Clean Fuels Research Articles

The Impact of Using Clean Fuel on the Risk of Stunting in Children Aged 0-59 Months

Stunting is a critical global health challenge, particularly in developing nations, affecting children's physical, cognitive, and socioeconomic outcomes. This study investigates the impact of clean cooking fuel use on stunting risk among children aged 0–59 months in Indonesia, employing cross-sectional data from the 2014 Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) and the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method. The results reveal that households using clean cooking fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), significantly improve children's Height-for-Age Z-scores, reducing stunting risk. Factors including higher household education, income levels, and access to urban areas positively influence clean fuel adoption. The study underscores the importance of clean energy policies and increased awareness, particularly in rural areas, to mitigate health disparities and improve childhood growth outcomes. These findings contribute to the growing evidence linking clean energy transitions with enhanced public health and child development indicators.

Breathing in danger: unveiling cooking fuel transitions in India and alarming effect of household air pollution on under-five children’s health

Abstract Air pollution in households is a prime contributor to health issues in developing countries, as in the case of India. According to the latest National Family Health Survey Report 2022, more than half of India’s rural population and 41 per cent overall still depend on solid or unclean fuel combustions, which may reflect in future health hazards. Thus, it is crucial to understand the issue empirically. To that end, the study traces the transitional pattern of unclean cooking fuel users towards clean fuel over the last 30 years using responses from all five National Family Health Survey rounds. Further, the study uses an adjusted probit model to analyse the determinants that lead to the choice of cooking fuel in a household and a logistic model to examine the association between the choice made and the respiratory health of children under five. The empirical results show that the number of households using unclean fuel has declined over the years, with a slightly higher decline in the last five years. Moreover, it also shows that poverty status and place of residence significantly influence cooking fuel choice. Additionally, children residing in households that use clean fuels are less likely to suffer respiratory infections. In conclusion, the present study provides strong evidence to ameliorate the existing policies in a way that exhorts clean energy use. The authors propose pro-poor, pro-rural policies to expedite the clean energy transition, benefitting the most vulnerable households.

Do clean fuel and trade-openness reduce environmental degradation in China: evidence from asymmetric model

IntroductionThis study investigates the relationship between economic growth, clean fuel utilization, trade, and environmental pollution. By focusing on the potential of clean fuels and trade in reducing pollution, this research aims to understand their role in promoting environmental sustainability in China from 1990 to 2020.MethodsThe study employs the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lags (NARDL) approach to analyze time series data. This method enables the decomposition of impacts from clean fuels and trade on pollution levels, facilitating an understanding of their distinct contributions to environmental outcomes.ResultsFindings indicate that economic growth is associated with an increase in pollution levels, while clean fuel usage exhibits a modest but significant reduction effect. Nonetheless, the relatively small coefficients highlight the need for a greater share of clean fuels in China’s energy mix. Additionally, trade shows a significant negative relationship with pollution emissions, with data reflecting a gradual decline in pollution over time.DiscussionThese results underscore the benefits of clean fuel adoption and trade promotion as effective measures for mitigating pollution. However, they also highlight the necessity for stronger regulatory policies, public awareness initiatives, and investments in sustainable technologies to ensure China’s long-term environmental sustainability.

Solid fuel combustion and adverse pregnancy outcomes: A nationwide study on stillbirth in India

ObjectivesStillbirth is a significant public health challenge in India, accounting for a substantial portion of the global burden. Exposure to household air pollution from solid fuel combustion during pregnancy has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirth. This study aimed to investigate the association between solid fuel use and stillbirth risk in India, utilizing data from the National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS-5). Study designNationwide cross-sectional study. MethodsThe study employed data from the NFHS-5, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey conducted in India from 2019 to 2021. The study sample consisted of 204,723 women aged 15–49 years who had a pregnancy in the past 5 years preceding the survey. Stillbirth was calculated using calendar data, providing robust estimates. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between solid fuel use and stillbirth, adjusting for various sociodemographic and maternal factors. ResultsThe use of unclean cooking fuels was significantly associated with an increased risk of stillbirth (OR = 1.34, 95 % CI: 1.13–1.58, p < 0.001) compared to clean fuels. Other factors associated with higher stillbirth risk included rural residence, lower maternal education, belongingness to certain social categories, delivering at private healthcare facilities, limited antenatal visits, and undergoing caesarean delivery. ConclusionsThe findings highlight the detrimental impact of solid fuel use on stillbirth rates in India, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to promote cleaner cooking technologies and address socioeconomic disparities. Efforts to transition households towards cleaner energy sources and improve access to quality maternal healthcare services are crucial for reducing the burden of stillbirth in India.

