Biofuel Research Articles

Effect of low-cost kitchen with improved cookstove on birthweight of neonates in Shahjadpur, Bangladesh: a cluster-randomised controlled trial

Smoke from biomass fuels used for cooking in traditional cookstoves contains a variety of health-damaging pollutants. Inhalation of these pollutants by pregnant women has been linked to abnormal foetal development and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including low birthweight (LBW). There is a dearth of data on environmental interventions that have the potential to reduce exposure to biomass fuel during pregnancy and improve birth outcomes. International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) therefore, designed a low-cost kitchen with an improved cookstove and examined the impact of this intervention on the birthweight of neonates. icddr,b conducted a cluster-randomised controlled trial of a 'low-cost kitchen with improved cookstove' intervention among 1,267 pregnant women who used traditional cookstoves in a rural sub-district of Bangladesh. All participants were enrolled during the first trimester of pregnancy among 104 randomly selected clusters after obtaining informed consent. The model kitchens were installed in 628 participants' households of the intervention group, and 639 participants continued to use traditional cookstoves as the control group. The primary outcome was the proportion of LBW neonates between the intervention and control groups. The study also examined if the intervention would reduce CO exposure, measured by the differences in maternal blood carbon monoxide saturation (SpCO) levels and prevalence of LBW in neonates. We performed a generalized structural equation model for jointly assessing the simultaneous relationships of biomass fuel exposure to LBW of neonates and the relationships of LBW of neonates to maternal blood SpCO level. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02923882). We found that in the intervention group using 'low-cost kitchen with improved cookstove', the risk of LBW reduced by 37% (adjusted risk ratio: 0.63, 95% CI [0.45, 0.89]). Between the second and third trimester, the mean maternal blood SpCO level was significantly reduced from 10.4% to 8.9% (p-value <0.01) in the intervention group but remained unchanged in the control group (11.6% and 11.5%). Of the total effects of the intervention on the risk of LBW, 48.3% was mediated through maternal blood SpCO level. The risk of LBW among rural neonates was reduced in the intervention group using 'low-cost kitchen with improved cookstove', which may be attributed to the reduction in maternal blood SpCO level. Additional research is needed to identify other mechanisms through which biomass fuel exposure might lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Grand Challenges Canada: Rising Stars in Global Health Programme.

Concept Design of the WRB-6 Water-Tube Boiler with a Stepped Grate and a Furnace for Burning Straw Bales in a Cigar System

The article presents the conceptual design of the solid fuel from the forest and sawmill production waste and agricultural waste biomass-fired water boiler. The project was supported by thermal and flow calculations. The designed WRB-6 boiler is a 3-pass unit with a fully screened furnace chamber and is equipment of a local biomass heating plant. It is fired with biomass, transported over no more than 30 km. The furnace has a double function – dual fuel. Both fuels can be burned simultaneously or alternately, depending on seasonal availability. In the front part there is a channel for feeding and burning large bales of cereal straw. The lower closure of the chamber is a mechanically inclined grate for the combustion of wood biomass in the granulation of chips. As part of the work, calculations of the amount of biomass fuels possible to be obtained on the local market with economy of delivery were also performed. As a result of the calculations, the temperatures of water and flue gas at the outlet, boiler efficiency, slagging and impurity indices for biomass were also presented.

Correlation of Indoor Air Pollutants with Pulmonary Function Test in Children Residing in Biomass Fuel Using Rural Houses of Central Karnataka

