María Benita Murillo

@article{NAVARRO2025107778,

title = {The role of biogenic waste composition on pyrolysis: Part I – Char properties},

author = {África Navarro and Isabel Fonts and Joaquín Ruiz and Jesús Ceamanos and Noemí Gil-Lalaguna and María Benita Murillo and Gloria Gea},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0961953425001898},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107778},

issn = {0961-9534},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

urldate = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Biomass and Bioenergy},

volume = {197},

pages = {107778},

abstract = {The yield and properties of char derived from the co-digested manure and its main macro-components, including organic (cellulose, lignin, and protein) components and an inorganic component (CaCO3), produced at different pyrolysis temperatures (350, 550, and 750 °C) have been studied. Experimental results obtained from a surrogate co-digested manure were compared with the theoretically calculated values to explore potential interactions between these macro-components. The char properties analyzed included elemental analysis, pH, FTIR, XPS, and specific surface area. The effect of pyrolysis temperature on many properties was similar, regardless of the precursor (macro-component). Increasing pyrolysis temperature led to higher C content (>90 wt% for cellulose char at 750 °C), pH (from (∼7 for cellulose at 350 °C to ∼13 for co-digested manure), and specific surface area, observing a marked development of ultramicroporosity and microporosity, especially at the highest pyrolysis temperature studied, 750 °C. An exception was observed for the char derived from proteins due to melting during pyrolysis. By far, the solids from the pyrolysis of cellulose and lignin exhibited the most microporosity development (SSDR ≥ 650 m2 g-1), reaching, at the highest temperature studied, values close to those of physically activated carbons. Pyrolysis of the surrogate co-digested manure revealed the occurrence of Maillard reactions and also showed an interesting interaction involving CaCO3. The CaCO3 thermal decomposition is promoted when it is embedded into the organic matrix, where the CO2 generated during decomposition favored the Boudouard reaction of C from the organic components. This results in a lower biochar yield, 32 wt% versus 37 wt% (expected value), and a higher development of microporosity in the char.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Gil-Lalaguna2022,

title = {CO2 adsorption on pyrolysis char from protein-containing livestock waste: How do proteins affect?},

author = {Noemí Gil-Lalaguna and África Navarro-Gil and Hans-Heinrich Carstensen and Joaquín Ruiz and Isabel Fonts and Jesús Ceamanos and María Benita Murillo and Gloria Gea},

doi = {10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2022.157395},

issn = {0048-9697},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-11-01},

urldate = {2022-11-01},

journal = {Science of The Total Environment},

volume = {846},

pages = {157395},

publisher = {Elsevier},

abstract = {Biogas generation through anaerobic digestion provides an interesting opportunity to valorize some types of animal waste materials whose management is increasingly complicated by legal and environmental restrictions. To successfully expand anaerobic digestion in livestock areas, operational issues such as digestate management must be addressed in an economical and environmentally sustainable way. Biogas upgrading is another necessary stage before intending it to add-value applications. The high concentration of CO2 in biogas results in a reduced caloric value, so the removal of CO2 would be beneficial for most end-users. The current work evaluates the CO2 uptake properties (thermogravimetry study) of low-cost adsorbent materials produced from the animal wastes generated in the livestock area itself, specifically via pyrolysis of poorly biodegradable materials, such as meat and bone meal, and the digestate from manure anaerobic digestion. Therefore, the new element in this study with respect to other studies found in the literature related to biochar-based CO2 adsorption performance is the presence of high content of pyrolyzed proteins in the adsorbent material. In this work, pyrolyzed chars from both meat and bone meal and co-digested manure have been proven to adsorb CO2 reversibly, and also the chars produced from their representative pure proteins (collagen and soybean protein), which were evaluated as model compounds for a better understanding of the individual performance of proteins. The ultra-microporosity developed in the protein chars during pyrolysis seems to be the main explanation for such CO2 uptake capacities, while neither the BET surface area nor N-functionalities on the char surface can properly explain the observed results. Although the CO2 adsorption capacities of these pristine chars (6–41.0 mg CO2/g char) are far away from data of commercially activated carbons ($sim$80 mg CO2/g char), this application opens a new via to integrate and valorize these wastes in the circular economy of the primary sector.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Ruiz-Gomez2017,

title = {Co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge and manure},

author = {Nadia Ruiz-Gómez and Violeta Quispe and Javier Ábrego and María Atienza-Martínez and María Benita Murillo and Gloria Gea},

doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2016.11.013},

issn = {18792456},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {Waste Management},

