Source Of Feedstock Research Articles

Effects Of Nitrogen Concentrations On The Biomass, Lipid And Biodiesel Production Potentials Of Spirogyra Specie

The international dependence on non-renewable power supply including fossil fuels has led the sector toward power insecurity. This has necessitated the worldwide attempt to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and broaden an economically feasible and scalable alternative fuel supply so that it will additionally lessen huge emissions of CO2 within side the surroundings which in flip will result in discount environmental pollution. Biofuels have the potentials to offer a feasible opportunity to fossil fuels and can lessen overall CO2 emissions. Algae appear like a rising supply of biomass for biodiesel that has the capacity to absolutely displace fossil fuel. Biodiesel has gain sufficient interest in latest years because of its green nature, non-poisonous characteristics, biodegradability and decrease net carbon cycle as compared to standard diesel fuel. In this research, Spirogyra sp. was collected from Tubu river, a tributary of River Kaduna, as a source of biomass feedstock for biodiesel production. Spirogyra sp. turned into cultured in various nitrogen (2.94 x 103 (100%), 2.20 x 103 (75%), 1.47 x 103 (50%), 0.73 x 104 (25%), and 0.000 (0%)) concentrations in Bold’s Basal Media (BBM) in a laboratory test for 21 days at 25-28°C ambient temperature. Oil from Spirogyra sp. become extracted in soxhlet extractor using n-hexane as solvent and transformed into biodiesel through transesterification reaction. The highest biomass growth, oil, lipid content and biodiesel production were observed in treatment with 75% (2.20 x 103) Spirogyra sp. has a big capability for biodiesel production.

Trace Impurities Identified as Forensic Signatures in CMX-5 Fuel Pellets Using X-ray Spectroscopic Techniques.

Small-particle analysis is a highly promising emerging forensic tool for analysis of interdicted special nuclear materials. Integration of microstructural, morphological, compositional, and molecular impurity signatures could provide significant advancements in forensic capabilities. We have applied rapid, high-sensitivity, hard X-ray synchrotron chemical imaging to analyze impurity signatures in two differently fabricated fuel pellets from the 5th Collaborative Materials Exercise (CMX5) of the IAEA Nuclear Forensics International Working Group. The spatial distributions, chemical compositions, and morphological and molecular characteristics of impurities were evaluated using X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and X-ray fluorescence chemical imaging to discover principal impurities, their granularity, particle sizes, modes of occurrence (distinct grains vs incorporation in the UO2 lattice), and sources and mechanisms of incorporation. Differences in UO2+x stoichiometry were detected at the microscale in nominally identical UO2 ceramics (CMX5-A and CMX5-B), implying the presence of multiple UO2 host phases with characteristic microstructures and feedstock compositions. Al, Fe, Ni, W, and Zr impurities and integrated impurity signature analysis identified distinctly different pellet synthesis and processing methods. For example, two different Al, W, and Zr populations in the CMX5-B sample indicated a more complex processing history than the CMX5-A sample. K-edge XANES measurements reveal both metallic and oxide forms of Fe and Ni but with different proportions between each sample. Altogether, these observations suggest multiple sources of impurities, including fabrication (e.g., force-sieving) and feedstock (mineral oxides). This study demonstrates the potential of synchrotron techniques to integrate different signatures across length scales (angstrom to micrometer) to detect and differentiate between contrasting UO2 fuel fabrication techniques.