A bifunctional catalyst for direct CO2 conversion to clean fuels: Mechanistic insights and a comprehensive kinetic model

The escalating global concern over CO2 emissions has spurred extensive research aimed at developing innovative solutions for capturing, storing, and utilizing CO2, crucial for establishing a closed carbon loop. Thermo-catalytic CO2 hydrogenation stands out as a promising approach, though challenged by CO2's high stability, hindering the production of heavy liquid hydrocarbons. This study explores the design and performance of a bifunctional cobalt-based catalyst, promoted by Ru and supported by multiple shells of carbon, mesoporous silica, and ceria for CO2 hydrogenation in the Modified Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (MFTS) route. Through meticulous characterization and evaluation, the catalyst demonstrates suitable textural properties, reducibility, and dispersion of active sites, promoting CO2 conversion and selectivity towards heavier hydrocarbons, highlighting the significance of catalyst design and operating conditions. The catalyst exhibits notable stability across catalyst deactivation, attributed to its thermal conductivity provided by SiC matrices. SiC-supported catalysts play a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency, selectivity, and stability of CO2 hydrogenation catalysts. Moreover, in this study, through meticulous evaluation of elementary reactions based on molecular dynamic (MD) computations, a detailed mechanism for MFTS is presented. Key to this mechanism is the H-assisted CO2 dissociation pathway, supported by computational analysis. The pathway involves sequential reactions starting from CO2 adsorption on catalyst sites, followed by successive transformations leading to the formation of hydrocarbon building blocks. Ultimately, a developed MFTS kinetic model based on the MD-evaluated mechanism, which accurately predicts product selectivity across various operational conditions, indicating its robustness and reliability, is presented.

Clean Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles

In this paper, a comprehensive synthesis of salient points from pertinent literature in the field is presented, accompanied by an analytical review of extant experimental data. The mechanisms underlying the utilization of green hydrogen in fuel cell vehicles are meticulously dissected from the perspectives of hydrogen production, storage, and utilization. An in-depth investigation into the energy conversion efficiency within the hydrogen production phase is conducted, as well as an examination of the energy conversion efficiency when utilizing green hydrogen as a fuel within fuel cell vehicles. Moreover, the article provides an informative overview of the fundamental attributes and performance metrics of fuel cell vehicles. It conducts a comparative analysis against traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, considering variables such as safety profiles, refueling duration, fuel mass, and fuel cost implications. The advantages of deploying fuel cell vehicles are analyzed, elucidating their benefits. Conversely, the article also enumerates the shortcomings and current bottlenecks faced by fuel cell vehicles, offering a critical view of their current limitations. Furthermore, the study delves into prevalent methods for green hydrogen production, positioning green hydrogen as a viable solution to the current challenges of carbon neutrality. The article culminates by suggesting the role of green hydrogen in spearheading future low-carbon development initiatives, thereby delineating a prospective roadmap for sustainable energy advancement.

Conformational flexibility of a novel Cu(I)-based adsorbent enhancing the selectivity of adsorptive desulfurization

Adsorptive desulfurization (ADS) is a promising technique for producing clean fuels with ultra-low sulfur, and various metal-functionalized adsorbents for desulfurization have been successively investigated. Unfortunately, ADS usually suffers from the low adsorptive selectivity in the presence of organic competitors. Herein, we report the triangular copper(I) 4-nitro-3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolate (Cu3pz3) as a novel adsorbent to achieve a high selectivity via short Cu(I) – sulfur bond, the S-content (as DBT) can be reduced from 100 mg S/L to ∼ 9 mg S/L in the toluene-iso-octane model oil (v:v = 15:85) after a static adsorption at 298 K under the adsorbent dose of 3.65 g/L, which is much better than the adsorption performance exhibited by a structurally similar adsorbent – Ag3pz3 (reduced from 100 mg S/L to ∼ 56 mg S/L at the same condition). Furthermore, the adsorption mechanism has been investigated at the molecular level, unveiling a correlation between the ADS selectivity and the strength of Cu(I) – S bonding. Finally, some molecular design strategies have been proposed for further improvement of the performance of ADS adsorbent.

