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Lignin recovery from cocoa bean shell using microwave-assisted extraction and deep eutectic solvents (2023)
Journal Article
Mao, Y., Gerrow, A., Ray, E., Perez, N. D., Edler, K., Wolf, B., & Binner, E. (2023). Lignin recovery from cocoa bean shell using microwave-assisted extraction and deep eutectic solvents. Bioresource Technology, 372, Article 128680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128680

Lignin is the second most abundant natural polymer after cellulose, and valorisation of lignin-rich streams has attracted increasing attention recently. This paper presents a novel and sustainable method to recover lignin from Cocoa Bean Shells (CBS)... Read More about Lignin recovery from cocoa bean shell using microwave-assisted extraction and deep eutectic solvents.

Investigating the role of solvent type and microwave selective heating on the extraction of phenolic compounds from cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) pod husk (2022)
Journal Article
Dewi, S. R., Stevens, L. A., Pearson, A. E., Ferrari, R., Irvine, D. J., & Binner, E. R. (2022). Investigating the role of solvent type and microwave selective heating on the extraction of phenolic compounds from cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) pod husk. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 134, 210-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2022.05.011

Cacao pod husk (CPH) is a primary waste in the cacao industry that contains favourable natural antioxidants based on phenolic compounds. This study reported an investigation of the effect of extraction parameters to maximise the bioactive yields of C... Read More about Investigating the role of solvent type and microwave selective heating on the extraction of phenolic compounds from cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) pod husk.

Simultaneous conventional and microwave heating for the synthesis of adsorbents for CO2 capture: Comparative study to pristine technologies (2022)
Journal Article
Durán-Jiménez, G., Rodriguez, J., Kostas, E. T., Stevens, L. A., Lozada-Rodríguez, L., Binner, E., & Dodds, C. (2022). Simultaneous conventional and microwave heating for the synthesis of adsorbents for CO2 capture: Comparative study to pristine technologies. Chemical Engineering Journal, 438, Article 135549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.135549

Microwave has become an attractive technology in the valorisation of renewable biomass and in the mitigation of challenges of climate change. In this work, the synergic effects of coupling microwave and mild conventional heating conditions has been i... Read More about Simultaneous conventional and microwave heating for the synthesis of adsorbents for CO2 capture: Comparative study to pristine technologies.

Understanding heat and mass transfer processes during microwave-assisted and conventional solvent extraction (2021)
Journal Article
Mao, Y., Robinson, J., & Binner, E. (2021). Understanding heat and mass transfer processes during microwave-assisted and conventional solvent extraction. Chemical Engineering Science, 233, Article 116418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2020.116418

Solvent extraction is a mass transfer process. In this paper, we investigate the role of heat transfer in solvent extraction: in particular, how the heat transfer properties of the solid and the heating method (conventional heating and microwave heat... Read More about Understanding heat and mass transfer processes during microwave-assisted and conventional solvent extraction.

Investigating the influence of pectin content and structure on its functionality in bio-flocculant extracted from okra (2020)
Journal Article
Millett, R., Mao, Y., Millet, R., Lee, C. S., Yakubov, G., Harding, S. E., & Binner, E. (2020). Investigating the influence of pectin content and structure on its functionality in bio-flocculant extracted from okra. Carbohydrate Polymers, 241, Article 116414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116414

© 2020 The Author(s) Okra extract is known to have potential application as a bio-flocculant for wastewater treatment. However, no research to date has given insight into the components responsible for the flocculating ability of okra extract or its... Read More about Investigating the influence of pectin content and structure on its functionality in bio-flocculant extracted from okra.

Formation of Metallurgical Coke within Minutes through Coal Densification and Microwave Energy (2019)
Journal Article
Williams, O., Ure, A., Stevens, L., Binner, E., Dodds, C., Kingman, S., …Lester, E. (2019). Formation of Metallurgical Coke within Minutes through Coal Densification and Microwave Energy. Energy and Fuels, 33(7), 6817-6828. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b00511

This paper shows how feedstock densification gives rise to a step change in the time required to create a metallurgical grade coke using microwave energy. Five densified coking and non-coking coals were heated in a multi-mode microwave 2450 MHz cavit... Read More about Formation of Metallurgical Coke within Minutes through Coal Densification and Microwave Energy.

Pb(II) removal using carbon adsorbents prepared by hybrid heating system: Understanding the microwave heating by dielectric characterization and numerical simulation (2018)
Journal Article
Durán-Jiménez, G., Hernández-Montoya, V., Oyarzun, J. R., Montes-Morán, M. Á., & Binner, E. (2019). Pb(II) removal using carbon adsorbents prepared by hybrid heating system: Understanding the microwave heating by dielectric characterization and numerical simulation. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 277, 663-671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2018.12.143

This work studies the effect of microwaves in the synthesis of carbon adsorbents using pecan nutshell biomass as a precursor in a hybrid multimode microwave cavity avoiding the utilization of chemical activation or susceptors. The dielectric properti... Read More about Pb(II) removal using carbon adsorbents prepared by hybrid heating system: Understanding the microwave heating by dielectric characterization and numerical simulation.

Techno-economic assessment of scale-up of bio-flocculant extraction and production by using okra as biomass feedstock (2018)
Journal Article
Lee, C. S., Chong, M. F., Binner, E., Gomes, R. L., & Robinson, J. P. (2018). Techno-economic assessment of scale-up of bio-flocculant extraction and production by using okra as biomass feedstock. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 132, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2018.01.050

This paper reports a techno-economic assessment for industrial scale bio-flocculant production with okra as biomass feedstock. The sludge dewatering ability of the bio-flocculant was evaluated prior to economic analysis. Several optimisation strategi... Read More about Techno-economic assessment of scale-up of bio-flocculant extraction and production by using okra as biomass feedstock.