Comparative assessment of the co-production of bioethanol and single cell proteins from Sugarcane Bagasse, Rice Husks, and cassava peels using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This work compares various waste sources of feedstock (cassava peels, sugarcane bagasse, and rice husks) for the co-production of bioethanol and single cell protein using Saccharomyces Cerevisiae as fermentation enzyme. Sulphuric acid solution was used for the pre-treatment, dilute hydrochloric acid was used for hydrolysis, temperature, time, and pH of 131.8 °C, 1 hr, and 5.3 respectively. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was used to adjust the pH of the hydrolysate to neutral (6.7). The primary component of the single-cell protein was ammonia (NH3), which was quantified using Kjeldahl's technique of analysis, while the bioethanol produced was assessed using the colorimetric and colored reaction method using a spectrophotometer. Sugarcane bagasse showed the highest amount of bioethanol (36.57 %) while Rice husks and Cassava peels showed 30.97 % and 29.31 % respectively. The greatest bioethanol production (47.85 %) was achieved by combining feedstock, cassava, and sugar cane feedstocks. The percentage of single cell protein generated from individual feedstock was the highest using sugarcane bagasse (29.4 %) while a sugarcane bagasse and cassava peels combination gave the highest concentration for single cell protein (43.6 %). The study has demonstrated efficient bioethanol and single cell protein (SCP) co-production from Saccharomyces Cerevisiae using sugarcane bagasse, cassava peels, and rice husk as feedstock.

Mapping Greenhouse Gas Emissions of the U.S. Chemical Manufacturing Industry: The Effect of Feedstock Sourcing and Upstream Emissions Allocation

Mapping Greenhouse Gas Emissions of the U.S. Chemical Manufacturing Industry: The Effect of Feedstock Sourcing and Upstream Emissions Allocation

A comparative assessment on life cycle analysis of the biodiesel fuels produced from soybean, Jatropha, Calophyllum inophyllum, and microalgae

ABSTRACT There is a continuous depletion of fossil resources recorded in 20th century for the production of diesel that resulted in significant climatic change. The current study focuses on the challenges faced due to energy crisis and climate change followed by biodiesel production from various feedstock sources such as Soybean, Jatropha, Calophyllum inophyllum, and Microalgae. The pivotal aim of the study is to analyze the life cycle balance of biodiesel produced from three generation feedstocks. These sources were selected based on energy balance and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, specifically on the aspect of Well-to-Pump module. The results infer that GHG emission was stringent in the production of soybean biodiesel i.e., 32.53 gCO2Eq/MJ whereas other sustainable measures such as net energy value, net renewable energy value, and energy ratio were low in the life cycle of microalgae-based biodiesel. This phenomenon indicates its efficiency in obtaining the maximal energy output. On the contrary, about 49.44 gCO2Eq/MJ was produced during all the stages of biodiesel production from microalgae. In terms of sensitivity, the output dependency over input value was also estimated since it showcases the significant influence of cultivation, transportation, oil extraction and biodiesel production upon biodiesel Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). After taking the entire LCA values, sensitivity analyses of selected feedstocks and the importance of food crops into account, the biodiesels produced from Jatropha and Calophyllum inophyllum feedstocks were found to be viable and possess the ability to overcome GHG emission challenges without compromising the energy balance.

Sustainable Ammonia Synthesis from Nitrogen and Water by One‐Step Plasma Catalysis

Sustainable ammonia synthesis at ambient conditions that relies on renewable sources of energy and feedstocks is globally sought to replace the Haber–Bosch process. Here, using nitrogen and water as raw materials, a nonthermal plasma catalysis approach is demonstrated as an effective power‐to‐chemicals conversion strategy for ammonia production. By sustaining a highly reactive environment, successful plasma‐catalytic production of NH3 was achieved from the dissociation of N2 and H2O under mild conditions. Plasma‐induced vibrational excitation is found to decrease the N2 and H2O dissociation barriers, with the presence of matched catalysts in the nonthermal plasma discharge reactor contributing significantly to molecular dissociation on the catalyst surface. Density functional theory calculations for the activation energy barrier for the dissociation suggest that ruthenium catalysts supported on magnesium oxide exhibit superior performance over other catalysts in NH3 production by lowering the activation energy for the dissociative adsorption of N2 down to 1.07 eV. The highest production rate, 2.67 mmol gcat.−1 h−1, was obtained using ruthenium catalyst supported on magnesium oxide. This work highlights the potential of nonthermal plasma catalysis for the activation of renewable sources to serve as a new platform for sustainable ammonia production.