Navigating the financial sector's role in energy transition: A comprehensive assessment through the lens of the energy trilemma

Global energy concerns and climate change underscore the need to address energy trilemma (ET), which is the delicate balance of energy security, equity, and environmental sustainability. Navigating this trilemma requires financial and economic development to promote investments in clean energy solutions. In this context, the present study examines the influence of financial development and macroeconomic factors on ET in 18 emerging nations from 2000 to 2021. It also analyzes the implications of the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol on this relationship. The findings reveal that financial development indicators help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve access to clean fuels and technologies. Conversely, it negatively impacts the primary energy supply from renewable sources and the share of electricity from wind energy. Nonetheless, these outcomes persist even after ratifying the Kyoto and Paris Agreement. These unfavorable results are caused by prevailing financial barriers, which are further impeded by technological, environmental, and socioeconomic challenges. Thus, this research highlights the importance of targeted policy reforms in facilitating an effective energy transition and offers actionable recommendations for policymakers aimed at achieving sustainability goals.

Research Progress in Enhancing Proton Conductivity of Sulfonated Aromatic Polymers with ZIFs for Fuel Cell Applications

The escalating global temperatures and their adverse effects underscore the growing imperative for the widespread adoption of clean fuels, notably hydrogen. Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) emerge as a pivotal green energy technology, facilitating electricity and water generation. The optimization of PEMFC efficiency hinges on the judicious selection and fabrication of polymer membranes. Within innovative materials, Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) represent a novel subclass within the expansive family of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs). ZIFs exhibit promising potential in PEMFCs, owing to their distinctive properties such as a substantial contact surface, inherent porosity, and a sizable pore volume. This comprehensive review delves into composite membranes featuring ZIFs, shedding light on their chemical and thermal attributes. Additionally, the exploration extends to elucidating the diverse applications of ZIF compounds, accompanied by an in-depth discussion of selected chemical and thermal properties inherent to ZIF compounds. Incorporating ZIFs into various polymers yielded intriguing outcomes, demonstrating a notable enhancement in proton conductivity. The compilation of this review aims to provide researchers with foundational insights into the realm of ZIFs, serving as a valuable resource for future investigations and advancements in the field.

High‐Entropy Perovskite Oxides for Thermochemical Solar Fuel Production

The increasing global demand for energy, coupled with the need to mitigate climate change, has spurred significant interest in renewable energy sources. Among these, solar energy holds particular promise due to its abundance and potential to be converted into clean fuels through thermochemical cycles. High‐entropy perovskite oxides (HEPOs) have emerged as promising materials for solar thermochemical hydrogen (STCH) production, offering advantages over traditional materials like ceria due to their enhanced thermal stability, flexibility in composition, and lower operating temperatures. Herein, the advantages of HEPOs, including their stability under extreme thermal conditions which is critical for repeated redox cycling in H2 production, are highlighted. The inherent configurational entropy allows for a broader range of element incorporation, leading to improved tunability of physical properties. However, challenges remain, particularly in terms of cost and scalability. To address this, strategies such as the use of more abundant elements and optimized synthesis are discussed. Additionally, the future potential of HEPOs, including their integration into advanced solar reactors, is explored, and how computational methods can be employed to predict new high‐entropy compositions with improved performance is examined. The development of HEPOs for STCH offers a promising pathway toward sustainable hydrogen production, addressing both environmental and economic challenges.

Hydrogen production and elemental migration during supercritical water gasification of food waste digestate

The rapid growth of food waste (FW) is a huge challenge on a global scale, and anaerobic digestion is one of the most commonly used methods to deal with food waste, and the increasing amount of food waste digestate (FWD) produced by anaerobic digestion also poses a huge challenge to waste management. This paper explores supercritical water gasification (SCWG) as a valuable and innovative strategy for the conversion of FWD into H2-rich syngas. The research focuses on analyzing the effects of reaction temperature and residence time on syngas production, gas composition, element migration (C, N and P) during the SCWG process. Experimental results show that as the reaction temperature increases from 400 °C to 500 °C, the total syngas yield increases significantly, from 2.4 mol/kg to 9.7 mol/kg, especially the yields of H2, CO2, and CH4. As the reaction temperature increases and the residence time increases, the migration of carbon from the solid and liquid phases to the gas phase accelerates with increasing temperature and residence time, resulting in a higher proportion of carbon in the gas phase. In terms of liquid phase composition, nitrogenous compounds are significantly converted into ammonium (NH4+-N) at higher temperatures. In addition, the organic phosphorus is observed transferring into inorganic phosphorus, which are mainly apatite. This study explores the scalability of SCWG and its potential for the production of clean fuels, thereby contributing to the sustainable management of FWD.