Abstract Background and Objectives: Approximately half the world uses biomass fuel for domestic energy, resulting in widespread exposure to indoor air pollution from biomass smoke. It is not clear what relationship exists between biomass use and pulmonary function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to biomass fuel smoke in children on pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters and its association with the particulate matter load. Materials and Methods: Children residing in rural houses in Central Karnataka using biomass fuel for cooking and heating water were selected and evaluated for PFTs by RMS Helios 401 spirometer. Particulate matter &lt;2.5 (PM2.5) concentrations were measured using an air quality pollution monitor. The association between PM2.5 and lung functions was studied. Results: A total of 150 children were included in the study. The study participants were assessed for the amount of exposure to particulate matter. Significant exposure to PM2.5 and hydrocarbons with a mean exposure of 42.25 mcg/m3 and 160.47 mg/m3, respectively, was recorded. Exposure to formaldehyde in the kitchen and living area showed a statistically significant decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume 1 (FEV1) and a normal FEV1/FVC ratio indicating a restrictive pattern. It also showed a statistically significant effect on forced expiratory flow 25%–75% indicating a small airway obstructive pattern. Conclusion: Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and formaldehyde from biomass fuel burning is associated with reduced lung function. This study reinforces the urgency of global strategies to mitigate indoor air pollution for the improvement of pulmonary health.

Unignorable Emissions and Potential Health Effects of Unregulated Pollutants from Nonroad Engines Using Greener Fuels — A Review

Unignorable Emissions and Potential Health Effects of Unregulated Pollutants from Nonroad Engines Using Greener Fuels — A Review

Technoeconomic Assessment of Gasifier Baking Stoves for Commercial Purposes

The energy supply in Ethiopia is dominated by biomass energy, mainly for household consumption. The development of gasification‐based gasifier baking stoves for energy demand is the subject of this study. The novelty of the gasifier baking stove is its ability to bake food more quickly while using less wood fuel. Biomass fuels are used inefficiently in poorly ventilated kitchens, resulting in indoor air pollution and the consumption of large amounts of wood fuel. Biomass gasifier baking stoves can improve fuel efficiency, baking time, and indoor air pollution while producing char as a byproduct. The proposed new gasifier study shows an average fuel use efficiency of 45% and time savings of 12% compared to Mirt stoves. Furthermore, the grate cover of the biomass gasifier stove is also used to regulate the airflow rate. The primary air that enters the reactor is controlled by a manually operated slide grate cover. The water boiling test and control cooking test were developed to mirror the performance of a modern baking and cooking stove. The baking stove was tested with Eucalyptus globulus as a feedstock. A technoeconomic assessment was conducted on a biomass gasifier baking stove for commercial purposes. For the technoeconomic assessment, we mostly employed the simple payback period projection. The economic analysis was conducted using Ethiopian supply and market rates, which may differ from region to region. The baking stove has an initial capital cost of about 15,100 ETB and a payback period of 2.49 years, which makes it economically viable for those living in remote locations. According to the study, the typical emissions from a biomass gasifier stove running on eucalyptus wood fuel are 0.24 ppm CO and 8.91 ppm CO2. The results of the stove’s economic study demonstrate that using eucalyptus wood fuel results in a shorter payback period. The performance efficiency of the new gasifier stove in terms of wood fuel and time saving as compared to the Mirt stove is 45% and 12%, respectively.

Enhancement of Efficiency and Mitigation of Pollutan Emissions in a Compression Ignition Engine by the Utilization of Rice Bran Oil as Green Fuel