Comparative resource-environment-economy assessment of coal- and oil-based aromatics production

Aromatics is an important chemical material with a greatly increasing demand across the world. However, its production normally depends on the conventional oil-based naphtha to aromatics (OBNTA) route, resulting in difficulty for oil-shortage countries to meet local demand. The coal-based methanol to aromatics (CBMTA) route is considered a promising alternative to diversify the production of the aromatic whereas its industrial competitiveness relative to the OBNTA route has been not fully assessed at a resource-environment-economy level. This study proposes a comprehensive assessment framework that integrates the life cycle assessment, technical-economic analysis, and entropy weight method to quantify and compare the resource consumption, environmental emission, and economic benefit of the CBMTA and OBNTA routes. The operating data for the industrialized plants, economic data of China’s market, and background data from the LCA database are taken as the input of the assessment framework. The sensitivity to operating and economic data and uncertainty caused by original data, allocation procedures, and feedstock sources are considered. The assessment shows that the CBMTA route scores worse comprehensive competitiveness than the OBNTA route due to its higher resource consumption and environmental emission. However, it performs well in economic benefit at Chinese current prices, which may attract more attention from investors. Based on the assessment, a SWOT analysis is carried out to further address resource-environment-economy tradeoffs. The analysis shows a considerable prospect of the CBMTA route thanks to all kinds of external opportunities, which however need to vigorously promote cleaner production policies and specific investment strategies tailored to local resource-environment-economy conditions. The current work can help policymakers, stakeholders, and investors better understand the multi-dimensional tradeoffs and make decisions.

Short rotation woody crops as a source of bioactive compounds depending on genotype and harvest cycle

Short rotation woody crops (SRWC) are one of the available sources of renewable feedstock which can be used in the medical, chemical and power industries. The current study evaluated the usability of the bark from different SRWC genotypes as a source of bioactive compounds. The specific objectives were to determine the concentrations of six bioactive substances in bark, bark yield and potential bioactive substance yield. A two-factorial field experiment was carried out in north-eastern Poland and comprised 14 SRWC genotypes, including one Robinia genotype, five Populus genotypes, seven clones and one variety of the genus Salix and two cycles of biomass harvest: annual and quadrennial. The genetic variability had a significant impact on the qualitative and quantitative composition of the bioactive substances in the bark of the studied SRWC, whereas the biomass harvest cycle determined the quantitative concentration of individual bioactive substances. Extending the biomass harvest rotation decreased the mean concentration of the substances under analysis by ca. 20%. The highest total concentration of bioactive substances was found in poplar bark obtained from P. balsamifera. Among the six studied bioactive substances, the highest mean concentration was determined for salicin (20.61 mg g−1 d.m.), followed by salicortin (12.58 mg g−1 d.m.). A significantly lower concentration was determined for salicylic acid (2.74 mg g−1 d.m.) and salireposide (2.51 mg g−1 d.m.), whereas kaempferol and quercetin were determined in trace amounts. The total potential yield of the analyzed bioactive compounds varied significantly, both with respect to genetic variability and biomass harvest cycle.

PALM OIL BIODIESEL: CHALLENGES, RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR REDUCING AND REPLACING THE NON-RENEWABLE FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDANCY - A REVIEW

Biodiesel is a renewable source of energy which is expected to play a signifi cant role for reducing andreplacing the existing non-renewable fossil fuels. Palm oil is one source of biodiesel feed stock which hasbeen used for many years and gave so many advantages such as high oil yield, cheap to produce and torefi ne, has similar characteristics with petroleum-derived diesel, and has lower emission. However, someissues, such as food stock security, land use changes, and biodiversity extinction, have arisen which needto be considered and solved wisely. Life cycle assessment (LCA) study shows a positive net energy and anet positive sequestration on GHG emission (up to some level of conversion from palm oil to biodiesel)which means biodiesel from palm oil has a high potential to replace fossil fuel and also an environmentalfriendly fuel.

