Ethanol Emissions Research Articles

Evaluation of repellents for management of ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in nursery production.

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are critical pests of ornamental nursery trees, which are attracted to ethanol-emitting stressed trees. The limited efficacy of traditional insecticides for their control calls for alternative management strategies, such as semiochemical repellents. This study assessed the efficacy of multiple experimental repellent formulations across field and semi-field trials to determine their potential for reducing ambrosia beetle captures and attacks under different environmental and application conditions. Beetle Guard #2 and Beetle Guard#3, consisting of different combinations of verbenone and methyl salicylate, significantly reduced ambrosia beetle captures and attacks in soda bottle and bolt trap trials. Among the formulations, Beetle Guard #3 demonstrated consistent performance across multiple years. In subsequent trials, ambrosia beetle attacks were significantly reduced in all treatments containing Beetle Guard #3 - regardless of ethanol release rate. This indicates that Beetle Guard #3 effectively prevents beetle attacks under varying ethanol emissions conditions. Beetle Guard #2 and Beetle Guard #3 effectively reduced ambrosia beetles in ornamental nursery production. Although Beetle Guard #3 was the most effective formulation tested, further work is needed to optimize application strategies, including dose and spacing requirements, to improve field-level efficacy for managing ambrosia beetle attacks in nurseries. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

An approach for ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) management: can low-cost detectors effectively identify ethanol emissions in flood-stressed trees?

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are small fungus-farming beetles that damage stressed nursery trees directly through tunneling and structural weakening, and indirectly by introducing pathogenic fungi. Stressed trees emit ethanol, which is the primary host-locating cue for ambrosia beetles. This study evaluated the efficacy of low-cost ethanol detectors as a solution for the early detection of flood-stressed trees susceptible to ambrosia beetle infestation. Experiments were conducted using 48 native dogwoods (Cornus florida L.) subjected to flooded or non-flooded conditions. The attacks of ambrosia beetles were significantly higher in flooded trees, indicating a clear preference and validating the use of flood stress as a reliable method for susceptibility assessment. Ethanol emitted from these trees was measured using low-cost alcohol saliva test strips and Dräger Pac 8000 personal gas detectors alongside a solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) for ethanol confirmation. In addition to stem tissue analysis for ethanol detection via SPME-GC-MS, we found that twig and root tissue samples can also be assessed effectively using low-cost detectors such as alcohol strips and Dräger devices. GC-MS, a reliable method for volatile compound identification and quantification, confirmed ethanol as the dominant volatile in flooded trees, with both low-cost detectors correlating positively with SPME-GC-MS results. These detectors could offer a rapid, cost-effective method for identifying trees at risk of ambrosia beetle attack. However, their accuracy can be limited by false positives, as some plant genera emit aromatic volatiles such as eugenol, which may interfere with ethanol detection. More work is needed to optimize these tools for use by nursery growers, consultants, and researchers as an early-warning system and aid in ambrosia beetle management decision-making.

Research on the effects of negative valve overlap duration on the combustion and emission of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and n-butanol in a spark induced compression ignition (SICI) engine by experiments and Artificial Neural Networks

Research on the effects of negative valve overlap duration on the combustion and emission of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and n-butanol in a spark induced compression ignition (SICI) engine by experiments and Artificial Neural Networks

Ontogenetic, diurnal, and environmental impacts on VOC emission from sugarcane.

Ontogenetic, diurnal, and environmental impacts on VOC emission from sugarcane.

Modeling the growth and volatile metabolite production of spoilage-causing Brochothrix thermosphacta on solid meat substrates under modified atmospheres.

Modeling the growth and volatile metabolite production of spoilage-causing Brochothrix thermosphacta on solid meat substrates under modified atmospheres.