The current investigation involved the implementation of a research experiment aimed at assessing the operational and emission attributes of a compression ignition direct injection engine comprising a single cylinder. The engine was fuelled with rice bran oil (RBO), and its performance was analysed under different engine loads. The performance metrics that were analysed included the brake specific fuel consumption BSFC), brake thermal efficiency (BTE), exhaust gas temperature (EGT), and cylinder pressure. The exhaust emission parameters that were investigated include carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbons (HC), and oxide of nitrogen (NOX). The study compares the results obtained from an experimental investigation involving different variants of rice bran oil (RBO50, RBO75, RBO100) with those obtained from a diesel engine (RBO00). The lowest BSFC obtained for RBO100 is around 0.29 kg/kWh at maximum load conditions (75 %), while the highest obtained for RBO00 is 0.33 kg/kWh. For all operations of diesel and RBO blends, it was discovered experimentally that the BSFC increases until 25 % of engine load and then starts to decline as the engine load is raised. At normal engine load circumstances, RBO75 has the highest thermal efficiency, while RBO00 has the lowest. The high EGT reading of RBO50 blends was due to the high calorific value (CV) of the fuel blends, which produced more heat per unit mass than RBO75 and RBO100. RBO75 achieved the highest cylinder pressure under both half and full load scenarios. RBO00 (pure diesel) achieved the lowest cylinder pressure under both half and full load scenarios. RBO outscored diesel in terms of efficiency of engine. The exhaust emission characteristics that were assessed included NOX, CO2, HC, and CO. The experimental outcomes of the study using rice bran oil-based fuels, specifically RBO50, RBO75, and RBO100, are being contrasted with those of diesel fuel (RBO00). The findings indicate that emissions of CO, CO2, HC, and NOX are lower when using RBO75 and RBO100 compared to diesel fuel. Furthermore, an analysis was conducted to determine the HC emissions of both RBO75 and RBO100 fuels at two distinct engine speeds, specifically 3500 rpm and 2000 rpm. The HC emission level for RBO75 was observed to be at its peak of 211 ppm when the engine speed reached 3500 rpm. The RBO50 fuel exhibits lower levels of CO emissions, measuring at 1.2% (3500 rpm) and 0.32% (2000 rpm). Similarly, CO2 emissions are also reduced with RBO50, measuring at 8.3% (3500 rpm) and 6.9% (2000 rpm). These exhaust emission reductions are observed when comparing RBO50 to diesel (RBO00) and other fuel mixtures, under a 75% load condition. Elevated levels of NOX emissions were detected in diesel fuel (RBO00) at concentrations of 499 ppm (3500 rpm) and 599 ppm (2000 rpm). In comparison to other fuels such as RBO50, RBO75, and RBO100, these higher NOX emissions were noted. In summary, the emission properties of RBO were shown to be superior to those of diesel fuel. The optimal blend for emissions reduction, including CO2, CO, NOX, and HC, was determined to be RBO50.

An Ab initio based OH initiated oxidation kinetics of glycerol carbonate: A promising biofuel component

The global energy demand is steadily increasing because of the population explosion and economic growth. Fossil fuels supply around 85 % of global primary energy demand. On one hand, fulfilling the increasing energy demands is a big challenge for the next few decades. On the other hand, the continued burning of fossil fuels leads to higher CO2 emissions, severely impacting global warming. Therefore, the policymakers vow to shift from conventional fuels to renewable resources for economic, environmental, and future energy security reasons. In this context, biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass and/or carbon-neutral fuels produced in the sustainable carbon cycle can close the carbon cycle and reach net zero-carbon emission. Recently, glycerol carbonate has been proposed as a promising fuel or fuel additive for future sustainability. Therefore, we investigated the hydrogen abstraction reactions of glycerol carbonate (GC) by OH radicals using high-level ab initio and variational transition state theory calculations. We mapped out the potential energy surface using the CCSD(T)/cc-pV(D, T)Z//MP2/cc-pVTZ level of theory. We used the ab initio parameters to obtain the site-specific rate coefficients by employing the variational transition state theory. We observed that every hydrogen atom in GC displays a unique reactivity with OH radicals. We derived branching ratio of each channel that are difficult to access experimentally. The overall rate coefficients exhibit a strong non-Arrhenius behaviour, which can be represented as:kovCVT/SCT(T)=3.39×10−20×T2.659×e−750.0Jmol−1RTcm3moleculesThis is the first reported rate data for the glycerol carbonate and OH radicals reaction.