Tempering expectations on a novel biofuel tree: Seed and oil yield assessment of pongamia (Millettia pinnata) shows low productivity and high variability

Pongamia (Millettia pinnata) has recently gained attention as a novel biofuel feedstock. However, yield levels and dynamics of this largely undomesticated species remain poorly understood. This study addresses the critical lack of scientific evidence by collecting primary seed and oil yield data from 81 pongamia trees across a range of cultivation types in South India, and is the first to explore yield-determining factors using predictive regression models. Our results indicate that annual seed and oil yield for pongamia trees vary widely, generally staying below 2500 kg/ha and 1000 liter/ha, respectively. This current field performance is substantially lower than commonly reported figures in the literature. Furthermore, the study suggests that a complex interplay between genotype, environment and agronomy leads to large spatiotemporal variation in yields, and that this interplay remains poorly understood. Long-term yield monitoring is required to get better insights into realistic yield levels and mechanisms, before labeling pongamia as a significant, stable and profitable source of biofuel feedstock. The paper concludes with a set of hands-on guidelines for pongamia research and harvesting.

Underutilized Lignocellulosic Waste as Sources of Feedstock for Biofuel Production in Developing Countries

The need for a reliable and sustainable energy source, stability in energy price and solution to environmental challenges of fossil fuel has led to searching for an alternative energy source to fossil fuel. Several alternative sources have been developed over time, but they are limited in one form or another. However, biofuel such as bioethanol has been identified as a superb alternative with superior properties to fossil fuel. One major challenge with biofuel is the high production cost resulting from feedstock, which may also serve as a food source. In order to address this challenge, research is focused on searching for cheap and sustainable feedstock for biofuel production. Currently, attention is on lignocellulosic waste as feedstock with a keen interest in developing the most appropriate technique for processing it to bioethanol, especially in developing countries, which is the focus of this review. This review involves converting lignocellulosic waste to bioethanol and the pretreatment steps involved as well as its challenges, prospect and economic aspect. Among the pretreatment steps reported, biological treatment remains outstanding but with a few challenges which can be managed. Biofuel has come to stay in developing countries with lots of opportunities that favours its production cost. Although the high cost of enzyme production has been identified as a challenge to the economic viability of lignocellulosic bioethanol, there is hope that developing an efficient bio-system for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) and consolidated biomass processing may help circumvent the challenge. In conclusion, the effective utilization of lignocellulosic waste in an efficient biocatalyst system can serve as an economically viable means to overcome the challenge posed by fossil fuel.

Challenges, opportunities and future directions in hydrogen sector development in Canada

Exploitation of fossil fuel sources in the power generation and transportation sector has been a major source of carbon dioxide emissions that contributes to global warming. Replacement of hydrocarbon-based fuel sources with cleaner fuels is imperative for environmental preservation at the global level. In this regard, hydrogen can be used as an effective non-carbonaceous fuel option as well as an energy carrier. Canada is currently one of the economically advanced countries in the world and aims at achieving a net-zero economy by 2050. However, fossil fuels are still largely utilized for both transportation and power generation purposes. Slightly less than a quarter of the total grid power in Canada is supplied through fossil fuel combustion including natural gas, coal, and petroleum. As a matter of fact, Canada, as one of the top ten global producers of hydrogen, exhibits a great potential of achieving the goal of sustainable development. Thus, this paper discusses the current status, challenges, and opportunities offered by the hydrogen sector and its development in the near- and long-term future in Canada. The potential methods of hydrogen production in Canada are described by categorizing them according to the energy and feedstock sources required for their realization. In addition, the status of hydrogen storage and distribution in Canada is also discussed. Various sectors consuming hydrogen as the end-users in Canada are categorized based on hydrogen use as a fuel, a heating source, and an industrial feedstock and are comprehensively discussed. Several challenges and the necessary line-of-actions to establish a hydrogen economy in Canada in the long-term future are also discussed, and a road map for accomplishing the net-zero economy by 2050 is further explained based on achieving certain near-term, mid-term, and long-term goals. Moreover, the job creation opportunities in Canada are discussed by considering numerous critical sectors.