volume = {59},

pages = {211--221},

publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},

abstract = {The management and valorization of residual organic matter, such as sewage sludge and manure, is gaining interest because of the increasing volume of these residues, their localized generation and the related problems. The anaerobic digestion of mixtures of sewage sludge and manure could be performed due to the similarities between both residues. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of the co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge (SS) and digested manure (DM) as a potential management technology for these residues. Pyrolysis of a sewage sludge/manure blend (50:50%) was performed at 525 °C in a stirred batch reactor under N2 atmosphere. The product yields and some characteristics of the product were analyzed and compared to the results obtained in the pyrolysis of pure residues. Potential synergetic and antagonist effects during the co-pyrolysis process were evaluated. Although sewage sludge and manure seem similar in nature, there are differences in their pyrolysis product properties and distribution due to their distinct ash and organic matter composition. For the co-pyrolysis of SS and DM, the product yields did not show noticeable synergistic effects with the exception of the yields of organic compounds, being slightly higher than the predicted average, and the H2 yield, being lower than expected. Co-pyrolysis of SS and DM could be a feasible management alternative for these residues in locations where both residues are generated, since the benefits and the drawbacks of the co-pyrolysis are similar to those of the pyrolysis of each residue.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Gil-Lalaguna2015,

title = {Use of sewage sludge combustion ash and gasification ash for high-temperature desulphurization of different gas streams},

author = {Noemí Gil-Lalaguna and José Luis Sánchez and María Benita Murillo and Gloria Gea},

doi = {10.1016/j.fuel.2014.10.036},

issn = {00162361},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-02-01},

journal = {Fuel},

volume = {141},

pages = {99--108},

publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},

abstract = {Due to its metal content, sewage sludge ash appears as a potential sorbent material for H2S removal at high temperature. The desulphurization ability of the solid by-products of combustion and gasification of sewage sludge has been evaluated in this work. Ash characterization results revealed that metal fraction in sewage sludge did not remained completely inert during combustion and gasification processes. Iron content was lower in the gasification ash and X-ray patterns showed different crystalline phases in the solids: Fe2O3 in the combustion ash and Fe3O4 in the gasification ash. These differences resulted in a lower sulphur capture capacity of the gasification ash. Desulphurization tests were carried out in a lab-scale fixed bed reactor operating at 600-800 °C. Different gases containing 5000 ppmv H2S (H2S/N2 mixture and synthetic gasification gas) were used. The H2S breakthrough curves were negatively affected by the reducing atmosphere created by the gasification gas and by the presence of steam in the reaction medium. However, H2S breakthrough curves alone do not provide enough information to evaluate the sulphur capture capacity of the sorbent materials. Ultimate analyses of the spent solid samples showed that the total amount of H2S removed from the gas was only partially captured in the ash. Thermodynamic data pointed to a significant fraction of sulphur forming part of other gases, such as SO2. In the best operating conditions, an outlet gas with less than 100 ppmv H2S was obtained during 300 min, thus resulting in a sulphur loading of 63 mg S gash-1. This experimental sulphur content was 39% lower than the maximum value predicted by equilibrium simulations.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodriguez-Barreiro2013,

title = {Approach to a causal model between attitudes and environmental behaviour. A graduate case study},

author = {Luis M Rodríguez-Barreiro and Rosario Fernández-Manzanal and Luis M Serra and José Carrasquer and María Benita Murillo and María J Morales and José M Calvo and Javier Valle},

url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652612005008},

issn = {09596526},

year  = {2013},

date = {2013-06-01},

journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},

volume = {48},

pages = {116--125},

abstract = {This paper offers a study of the environmental attitudes of graduates from the University of Zaragoza and their relationship with pro-environmental behaviour. These attitudes were analysed using a validated Likert scale, along with a questionnaire on environmental behaviours. A set of 20 items in the scale were grouped into four categories: Formation, Outreach activities, Conservation and Intention to act. Also, a set of 12 items were used to evaluate environmental behaviour. Structural equation modelling was used to test a causal model relating attitude to behaviours. The model shows the connection between two of the attitudinal factors – conservation and intention to act – with pro-environmental behaviour. The most relevant to the causal model is that the Conservation factor is the one that has shown the closest relation with Behaviour and this relation is shown through the Intention to act. The study involved 60 graduates that belong to departments that offer either compulsory or optional courses concerning the environment. This study suggests that conservation perspective should be considered in the university studies, both in interdisciplinary education programs and research programs. Moreover, the results obtained in this research work suggest that providing in the University adequate resources and habits in everyday academic life turns to be a very significant aspect for fostering pro-environmental behaviour.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}