The interrupted modern energy transition to LPG and the charcoal renaissance in urban Senegal

Fossil fuel subsidy removal may hinder access to clean fuels like LPG. Our analysis of urban Senegal shows that LPG use fell sharply after subsidies ended in 2009, despite later price drops. Households switched to charcoal, and the new availability of energy-efficient charcoal stoves made a return to LPG less appealing. This highlights how energy transitions among the poor are price sensitive, with implications for subsidy and carbon-tax policies.

Cooperative S-S coupling and H2 production from photocatalytic dehydrogenation of thiols over ReSe2/ZnIn2S4 heterostructure

Photocatalytic anaerobic dehydrogenation provides a new avenue to cooperatively produce clean fuels and fine chemicals, while minimizing waste discharge and reducing environmental impact. Here, we demonstrate an efficient co-production of disulfides and H2 via photocatalytic S-S dehydrogenation of thiols using a two-dimensional (2D) heterostructure of ultrathin ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) nanosheets decorated with dispersed (1T phase) ReSe2 nanoparticles. Experimental characterizations and DFT calculations reveal that integrating ReSe2 with ZIS leads to the formation of a robust internal electric field (IEF) within the ReSe2/ZIS heterostructure. The distorted 1T phase ReSe2 with abundant active Se sites and a high Fermi level induces downward band bending of ZIS at the interface, which promotes charge separation and expedites H2 evolution. Moreover, the introduction of ReSe2 provides more adsorptive sites, increasing the concentration of reactants on the catalyst surface. This enhancement fosters surface interactions between the catalyst and p-toluenethiol (PTT), ultimately accelerating the reaction rate. The optimal H2 and S-S coupling p-tolyl disulfide (PTD) production rates of the 5 wt% ReSe2/ZIS composite reach 2275 and 2303 µmol g−1h−1, respectively, approximately 5 times greater than those of blank ZIS. Importantly, the selectivity of PTD reaches 98.4 %. This visible-light-driven dehydrogenation process aligns with the principles and objectives of green chemistry, realizing high atom economy without generating byproducts. It is anticipated to open new possibilities for sustainable and environmentally friendly routes for synthesizing high-value chemicals and producing clean energy.

Challenges, Opportunities, and possible Interventions in the Biogas sector in Rural areas of Limpopo, South Africa

Biogas technology offers a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for addressing energy needs, particularly in rural areas. Despite its potential benefits, the adoption of biogas technology in rural Limpopo, South Africa, remains limited. This paper critically examines the factors hindering its uptake. Using an exploratory approach (Qualitative study), data were gathered through interview guide, field surveys, literature reviews, and expert opinions. The analysis indicates that while biogas is a superior thermal option for household energy crises, several challenges need resolution. Key obstacles include ineffective strategies for promoting biogas in Limpopo. Understanding stakeholder perspectives—such as government bodies, local communities, and private enterprises—is crucial for developing strategies to increase biogas use. Necessary interventions include training, capacity-building, and educational awareness initiatives in rural areas to boost adoption. The financial sector's role in renewable energy is critical, especially as cleaner fuels gain attention. Despite its significant benefits in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing household energy security, biogas technology's acceptance and use remain low.

Engineering Ag-Modified BiOCl as an Efficient and Effective Catalyst for Solar Light-Driven Organic Pollutant Degradation and Hydrogen Production.

The direct conversion of solar energy into clean fuels has emerged as an effective approach for future energy production and addressing environmental challenges. This research focuses on the synthesis of BiOCl using a straightforward hydrothermal method with Ag modification achieved through green synthesis. These materials were applied to enhance photocatalytic processes and hydrogen (H2) evolution. Comprehensive characterization of the synthesized photocatalysts was performed by using techniques, such as XRD, SEM, BET, XPS, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The Ag/BiOCl composite demonstrated impressive photocatalytic performance, achieving degradation rates of 96% for RhB, 87.7% for TC, and 85% for HQ under 18 min of solar irradiation. Additionally, a high mineralization rate of 92% was observed through Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis. Furthermore, the Ag/BiOCl composite exhibited a significant H2 evolution rate of 565 μmol g-1 h-1, which is nearly double that of pure BiOCl. The interaction between Ag and BiOCl was found to enhance the generation of O2- radicals, as confirmed by radical trapping experiments, with the underlying mechanism elucidated using LC-HRMS. The nanoparticles also demonstrated excellent degradation of industrial waste, highlighting the potential of Ag/BiOCl for use in the purification and sterilization of industrial effluents.

