Study reveals eco-friendly way to generate electricity from wood waste

A new study by researchers at the University of Limerick in Ireland has revealed a sustainable method to efficiently convert waste heat into electricity using Irish wood products, while minimizing costs and environmental impact.

The study, carried out by UL researchers in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Valencia, demonstrated a method of producing electricity using low-grade heat recovered from lignin-derived membranes.

Typically overlooked, lignin is a sustainable byproduct derived from wood used in the production of paper and pulp. The study shows that these membranes can convert waste heat into electricity using the movement of charged atoms (ions) inside the material.

This is a significant advancement as previous studies have only demonstrated this technology using cellulose from natural wood, and the new UL research successfully applied it to lignin from wood waste , thus contributing to a more circular and sustainable economy.

Low-grade heat refers to waste heat generated at temperatures below 200 degrees Celsius. In industrial processes, 66% of waste heat falls into this category, highlighting the potential of this advancement for the development of sustainable heat-to-electricity applications.

The study is published in the journal Advanced functional materials.

Professor Maurice N Collins, professor of materials science at UL’s School of Engineering and principal investigator at the Bernal Institute who oversaw the study, explained: “Low-grade heat comes from a variety of sources such as heat lost in industries, heat losses in insulation systems, oceans. thermal gradients, biomass fermentation and solar heat.

“Despite its potential, the use of low-quality thermal energy in energy harvesting applications has proven difficult due to the lack of cost-effective technologies.”

“Our research explores the use of ionic thermoelectric membranes made from lignin, an underutilized by-product in the paper and pulp industry, providing a sustainable solution.”

Lead author Muhammad Muddasar, PhD at NXTGENWOOD. student based at the Bernal Institute, explained: “We have developed the first lignin-based membrane for ionic thermoelectric energy harvesting.

“Our membrane is lightweight, easy to synthesize, and biocompatible, making it suitable for various applications, including thermal energy harvesting, temperature sensing, and biomedical sensors for health monitoring.”

The UL researcher’s work on the NXTGENWOOD project is under the aegis of the Center for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (AMBER) of Science Federation Ireland. The project is dedicated to the development of new value-added applications using Irish wood.

Professor Collins said: “While there is still scope for development in heat-to-power applications, the study demonstrates that abundantly available lignin can successfully contribute to the recovery of thermal energy from low quality, especially in scenarios where sustainability and profitability are essential. crucial.”