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Introduction
I am the founder and manager of Celignis Biomass Analysis Laboratory, a company that provides services for the characterisation of biomass samples. It is a spinout company from work I undertook during my PhD and subsequent post-doc projects (FP7, EPA, etc.). This work led to the development of accurate rapid analysis models for predicting the lignocellulosic composition of biomass from near infrared spectra. At Celignis the research continues, we are a participant in two H2020 projects.
Additional affiliations
Education
September 2006 - February 2011
September 1997 - June 2001
Publications
Publications (15)
This study presents a method for effective pectin extraction from the laminae of three tobacco varieties as a means of biomass valorisation. Two pre-treatment methods (cold ethanol vs. accelerated solvent extraction [ASE] with ethanol) were compared for their capacities to produce a high pectin yield. Enzymatic extraction of pectin was also tested...
Knowing the accurate composition of biomass is of crucial importance in order to assess and decide on the use and processes to be applied to specific biomass types. In this study, the composition of the lignocellulosic constituents present in forestry, agricultural and underutilised waste residues was assessed. Considering the increased interest on...
As the utilization and consumption of lignocellulosic biomass increases, so too will the need for an adequate supply of feedstock. To meet these needs, novel waste feedstock materials will need to be utilized. Exploitation of these novel feedstocks will require information both on the effects of solvent extraction on the succeeding analysis of pote...
Analytical data and quantitative near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy models for various lignocellulosic components (including Klason lignin and the constituent sugars glucose, xylose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, and rhamnose), ash, and ethanol-soluble extractives were obtained for 53 samples of paper and cardboard. These samples were mostly the typ...
The ability of using novel method of near-infrared (NIR) spectra to predict the composition and higher heating value (HHV) of dry pig manure was examined. Number of pig manure solid fractions variously pre-treated samples were collected in Denmark, from different pig slurry treatment plants (using mechanical or chemical-mechanical separation) and t...
Biomass feedstocks for the production of biofuels and chemicals vary greatly in their chemical compositions. These differences influence the types of technologies that are suitable for processing the feedstock. First-generation technologies focus on the conversion of sugars, starches, and oils, while second-generation technologies process lignocell...
Miscanthus plants were sampled from several plantations in Ireland over the harvest window (October-April). These were separated into their anatomical components and the loss of leaves monitored. Three distinct phases were apparent: there was minimal loss in the "Early" (October to early December) and "Late" (March and April) phases, and rapid leaf...
There has been a significant degree of hype regarding the commercial potential of second‐generation biofuels (2GBs; biofuels sourced from lignocellulosic materials). In 2007, ambitious targets for the mass substitution of fossil‐fuel‐derived transport fuels by 2GBs were put forward in the United States and similar targets exist for other countries....
Miscanthus samples were scanned over the visible and near infrared wavelengths at several stages of processing (wet-chopped, air-dried, dried and ground, and dried and sieved). Models were developed to predict lignocellulosic and elemental constituents based on these spectra. The dry and sieved scans gave the most accurate models; however the wet-c...
This paper considers the contribution that biorefineries, through the production of second-generation biofuels from lignocellulosic feedstocks, can make in the Republic of Ireland to the mandated 10% transport biofuel quotient for 2020. An emphasis is placed on the avoidance of land-use conflict issues and, hence, on the prioritization of waste/res...
Biofuels offer the potential to substitute for a large proportion of fossil fuels, however it is considered that the utilisation of lignocellulosic biomass, via second-generation biorefining technologies, will be necessary for this to be achieved economically and sustainably. The lignocellulosic matrix is complex and recalcitrant to conversion but...
Currently, on a commercial scale, all biofuels are being produced by "first-generation" technologies. These require expensive and high-maintenance starch/sucrose/oil-based crops as their feedstocks. Such crops tend to be detrimental to the soil and have poor energy ratios (some researchers even propose that the entire production-cycle for ethanol s...