Exposure to indoor air pollution using biomass among rural households in Southern Ethiopia

Most rural households in Ethiopia depend on traditional cooking fuels. The inefficient combustion of those fuels significantly raises health concerns by exposing them to indoor air pollution. This study aimed to assess the factors contributing to indoor air pollution exposure in rural households. The study was based on data from 573 households selected randomly using a multi-stage sampling approach. Descriptive statistics and a Generalized Ordered Logit model, which explores the relationship between various independent variables and levels of exposure to indoor air pollution, were used. The study employed indicators such as traditional solid fuel use, inadequate ventilation during cooking, and lack of improved cookstoves as proxies to assess households’ exposure to indoor air pollution. More than 79% of households were found to be severely polluted. Women were the most exposed to indoor air pollution. The number of rooms, having a bank or microfinance savings account, education, income, access to electricity, floor building material, number of dependent family members, and cooking time were the main contributing factors. The use of clean fuels, improved cookstoves, and adequate ventilation must be strongly advocated.

Development and performance evaluation of a novel solar mid-and-low temperature receiver/reactor with packed metal foam

Solar-driven hydrogen production from methanol decomposition (MD) is an important method of storing solar energy as clean fuels and improving the solar energy utilization efficiency. Catalyst preparation is one of the key steps, but conventional Cu-ZnO-Al2O3 particle catalysts lead to uneven reactor temperature, reducing the efficient conversion of solar energy into fuels. To alleviate this challenge, a monolithic catalyst utilizing packed foamy copper as a carrier is developed with exceptional thermal and mass transfer properties. The experimental results validate its excellent performance in hydrogen production using MD. The absolute conversion increases by an average of 12.11 % at 250 °C and further by 14.43 % at 270 °C compared to the particle catalyst. Based on these findings, a novel solar reactor is proposed, and a multi-field coupling model is built. The comparative results verify the performance advantage of the developed solar thermochemical receiver/reactor with packed metal foam-based catalyst. It maintains high conversion rates and solar-to-fuel energy efficiency, while alleviating overheating problems caused by traditional particle catalysts. Under the design conditions, the new reactor significantly improves the absolute conversion of methanol and the energy efficiency of solar-to-fuel conversion by 4.57 % and 3.00 %, respectively, resulting in 92.64 % and 67.56 %. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical solution for more stable and efficient use of mid-and-low temperature solar energy.

Designing Catalytic Desulfurization Processes to Prepare Clean Fuels

Sulfur compounds in fuels are the primary causes of acid rain and environmental pollution [...]

Household air pollution and respiratory health in Africa: persistent risk and unchanged health burdens.

Despite evidence emerging from the Global Burden of Disease studies that biomass use and household air pollution are declining globally, with important positive health impacts for households in low- and middle-income countries, these trends have not been equally documented in African countries. This review describes the state of household air pollution exposure and its relationship with respiratory disease in Africa. African studies on this topic are limited, and generally focus on respiratory infections. Most evidence emerge from models based on the Global Burden of Disease data, and from limited individual epidemiological studies across the continent. More than 80% of the African population is exposed to household air pollution. Women and children continue to bear the substantial burden of exposure. Evidence from limited exposure-response studies strongly points to household air pollution being the major driver of acute and chronic respiratory diseases on the continent. Respiratory infections, particularly in children, and other chronic respiratory diseases, are strongly attributable to household air pollution. Elimination of such exposures through interventions such as cleaner fuels and preferably, electricity, is critical to improving respiratory health on the continent.

Electrodeposited Manganese Dioxides and Their Composites as Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion Reactions.

Enhancing the efficiencies of electrochemical reactions for converting renewable energy into clean chemical fuels as well as generating clean energy is critical to achieving carbon neutrality. However, this enhancement can be achieved using materials that are not constrained by resource limitations and those that can be converted into devices in a scalable manner, preferably for industrial applications. This review explores the applications of electrochemically deposited manganese dioxides (MnO2) and their composites as electrochemical catalysts for oxygen evolution (OER) and hydrogen evolution reactions for converting renewable energy into chemical fuels. It also explores their applications as electrochemical catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and bifunctional OER/ORR for the efficient operation of fuel cells and metal-air batteries, respectively. Manganese is the second most abundant transition metal in the Earth's crust, and electrodeposition represents a binder-free and scalable technique for fabricating devices (electrodes). To propose an improved catalyst design, the studies on the electrodeposition mechanism of MnO2 as well as the fabrication techniques for MnO2-based nanocomposites accumulated in the development of electrodes for supercapacitors are also included in this review.