Computational modelling studies for high temperature monazite systems

Monazite is widely considered as a potential source of fissile feedstock for nuclear power generation, as it generally contains significant quantity of thorium (Th), uranium (U) and rare earth elements (REEs) within the mineral ore structure. Currently, a new process of high-temperature cracking of monazite is under development to improve the liberation of these cations from the robust monazite lattice. The current process for extraction of the REEs from the mineral involves complicated processes which makes use of harsh chemicals. These process therefore has significant scope for optimisation. With this in mind, the stability of monazite systems, t-CeSiO4 and m-LaSiO4 was investigated using first-principle calculation employing density functional theory (DFT) to gain a better understanding of the inherent molecular structures and the influence of temperature on conformation. The calculated lattice parameters for the model of t-CeSiO4 were found to be in good agreement with the experimental values (within 3%) and deemed a sufficient m-LaSiO4 of the system to be exposed to simulated reaction conditions. The elastic properties suggested that t-CeSiO4 is the more stable structure compared to m-LaSiO4 structure at 0 K. Semi-empirical embedded atom method interatomic potentials incorporated in the LAMMPS code were also employed to investigate the lattice expansion of t-CeSiO4 at high temperatures. It was found that calculated a and b lattice parameters expand with a linear ratio to a temperature of 2200 K whereas the c parameter was found to contract in the same temperature range. The findings provided an in depth understanding of the monazite molecular structure change at higher temperatures that may be helpful in plasma cracking optimisation experimental methodologies.

Characterisation of Spheroidised tungsten carbide metco 32c powder using radio frequency plasma

Metco 32C is a coarse grey powder, which mostly consists of tungsten carbide and cobalt; with small traces of nickel, chromium, boron, iron silicon and carbon. Metco 32C powder has the role of supporting oxidation and corrosion resistance at high temperatures as well as increasing the hardness of the coated materials. The spheroidal morphology of Metco 32C improves flowability during layer application methods such thermal spraying. There has been a growing interest in the development / improvement of methods producing powders of cast tungsten carbide and other high-melting-point materials of uniform composition, characterised by a high sphericity of the particles and having higher physical-mechanical properties. Spherical particles are generally preferred in the additive manufacturing process as they pack together for uniform powder bed density, better flowability in machinery, eliminate internal cavities and fractures resulting in a better quality of final product. Similarly, thermal spraying processes also require dense, spherical particles to ensure consistency and reproducibility of the feeding mechanism as well as interaction between the feedstock and thermal spraying heat source. The process of transforming irregularly shaped powder particles into spherical shapes is known as the spheroidisation process and this can be achieved by plasma spheroidisation. It was found that the spheroidisation ratio of the powder increased as the plasma plate power increased. A decrease in density was observed as plasma power increased. The spheroidised powders have a smaller particle size distribution (PSD) than the feed powders (un-spheroidised). The XRD results showed that as the plasma plate power increased the WC phase composition decreased, subsequently the phase composition of W2C increased.

Production of biodiesel from salvia mirzayanii oil via electrolysis using KOH/Clinoptilolite as catalyst.

In recent years, fossil fuels are the main energy supply in both transportation and industry. Their increasing consumption has been causing global warming and acid raining. One of the alternative fuels that is considered today is biodiesel, which is clean and eco-friendly. The main method for biodiesel production is transesterification reaction of triglyceride oil with methanol in the presence of a suitable catalyst. In this research, biodiesel was produced from Salvia mirzayanii oil in the presence of KOH/Clinoptilolite catalyst. The impregnation, hydrothermal, and incipient wetness methods were used for loading KOH on the Clinoptilolite support to produce biodiesel via electrolysis method. The characteristics of the KOH/Clinoptilolite catalyst were examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses. The effects of key parameters including catalyst amount, methanol to oil molar ration, reaction time, reaction temperature, co-solvent type and its proportion, electrolysis voltage, catalyst reusability, and KOH concentration were examined on the biodiesel yield. The results of elemental analysis confirmed that KOH was well loaded on Clinoptilolite support. The highest yield of biodiesel was obtained 79% in the presence of 10wt% catalyst, alcohol to oil ratio of 9:1, acetone concentration of 10wt%, temperature of 60°C, and voltage of 10V. The results of GC-MS, FTIR and H-NMR analyses illustrated that biodiesel as a product was produced with good quality. Based on the obtained results, in all three methods of catalyst synthesis KOH was loaded on Clinoptilolite support but at the end of the transesterification reaction only the catalyst synthesis via incipient wetness method could be reused three times under optimum reaction conditions. The produced biodiesel had high quality, whose physical and chemical properties had good agreement with ASTM, EN 14214, IS 15607 standards. Since the salvia mirzayanii oil is an appropriate feedstock source for biodiesel production, it is suggested to use salvia mirzayanii oil and KOH/Clinoptilolite catalyst to produce biodiesel on industrial scale.