Effects of Glyoxylic Acid on Metabolism and Ripening of ‘Rocha’ Pears Treated with 1-MCP

The application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is widely used to extend the storage life of climacteric fruits, such as ‘Rocha’ pears. However, the suppression of ethylene’s action by 1-MCP often results in excessive ripening delay, compromising fruit quality and consumer acceptance. In this study, we investigated the potential of glyoxylic acid (GLA) to counteract the effects of 1-MCP and promote ripening. To evaluate this, ‘Rocha’ pears treated with 1-MCP were exposed to 3% (m/v) GLA and stored at 20 ± 2 °C for 15 days. Typical ripening indicators, such as firmness, skin color, ethylene production, respiration rate, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sugars, and the activity of ethylene biosynthetic enzymes, were measured. Our results indicate that GLA did not induce significant effects on the ripening response, as ethylene production remained comparable to that of the control. Consequently, no significant changes in firmness, skin yellowing, or sugar content were observed in the GLA-treated pears. However, GLA significantly increased respiration rates (approximately 57%) and induced higher emissions of stress-associated VOCs, including hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, and ethanol. This suggests that GLA may influence metabolic pathways related to energy metabolism and redox homeostasis without necessarily triggering ethylene-induced ripening. This study provides new insights into the interactions between GLA, 1-MCP, and fruit development, contributing to the development of alternative strategies to manage the effects of 1-MCP in ‘Rocha’ pear storage.

Effect of ethanol content, water injection, and compression ratio on combustion and detailed emissions in an SI-GDI engine

Effect of ethanol content, water injection, and compression ratio on combustion and detailed emissions in an SI-GDI engine

Effect of Eminex® on Greenhouse Gas and Ammonia Emissions from Dairy Slurry and Lagoon Wastewater

Manure management emits large quantities of greenhouse gases (GHG) in California. Eminex®, a manure additive, previously demonstrated significant GHG reductions in slurry. However, it has not been tested in lagoon wastewater. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Eminex® on GHG, ammonia (NH3), and ethanol (EtOH) emissions from fresh dairy slurry and dairy lagoon wastewater. Both manures received the following treatments: high (1.0 kg Eminex®/m3 manure), low (0.5 kg Eminex®/m3 manure). Experiments were conducted in four replicates with an untreated manure control. The physical characteristics of the manure were determined during the monitoring periods of emissions: 7 days for slurry and 28 days for lagoon wastewater. All slurry emissions, except for N2O, declined over time (p < 0.05). Lagoon wastewater total N increased with treatment (p < 0.05) possibly due to the urea provided by Eminex®. Most lagoon wastewater emissions also decreased over time (p < 0.05). However, Eminex®, compared to control, increased lagoon wastewater NH3 volatilization (p < 0.05). With improvements to manure composition through increasing N content, as well as reductions in emissions, Eminex® is a promising tool to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of manure management.

The impact of multi-decadal changes in VOC speciation on urban ozone chemistry: a case study in Birmingham, United Kingdom

Abstract. Anthropogenic non-methane volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the United Kingdom have been substantially reduced since 1990, which is, in part, attributed to controls on evaporative and vehicle tailpipe emissions. Over time, other sources with a different speciation (for example, alcohols from solvent use and industry processes) have grown in both relative importance and, in some cases, in absolute terms. The impact of this change in speciation and the resulting photochemical reactivities of VOCs are evaluated using a photochemical box model constrained by observational data during a summertime ozone event (Birmingham, UK) and apportionment of sources based on the UK National Atmospheric Emission Inventory (NAEI) data over the period 1990–2019. Despite road transport sources representing only 3.3 % of UK VOC emissions in 2019, road transport continued being the sector with the largest influence on the local O3 production rate (P(O3)). Under case study conditions, the 96 % reduction in road transport VOC emissions that has been achieved between 1990 and 2019 has likely reduced daytime P(O3) by ∼ 1.67 ppbv h−1. Further abatement of fuel fugitive emissions was modeled to have had less impact on P(O3) reduction than abatement of VOCs from industrial processes and solvent use. The long-term trend of increased emissions of ethanol and methanol has somewhat weakened the benefits of reducing road transport emissions, increasing P(O3) by ∼ 0.19 ppbv h−1 in the case study. Abatement of VOC emissions from multiple sources has been a notable technical and policy success in the UK, but some future benefits (from an ozone perspective) of the phase-out of internal combustion engine passenger cars may be offset if domestic and commercial solvent use of VOCs continue to increase.