Auto-ignition characteristics of oxygenated aromatic compounds: Benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, and phenol

The growing attention towards biomass and biomass-derived fuels for transportation, energy production, forest fire prevention, and safety applications stimulated significant research activities focused on understanding the chemical kinetics of oxygenated aromatic hydrocarbons, which represent important reference components for biofuels. This motivates the current investigation of the ignition behavior of benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, and phenol, which exhibit intertwined reaction pathways. Novel ignition delay time data were measured in a shock tube and a rapid compression machine covering pressures from 10 to 40 bar and temperatures from 860–1250 K. In addition, a kinetic model was developed and used to analyze critical reaction pathways in comparison to models from literature. It is shown that the phenyl-phenoxy-phenyl peroxy subsystem plays a key role not only in the oxidation of benzaldehyde, but also in the oxidation of benzene and phenol. Comparison of the current model with a recent version of the CRECK mechanism reveals that differences are present with respect to the dominant reaction pathways that have a strong influence on the formation of Ö radicals. Further investigations are required to resolve this discrepancy reconciling theory, modelling, and the unfortunately limited number of systematic experimental data to which this work significantly contributes.

Electro-chemical studies of Zn doped nickel oxide nanoparticles synthesized via solution combustion method using green and chemical fuels.

This study presents a new green solution combustion method (aloe vera gel extract as fuel) and chemical method (glucose as fuel) to synthesise Zn-doped nickel oxide nanoparticles (Zn:NiO NPs). The face centered cubic crystal structure (FCC) phase was validated by PXRD, while the produced samples' spongy, spherical, agglomerated, and porous characteristics were shown by electron microscopy. The energy band gap values of 4.21 eV and 4.09 eV, respectively, were deduced for green and chemically synthesized Zn:NiO NPs. The reversibility was demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry with a lower EO-ER value for the green-Zn:NiO electrode. The studies on electrochemical impedance confirmed strong conductivity for the NPs by demonstrating a low charge transfer resistance. The Zn:NiO NPs are easily convertible into a stable electrode material that may be used in supercapacitors. According to the findings, Zn:NiO is an economical and promising material for use in supercapacitors in the future.

MICROALGAS: UMA ESTRATÉGIA SUSTENTÁVEL NA TRANSFORMAÇÃO E OBTENÇÃO DE COMPOSTOS ORGÂNICOS

MICROALGAE: A SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY IN THE TRANSFORMATION AND OBTAINING OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS. The present review presents the biotechnological potential of microalgae, highlighting its applications in biofuels, bioremediation, production of bioactive compounds, biocatalysts, and biofertilizers. Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that combine characteristics of plants and heterotrophic microorganisms, such as yeasts, bacteria, and fungi. They can be considered biotechnological agents of extreme versatility and metabolic adaptability. Its photosynthetic efficiency can absorb large volumes of anthropogenic CO2 and convert it into biomass rich in compounds of high biological and energetic value, enabling the development of sustainable bioremediation processes and the production of third-generation biofuels and biofertilizers. In addition, its biomass has aroused interest in obtaining compounds with biological action, such as carotenoids, mycosporine-like amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, sterols, phycocolloids, carbohydrates, and proteins. The biotechnological potential of microalgae does not end with the production and extraction of its biomass. Its dynamic and adaptive metabolism allows its use in the biotransformation of xenobiotic substrates and the production of compounds of chemical and pharmaceutical interest. In this perspective, microalgae have application qualities as a biotechnological platform in developing synergistic processes between the environment, society, and industry, thus contributing to the expansion and use of Green Chemistry and strengthening the circular economy.

Real-time chemical characterization of primary and aged biomass burning aerosols derived from Sub-Saharan African biomass fuels in smoldering fires

The influence of biomass burning (BB)-derived organic aerosol (OA) emissions on solar radiation via absorption and scattering is related to their physicochemical properties and can change upon atmospheric aging. We...

Analyzing the interconnected dynamics of domestic biofuel burning in India: unravelling VOC emissions, surface-ozone formation, diagnostic ratios, and source identification

The impacts of burning biomass fuels for cooking and heating in indian homes on public health and communities.

