Characterization of Lignocellulosic Byproducts from the Portuguese Forest: Valorization and Sustainable Use

The increasing emphasis on environmental sustainability has placed biomass as a versatile and renewable resource, while the management and disposal of forest byproducts remain a significant challenge. This study explores the valorization of forest biomass residues derived from <i>Pinus pinaster</i>, <i>Pinus pinea</i>, and the invasive species <i>Acacia dealbata</i>, with a focus on their potential application as bioadsorbents. A comprehensive physicochemical characterization was conducted for different biomass fractions (leaves, needles, and branches of varying diameters). Leaves and needles contained higher amounts of extractives (from 7.7% in acacia leaves to 18.8% in maritime pine needles) and ash (3.4 and 4.2% in acacia leaves and stone pine needles, respectively), whereas branches contained more holocellulose (from 59.6% in <i>P. pinea</i> small branches to 79.2% in <i>P. pinaster</i> large branches). ATR-FTIR and pHpzc analyses indicated compositional and surface charge differences, with higher pHpzc values in <i>A. dealbata</i> relative to Pinus. TG analysis showed that acacia large branches degraded at a lower temperature (320 °C) compared to Pinus species (440-450 °C). Overall, the findings highlight the suitability of these underutilized forest byproducts as bioadsorbents, contributing to the advancement of circular economy practices.