Microwave assisted hydro-distillation of essential oils from fresh ginger root (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) (2017)
Journal Article
Racoti, A., Buttress, A., Binner, E., Dodds, C., Trifan, A., & Calinescu, I. (2017). Microwave assisted hydro-distillation of essential oils from fresh ginger root (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Journal of Essential Oil Research, https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2017.1360216

A solvent free in situ microwave hydro-distillation method for extraction of essential oil from fresh ginger root it presented. Extraction was conducted in a TE10n single-mode microwave cavity and variable power 2 kW generator operating at 2.45GHz. T... Read More about Microwave assisted hydro-distillation of essential oils from fresh ginger root (Zingiber officinale Roscoe).

Enhancing evaporative mass transfer and steam stripping using microwave heating (2017)
Journal Article
Ogunniran, O., Binner, E., Sklavounos, A., & Robinson, J. P. (2017). Enhancing evaporative mass transfer and steam stripping using microwave heating. Chemical Engineering Science, 165, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2017.03.003

The effect of microwave heating on evaporative mass transfer of hydrocarbons was investigated for a number of contaminated solid materials. The rate of oil removal could be rationalised by the velocity of steam that was created by selective heating o... Read More about Enhancing evaporative mass transfer and steam stripping using microwave heating.

Enhancing natural product extraction and mass transfer using selective microwave heating (2016)
Journal Article
Lee, C. S., Binner, E., Winkworth-Smith, C., John, R., Gomes, R., & Robinson, J. (2016). Enhancing natural product extraction and mass transfer using selective microwave heating. Chemical Engineering Science, 149, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2016.04.031

This study uses a combination of empirical observations and an analysis of mass transfer behaviour to yield new insights into the mechanism of microwave assisted extraction. Enhancements in extraction rate and yield were observed experimentally compa... Read More about Enhancing natural product extraction and mass transfer using selective microwave heating.

Development and evaluation of a continuous microwave processing system for hydrocarbon removal from solids (2015)
Journal Article
Buttress, A., Binner, E., Yi, C., Palade, P., Robinson, J., & Kingman, S. (2016). Development and evaluation of a continuous microwave processing system for hydrocarbon removal from solids. Chemical Engineering Journal, 283, 215-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2015.07.030

A continuous conveyor-belt processing concept using microwave heating was developed and evaluated. Four hydrocarbon-contaminated soils were used as model feedstocks, and the degree of organic removal was assessed against the power and energy input t... Read More about Development and evaluation of a continuous microwave processing system for hydrocarbon removal from solids.

A review on development and application of plant-based bioflocculants and grafted bioflocculants (2014)
Journal Article
Lee, C. S., Chong, M. F., Robinson, J. P., & Binner, E. (2014). A review on development and application of plant-based bioflocculants and grafted bioflocculants. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 53(48), 18357-18369. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie5034045

Flocculation is extensively employed for clarification through sedimentation. Application of eco-friendly plant-based bioflocculants in wastewater treatment has attracted significant attention lately with high removal capability in terms of solids, t... Read More about A review on development and application of plant-based bioflocculants and grafted bioflocculants.

Factors affecting the microwave coking of coals and the implications on microwave cavity design (2014)
Journal Article
Binner, E., Medeira-Munoyerro, M., Huddle, T., Kingman, S., Dodds, C., Dimitrakis, G., …Lester, E. (2014). Factors affecting the microwave coking of coals and the implications on microwave cavity design. Fuel Processing Technology, 125, 8-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2014.03.006

The work carried out in this paper assessed how processing conditions and feedstock affect the quality of the coke produced during microwave coke making. The aim was to gather information that would support the development of an optimised microwave c... Read More about Factors affecting the microwave coking of coals and the implications on microwave cavity design.

Investigation into the mechanisms by which microwave heating enhances separation of water-in-oil emulsions (2014)
Journal Article
Binner, E., Robinson, J. P., Silvester, S., Kingman, S., & Lester, E. (2014). Investigation into the mechanisms by which microwave heating enhances separation of water-in-oil emulsions. Fuel, 116, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2013.08.042

The separation of water-in-oil emulsions made with Azeri crude was investigated using natural gravity settling and microwave heating techniques. Separation times could be reduced by an order of magnitude compared with untreated emulsions. Increasing... Read More about Investigation into the mechanisms by which microwave heating enhances separation of water-in-oil emulsions.

A review of microwave coal processing (2014)
Journal Article
Binner, E., Lester, E., Kingman, S., Dodds, C., Wu, T., Robinson, J. P., …Mathews, J. P. (2014). A review of microwave coal processing. Journal of Microwave Power and Electromagnetic Energy, 48(1),

This paper reviews the application of microwave energy in coal processing and utilisation. It covers a wide variety of processes including liberation of minerals, coal drying, pre-treatment to improve grindability, liquefaction enhancements and coke... Read More about A review of microwave coal processing.

Separation of oil/water emulsions in continuous flow using microwave heating (2013)
Journal Article
Binner, E., Robinson, J. P., Kingman, S., Lester, E., Azzopardi, B. J., Dimitrakis, G., & Briggs, J. (2013). Separation of oil/water emulsions in continuous flow using microwave heating. Energy and Fuels, 27(6), https://doi.org/10.1021/ef400634n

This work studies a continuous flow microwave system to enhance gravity settling of water-in-oil emulsions. Settling times were found to be dependent upon the applied power, flowrate and energy input. Power and energy input are linked to liquid flowr... Read More about Separation of oil/water emulsions in continuous flow using microwave heating.