Material For Bioenergy Production Research Articles

Effect of tillage and irrigation on Southeastern U.S. soils under cellulosic sorghum feedstock production

ABSTRACT Sorghum may be a good cellulosic material for bioenergy production because it can be cultivated in current row-crop systems. However, the production of sorghum for bioenergy and its impacts on Southeastern U.S. soils should be investigated to determine the most environmentally sustainable system. The objective of this study was to evaluate tillage (conventional vs. conservation systems), and irrigation effect (irrigated vs. non-irrigated) on soil characteristics when producing cellulosic feedstock from three forage sorghums and one forage corn (control) in 2008 and 2009. Results showed that soil organic carbon (SOC) increased at a depth of 0.10–0.15 m, but decreased at a depth of 0.40–0.45 m with higher losses being found using conventional tillage as opposed to conservation tillage. Total nitrogen (TN) and bulk density (Bd) increased at all evaluated soil depths (0–0.50 m) after 2 years. Conventional tillage plots also showed higher Bd at 0.15–0.30 m. Higher Bd in conventional tillage plots might restrict water drainage which could explain higher volumetric soil water content (SWC) at 0.10, 0.20 and 0.40 m soil depths. Cone Index (CI) values also showed improved soil conditions at in-row positions for conservation plots.

STUDIES ON PURIFICATION OF CRUDE GLYCEROL OBTAINED AS BYPRODUCT FROM BIODIESEL PLANT FOR CONVERSION TO VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS

Crude glycerol is obtained as byproduct from biodiesel production, which accounts for about 10% (by wt) of the biodiesel produced. Glycerol, a byproduct from biodiesel plant has less commercial value and its disposal in environment is hazardous in nature. Conversion of crude glycerol into value added products is also important for economic sustainability of the biodiesel industries. Therefore crude glycerol can be considered as waste organic material with potential to be used as raw material for production of value added products and as a raw material for bio energy production. The composition of crude glycerol varies according to the biodiesel production methods. In order to identify the properties of crude glycerol and the treatment methods to purify it, the characteristics of crude glycerol such as density, alkalinity, ash content, water content were studied. The alkalinity test of the sample revealed that crude glycerol was basic in nature. Therefore, crude glycerol was subjected to a series of treatment steps such as acidification, extraction and adsorption.

The potential of fish and fish oil waste for bioenergy generation: Norway and beyond

This article examines the potential of fish waste for liquid and gaseous biofuels, with focus on Norway but also some consideration of other markets. Fish production and processing wastes are a significant source of material for bioenergy production. Norway is a country of high fish production, but currently low development of the bioenergy sector due to the ample availability of hydropower. World fish consumption per capita nearly doubled over the last 45 years. The resulting increase in fish processing wastes and the expansion of the renewable energy market imply that fish processing wastes could play a part in the future of biofuels. Fish processing wastes rich in fat may be used for biodiesel, although blending with other diesels may be necessary to meet biodiesel specification standards. Fish processing wastes are also suitable for biogas production, although these materials will have to be added as a co-substrate to boost the biogas production of plants treating agricultural or municipal wastes, due to the inhibitory effects of long chain fatty acids and high protein concentrations. A sustainable use of biogas in Norway would be as fuel for vehicles, as is the preferred future utilization in neighboring Sweden. In other countries with better developed gas grids, an increasing proportion of biogas will likely be used for grid injection to replace natural gas.