Experimental Study of Combustion Chamber Performance Utilizing Biochar from Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) as Fuel with Variation in Excess Air

Palm oil mill waste is abundantly available in Indonesia as biomass. However, the inorganic part of biomass fuels causes problems related to the ash generated, leading to slagging and fouling. The slagging and fouling as deposits form on heat transfer surfaces is one of the main problems associated with biomass combustion. Reducing the deposit formation will improve the boiler’s performance. As low-calorific biomass energy, the empty fruit bunch (EFB) can be converted into high-calorific biomass solid fuel as biochar using pyrolysis. This study investigates the potential of biochar as a solid fuel that can be used as a mixed fuel with coal (cofiring) in boilers in power plants. Biochar, produced from the pyrolysis of EFB at a temperature of 500 °C, is used as fuel in the combustion chamber of a laboratory-scale boiler. The variations in excess combustion air from 20% to 40% were implemented to analyze the slagging and fouling index as well as the efficiency of the combustion chamber. From analysis, the highest combustion chamber temperature appears at 30% excess air, and the lowest was at 20%. The biochar with 30% excess air combustion has a lower potential for slagging and fouling formation. Moreover, the highest combustion chamber efficiency is around 88.06%.

Energy and exergy diagnostics of an industrial annular shaft limekiln working with producer gas as renewable biofuel

Quicklime, a globally significant commodity used in various industrial applications, is produced in limekilns requiring substantial energy, traditionally, from fossil fuels. However, due to escalating emission constraints and depletion of fossil fuel deposits, the quicklime industry explores alternative fuels, like biomass. The literature lacks feasibility diagnostic studies on limekilns using alternative biomass fuels. Thus, this article aims to conduct energy and exergy diagnostics on an industrial limekiln using producer gas derived from eucalyptus wood as renewable biofuel. Employing industrial data and thermodynamics principles, the equipment was characterized, and results were compared with literature findings for similar limekilns using fossil fuels. The Specific Energy Consumption (??????) for the producer gas-operated limekiln was 4.8 GJ/tquicklime, with energy (??????) and exergy (??????) efficiencies of 54.6% and 42.2%. Overall energy (?????????????????????) and exergy (?????????????????????) efficiencies were 42.0% and 23.6%, respectively, lower than literature values. ???????????????????? was 7.6 GJ/tquicklime, higher than literature results. Identified enhancements for both renewable and fossil fuel-powered limekilns involve recovering energy and exergy, including heat recovery from exhaust gases, minimizing thermal losses, and optimizing operational variables. These findings offer valuable insights for researchers exploring renewable biofuel adoption, like producer gas derived from eucalyptus wood, as alternatives to conventional fossil fuels in limekilns.

The geography of technological innovation systems - The case of forest-based biofuels in a Swedish region

Geographical proximity exerts a substantial influence on structural evolution, developmental trajectory, and pace of sociotechnical system growth. This study explores this aspect within the context of the development of forest biomass-based biofuel technology, employing a Technological Innovation System (TIS) framework with the lens of geographical proximity utilization of system components. The research employed a combination of document analysis and interviews with key system stakeholders as data collection methods. The analysis reveals that the close geographical proximity of the system components and technologies, encompassing both technical aspects and sectors, did not result in synergetic effects, in contrast to prior TIS research findings. Rather than fostering collaboration, it has engendered a competitive dynamic, partially driven by actors vying for knowledge leads and funding from both regional and national agencies. Consequently, the potential benefits of geographical proximity of system components remain largely untapped. In light of these results, this study offers practical recommendations for exploiting untapped opportunities, advocating for more strategic use of geographical proximity to foster system technology development and enhance its role in national TIS development. This case study enriches sustainability transition literature by providing valuable insights into the role of geographical proximity in innovation processes.

