017}, pages={367–373} }
 @article{gubicza_nieves_sagues_barta_shanmugam_ingram_2016, title={Techno-economic analysis of ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse using a Liquefaction plus Simultaneous Saccharification and co-Fermentation process}, volume={208}, DOI={10.1016/j.biortech.2016.01.093}, abstractNote={A techno-economic analysis was conducted for a simplified lignocellulosic ethanol production process developed and proven by the University of Florida at laboratory, pilot, and demonstration scales. Data obtained from all three scales of development were used with Aspen Plus to create models for an experimentally-proven base-case and 5 hypothetical scenarios. The model input parameters that differed among the hypothetical scenarios were fermentation time, enzyme loading, enzymatic conversion, solids loading, and overall process yield. The minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) varied between 50.38 and 62.72 US cents/L. The feedstock and the capital cost were the main contributors to the production cost, comprising between 23–28% and 40–49% of the MESP, respectively. A sensitivity analysis showed that overall ethanol yield had the greatest effect on the MESP. These findings suggest that future efforts to increase the economic feasibility of a cellulosic ethanol process should focus on optimization for highest ethanol yield.}, journal={Bioresource Technology}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Gubicza, Krisztina and Nieves, Ismael U. and Sagues, William J. and Barta, Zsolt and Shanmugam, K.T. and Ingram, Lonnie O.}, year={2016}, month={May}, pages={42–48} }
 @article{castro_nieves_mullinnix_sagues_hoffman_fernández-sandoval_tian_rockwood_tamang_ingram_2014, title={Optimization of dilute-phosphoric-acid steam pretreatment of Eucalyptus benthamii for biofuel production}, volume={125}, DOI={10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.03.047}, abstractNote={This work deals with the production of ethanol from phosphoric acid-impregnated, steam-exploded Eucalyptus benthamii. The whole conversion process, addressing pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis of the whole slurry, and fermentation of both C5 and C6-sugars including a presaccharification step, is covered in this study. Two separate models were developed to maximize sugar content and minimize inhibitor concentrations, resulting in xylose yields of ∼50% and ∼60% after pretreatment. In addition, a Liquefaction plus Simultaneous Saccharification and co-Fermentation (L+SScF) was performed to compare the fermentability of the resulting pretreated biomass. After the 6-h liquefaction step using the Cellic CTec2 enzyme from Novozyme and 10% DW pretreated biomass, the total sugar concentration in the slurry was 47 g/L and 51 g/L for the two conditions respectively. Enzymatic hydrolysis continued during fermentation using an ethanologenic derivative of Escherichia coli KO11. The sugars were completely consumed in 96 h with product yields of 0.217 and 0.243 g ethanol/g DW biomass for each condition, respectively. These yields are equivalent to 275 and 304 L/tonne DW, confirming the effectiveness of the L+SScF process using phosphoric-acid-pretreated Eucalyptus.}, journal={Applied Energy}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Castro, Eulogio and Nieves, Ismael U. and Mullinnix, Mike T. and Sagues, William J. and Hoffman, Ralph W. and Fernández-Sandoval, Marco T. and Tian, Zhuoli and Rockwood, Donald L. and Tamang, Bijay and Ingram, Lonnie O.}, year={2014}, month={Jul}, pages={76–83} }
 @article{geddes_mullinnix_nieves_hoffman_sagues_york_shanmugam_erickson_vermerris_ingram_2013, title={Seed train development for the fermentation of bagasse from sweet sorghum and sugarcane using a simplified fermentation process}, volume={128}, DOI={10.1016/j.biortech.2012.09.121}, abstractNote={A process was developed for seed culture expansion (3.6 million-fold) using 5% of the hemicellulose hydrolysate from dilute acid pretreatment as the sole organic nutrient and source of sugar. Hydrolysate used for seed growth was neutralized with ammonia and combined with 1.0mM sodium metabisulfite immediately before inoculation. This seed protocol was tested with phosphoric acid pretreated sugarcane and sweet sorghum bagasse using a simplified process with co-fermentation of fiber, pentoses, and hexoses in a single vessel (SScF). A 6h liquefaction (L) step improved mixing prior to inoculation. Fermentations (L+SScF process) were completed in 72 h with high yields (>80 gal/US ton). Ethanol titers for this L+SScF process ranged from 24 g/L to 32 g/L, and were limited by the bagasse concentration (10% dry matter).}, journal={Bioresource Technology}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Geddes, C.C. and Mullinnix, M.T. and Nieves, I.U. and Hoffman, R.W. and Sagues, W.J. and York, S.W. and Shanmugam, K.T. and Erickson, J.E. and Vermerris, W.E. and Ingram, L.O.}, year={2013}, month={Jan}, pages={716–724} }
 @article{lignin-first approach to biorefining: utilizing fentons reagent and supercritical ethanol for the production of phenolics and sugars, DOI={10.1021/acssuschemeng.7b04500.s001}, publisher={American Chemical Society (ACS)} }