Life Cycle Assessment of Aviation Fuel Production from Steel-Industry Off-Gas

The steel industry in China, the world’s largest, contributes to about 15% of the nation’s total carbon emissions. Instead of direct combustion, the technology of converting off-gas from the steel industry into liquid fuels not only enhances the added value of this byproduct but also helps alleviate carbon emissions. This study, for the first time, integrates the specific circumstances of China to evaluate the carbon emissions of Ethanol to Jet (ETJ) and Fischer–Tropsch to Jet (FTJ) fuel technologies utilizing Basic Oxygen Furnace Gas (BOFG) and Coke Oven Gas (COG) as feedstocks. Six cases were examined using Aspen Plus (V11) for mass and energy balance: Case 1: BOFG/ETJ, Case 2: BOFG/FTJ, Case 3: COG/ETJ, Case 4: COG/FTJ, Case 5: (COG + BOFG)/ETJ, and Case 6: (COG + BOFG)/FTJ. The analysis underscores that the FTJ pathway exhibits superior carbon reduction efficiency relative to ETJ. Compared to traditional petroleum-based aviation fuels (86.65 g CO2eq/MJ), the FTJ pathways utilizing COG or COG + BOFG as feedstocks exhibit significant advantages in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, with carbon emissions of 23.60 g CO2eq/MJ and 41.48 g CO2eq/MJ, respectively, representing reductions of 72.76% and 52.13%. Furthermore, employing uncertainty analysis based on the Monte Carlo method establishes the credibility of the findings. Finally, sensitivity analysis for parameter optimization and process improvements demonstrates the significant impact of the life cycle assessment (LCA) allocation method on computational results for exhaust gas feedstocks. Given the limited coverage of lifecycle assessments for Ethanol to Jet and Fischer–Tropsch to Jet pathways in China, this study could assist policymakers in determining the development trajectory of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in China.

Bio-Based Pyrrole Compounds Containing Sulfur Atoms as Coupling Agents of Carbon Black with Unsaturated Elastomers.

In this work, the hysteresis of elastomer composites suitable for tire compounds was reduced by using CB functionalized with pyrrole compounds containing sulfur-based functional groups reactive with the elastomer chains. CB was functionalized with bio-based pyrrole compounds: 2-(2,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)ethane-1-thiol (SHP) and 1,2-bis(2-(2,5-dimethyl-1H-pyr-rol-1-yl)ethyl)disulfide (SSP), bearing an -SH and an -SS- functional group, respectively. SHP and SSP were synthesized via a one-pot two-step synthesis, with yields higher than 70%, starting from biosourced chemicals as follows: 2,5-hexanedione from 2,5-dimethylfuran, cysteine and cysteamine. The functionalization of CB was carried out by mixing the CB with PyC and heating, with quantitative yields ranging from 92 to 97%. Thus, the whole functionalization process was characterized by a high carbon efficiency. The formation of the covalent bond between SHP, SSP and CB, in line with the prior art of such a functionalization technology, was proven by means of extraction and TGA analyses. The reactivity of the sulfur-based functional groups with unsaturated polymer chains was demonstrated by using squalene as the model compound. Poly(styrene-co-butadiene) from solution anionic polymerization and poly(1,4-cis-isoprene) from Hevea Brasiliensis were the elastomers employed for the preparation of the composites, which were crosslinked with a sulfur-based system. Pristine CB was partially replaced with CB/SHP (33%) and CB/SSP (33% and 66%). The PyC resulted in better curing efficiency, an increase in the dynamic rigidity of approximately 20% and a reduction in the hysteresis of approximately 10% at 70 °C, as well as similar/better ultimate tensile properties. The best results were achieved with a 66% replacement of CB with CB/SSP. This new family of reactive carbon blacks paves the way for a new generation of 'green tires', reinforced by a CB reactive with the polymer chains, which provides high mechanical properties and low rolling resistance. Such a reactive CB eliminates the use of silica, and thus the ethanol emission resulting from the condensation of silane is used as a coupling agent. In addition, CB-based tires are characterized by a higher mileage, at a moment in which the reduction in tire wear has become a primary concern.