Enhanced Bioethanol Production from Corn Stover Using Choline Chloride and Lactic Acid Pretreatment: A Gravimetric analysis Approach

The transition to renewable energy sources necessitates the development of efficient and sustainable bioethanol production methods. This study investigates the use of a deep eutectic solvent (DES) blend of choline chloride and lactic acid for the pretreatment of corn stover, a widely available lignocellulosic biomass, to enhance cellulose yield and bioethanol production. The gravimetric method was employed to quantify cellulose yield post-pretreatment, providing a direct assessment of pretreatment efficacy. The study further evaluated the subsequent steps of enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, and distillation to determine the overall bioethanol yield. Results demonstrated that the choline chloride and lactic acid blend effectively disrupted the lignocellulosic structure of corn stover, significantly increasing cellulose accessibility and fermentable sugar release. The optimized pretreatment process led to a notable improvement in bioethanol yield, highlighting the potential of this method for commercial bioethanol production. This research contributes to the advancement of biofuel technologies and supports the broader goal of achieving sustainable energy solutions by demonstrating a viable approach to enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of lignocellulosic bioethanol production.

Multinuclear systems for photo-induced production of green fuels: an overview of homogeneous catalysts based on transition metals

Schematic representation of light-induced processes in artificial photosinthetic systems composed by multinuclear metal complexes.

Create a Statistical Model to Show the Relationship Between the Types and Numbers of Ships Used Green Fuel Frequenting Saudi Ports and Their Impact on Port Profitability

Create a Statistical Model to Show the Relationship Between the Types and Numbers of Ships Used Green Fuel Frequenting Saudi Ports and Their Impact on Port Profitability

A solution approach for decision-making on vessel fleet sustainability focusing on alternative fuels in a life-cycle basis

International Maritime Organization has launched a set of different regulatory frameworks focusing on maritime pollution prevention mechanisms and practicing different solution approaches. A multi-dimensional life-cycle analysis on vessels and maritime fuels (fossil & alternative low carbon fuels) can make an important contribution to the IMO's long-term carbon neutrality target for 2050. A typical vessel's operational profile contributes on approx. 80% of greenhouse gas emissions and 50% of total costs respectively during its lifetime. Therefore, the investigation of ships operational benchmarks following a lifecycle analysis approach could create suitable decision-making support tools for different optimization problems regarding alternative green fuels. This paper proposes a solution approach to evaluate current vessel fleet operational benchmarks for different ship categories and provide a decision-making support mechanism to tackle important operational problems during ship's lifetime. The proposed approach contains an evaluation mechanism to determine the suitable economic and environmental key performance indicators necessary to properly evaluate the multi-dimensional sustainability of the examined case studies with respect to the IMO (MARPOL) environmental regulations.

Stabilization of methane–hydrogen flames inside a divergent porous media reactor

The energy transition process triggered by the threat of climate change has created the need for cleaner heat generating systems. Using blends of hydrocarbons with increasing presence of green fuels, such as green hydrogen, has been proposed as an initial step of this process. The present study aims to investigate methane–hydrogen flames stabilized inside a divergent inert porous media burner. Experimentally, four stable operating points were found for the considered burner with a hydrogen presence between 0% and 30% in the fuel mixture at a constant thermal output of 2 kW. Temperatures are presented for each condition, noticing a decreasing trend as hydrogen presence was increased, since the equivalence ratio was gradually reduced to achieve stabilization. CO and NOx emissions were below 15 ppm for all studied cases. A 2-dimensional numerical model incorporating the GRI-Mech 3.0 mechanism was developed and validated against experimental data.The model revealed that the stabilized flame front is observed as a straight line that runs parallel to the radial coordinate. This line exhibits a slight curvature close to the burner wall, which is caused by heat losses and the influence of the divergent geometry. Solid surface temperature was not constant due to the reduced convective heat exchange with flue gases in the periphery of the burner. To reduce this issue a lower expansion angle is proposed as an alternative. In addition, changes in the chemical kinetics due to H2 addition were also evaluated. As results, a general trend towards reaction shifting was found with a 56% of the reactions being strongly promoted by H2 presence, which is associated with an increase in radical concentration in the flame front due to H2 decomposition.