Insight of CO2 and ethanol emission from maize silage: A case study with real-time identification of aerobic and anaerobic microbial respiration using a multi-sensor-fusion method

Insight of CO2 and ethanol emission from maize silage: A case study with real-time identification of aerobic and anaerobic microbial respiration using a multi-sensor-fusion method

Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Brazilian Sugar Cane Ethanol Evaluated with the GREET Model Using Data Submitted to RenovaBio.

Brazil is the second-largest ethanol producer in the world, primarily using sugar cane as feedstock. To foster biofuel production, the Brazilian government implemented a national biofuel policy, known as RenovaBio, in which greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction credits are provided to biofuel producers based on the carbon intensities (CI) of the fuels they produce. In this study, we configured the GREET model to evaluate life cycle GHG emissions of Brazilian sugar cane ethanol, using data from 67 individual sugar cane mills submitted to RenovaBio in 2019/2020. The average CI per megajoule of sugar cane ethanol produced in Brazil for use in the U.S. was estimated to be 35.2 g of CO2 equivalent, a 62% reduction from U.S. petroleum gasoline blendstock without considering the impacts of land use change. The three major GHG sources were on-field N2O emissions (24.3%), sugar cane farming energy use (24.2%), and sugar cane ethanol transport (19.3%). With the probability density functions for key input parameters derived from individual mill data, we performed stochastic simulations with the GREET model to estimate the variations in sugar cane ethanol CI and confirmed that despite the larger variations in sugar cane ethanol CI, the fuel provided a robust GHG reduction benefit compared to gasoline blendstock.

Expanding the ethanol blend wall in California: Emissions comparison between E10 and E15

Expanding the ethanol blend wall in California: Emissions comparison between E10 and E15

A Computational Study on the Influence of the Hydrous Ethanol Water Content in Spark-Ignition Engine Performance and in Flame Development

A multidimensional numerical model was developed to simulate the operation of one cylinder of a 1.4-liter flex-fuel spark-ignition engine. Hydrous ethanol with 4.3%, 7.5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% water volumetric contents were the considered fuels for the engine. The full load engine operating point was analyzed at 3,875 rpm with a relative air-fuel ratio of 0.9 and a fixed ignition delay. A Grid Convergence Index study was conducted to guarantee the accuracy of the obtained numerical solutions. A six consecutive mechanical cycle simulation was performed for hydrous ethanol with 4.3% water content, and experimental data were used for validation purposes. Turbulent flame speeds were also evaluated and analyzed. Numerical results showed that 10% water content led to the highest engine-generated power output and flame propagation speeds and to the lowest CO and unburned ethanol emissions among the tested fuels. The flame shape and encompassed volume were also analyzed. The results also showed that the high swirl in the in-cylinder flow affects the initial development of the flame for all water contents considered. Fuels leading to lower flame distortions early after ignition showed higher reaction rates and better performance.

Research on combustion and emission characteristics of a hydrous ethanol/hydrogen combined injection spark ignition engine under lean-burn conditions

Research on combustion and emission characteristics of a hydrous ethanol/hydrogen combined injection spark ignition engine under lean-burn conditions

Performance, exhaust emission and combustion of ethanol–diesel–compressed natural gas dual-fuel compression-ignition engine: a trade-off study

Performance, exhaust emission and combustion of ethanol–diesel–compressed natural gas dual-fuel compression-ignition engine: a trade-off study

Carbon footprint of biofuels production from forest biomass using hot water extraction and biochemical conversion in the Northeast United States

Carbon footprint of biofuels production from forest biomass using hot water extraction and biochemical conversion in the Northeast United States

Effects of Water Ratio in Hydrous Ethanol on the Combustion and Emissions of a Hydrous Ethanol/Gasoline Combined Injection Engine under Different Excess Air Ratios.

Ethanol is usually combined with gasoline to manufacture ethanol–gasoline with excellent combustion characteristics. However, extracting water from hydrous ethanol to manufacture anhydrous ethanol consumed much energy, which increases the production cost of ethanol–gasoline. Many researchers have studied the combustion and emissions of hydrous ethanol–gasoline to explore the application of hydrous ethanol–gasoline as the fuel for spark-ignition engines. Most previous studies changed the hydrous ethanol ratio with fixed purity in hydrous ethanol–gasoline to study the effects of hydrous ethanol. Different from previous studies, this paper studied the effects of water ratio (Wr) in hydrous ethanol on the combustion and emissions of a hydrous ethanol/gasoline combined injection engine under different excess air ratio (λ) values. The ratios of ethanol and gasoline keep constant, while the purity of hydrous ethanol changes during the research. The experiment adopted the combined injection mode with hydrous ethanol direct injection plus gasoline port injection; the direct injection ratio was 20%. The experiment set three λ (0.9, 1, and 1.2) and five Wrs (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%). The test engine’s speed was 1500 rpm, and the intake manifold absolute pressure was 48 kPa. Results showed that water inhibited combustion, prolonged CA 0-10 and CA 10-90, reduced Pmax and Tmax, and delayed APmax; larger λ made the deterioration on combustion more obvious, and the smaller λ had a larger tolerance to water. Water could increase torque and improve emissions, but different parameters corresponded to different optimal Wrs. For torque, the optimal Wr was 5%. For HC emissions, the optimal Wr was 0%; for CO emissions, the optimal value was 5%; and for NOx emissions, the best value was 20%. The best Wr was 10% for particle number (PN) emissions. Under the optimal Wr condition, when λ values were 0.9, 1, and 1.2, compared with pure gasoline, the torque increased by 7.5, 5.54, and 5.31%; HC emissions decreased by 21.37, 23.43, and 26.58%; NOx emissions decreased by 4.26, 11.47, and 12.55%; CO emissions decreased by 17.51, 34.56, −50%; and the total PN emissions decreased by 87.64, 89.64, and 76.07%.

Emission source tracing based on bionic algorithm mobile sensors with artificial olfactory system

Abstract The leakage of hazardous chemicals and toxic volatile substances in the atmosphere may cause serious consequences such as explosion and poisoning. To identify the unknown leakage locations and gas compositions, a mobile robot system to trace the leak source in the outdoor was investigated. First, two bionic searching algorithms, Zigzag and Silkworm algorithms, were tested with outdoor experiments for locating the leak source. The results showed that the locating errors of these two algorithms were within 0.5 m in 10 by 20 m search space, but the failing ratio of Zigzag and Silkworm algorithm was still high (about 40–50%). Therefore, an improved tracing algorithm combining the Silkworm and Zigzag algorithm, called as zigzag–Silkworm algorithm, was proposed. Compared with Silkworm and Zigzag algorithms, zigzag–Silkworm algorithm had a higher success ratio of 80% in outdoor source tracing tests, and the searching efficiency was enhanced, the efficiency parameter L: L0 has improved from 2.58 for Silkworm and 2.66 for Zigzag to 2.17 for zigzag–Silkworm. Then, in order to identify the composition of the leaked gases during the source tracing, an artificial olfaction system (AOS) based on the gas sensor array and support vector machine was set on the mobile robot. The test results in the source tracing experiments with ammonia and ethanol emissions indicated that the recognition accuracy of emission gases reached to 99% with AOS equipped on the robot. Therefore, the mobile robot system equipped with the zigzag–Silkworm algorithm and the AOS is feasible to trace the leakage source and identify the emission composition in the outdoor leakage event with good performance in efficiency and accuracy although some underlying problems still need to be addressed in future work.