Transcriptional dynamics of gametogenesis in the green seaweed Ulva mutabilis identifies an RWP-RK transcription factor linked to reproduction

BackgroundThe molecular mechanism underlying sexual reproduction in land plants is well understood in model plants and is a target for crop improvement. However, unlike land plants, the genetic basis involved in triggering reproduction and gamete formation remains elusive in most seaweeds, which are increasingly viewed as an alternative source of functional food and feedstock for energy applications.ResultsGametogenesis of Ulva mutabilis, a model organism for green seaweeds, was studied. We analyzed transcriptome dynamics at different time points during gametogenesis following induction of reproduction by fragmentation and removal of sporulation inhibitors. Analyses demonstrated that 45% of the genes in the genome were differentially expressed during gametogenesis. We identified several transcription factors that potentially play a key role in the early gametogenesis of Ulva given the function of their homologs in higher plants and microalgae. In particular, the detailed expression pattern of an evolutionarily conserved transcription factor containing an RWP-RK domain suggested a key role during Ulva gametogenesis.ConclusionsTranscriptomic analyses of gametogenesis in the green seaweed Ulva highlight the importance of a conserved RWP-RK transcription factor in the induction of sexual reproduction. The identification of putative master regulators of gametogenesis provides a starting point for further functional characterization.

The Influences of Promising Feedstock Variability on Advanced Biofuel Production: A Review

The contribution of biofuels is expected to continuously increase in the global fuel market, as they are environmentally-friendly and provide renewable energy. Four generations of biofuels are categorized and are primarily based on their feedstock sources and the production technologies that are used. The influence of promising feedstock types and the availability on the production technologies and the fuel properties of advanced-generation biofuels are not systematically examined in the literature. Hence, this research extensively reviews the potential impact of feedstock sources and their variability on the production and characteristics of biofuels. The approaches of theoretical analysis and inference referred to relevant works in the literature were applied. The findings suggest that the potency of the commercialized mass production of advanced-generation biofuels is facilitated by a much more flexible selection and the sufficient availability of promising feedstocks. Lignocellulose biomass is recognized as the most significant feedstock source for second-generation biofuels, while microalgae do the same for third-generation biofuels. Moreover, the microalgae of some strains are able to produce the highest amount of bio-alcohol of all available feedstock sources. The cell walls of lignocellulose biomass and microalgae mostly consist of lignin compounds and cellulose materials, respectively. Biological pretreatment is considered to be the most promising process, prior to biofuel production. The biofuel yields from lignocellulose biomass and microalgae, using biological pretreatments, could increase by 120% and 22-159%, respectively, in comparison with those of any other pretreatment process. Moreover, more double bonds and larger unsaturated fatty acids in raw lipids cause the inferior oxidative stability, but superior fluidity of biofuel. The possible impact of Genetically-Modified Crops (GMC) on the eco-environment and human genes remains a serious concern and requires further tracking and analysis. Genetically-modified technology is still immature to achieve the expected characteristics of biofuels from those modified crops. The unceasing exploitation of promising biomass feedstock sources is crucial for the rapid and steady development of advanced-generation biofuels.

Performance enhancement and emissions mitigation of DI-CI engine fuelled with ternary blends of jatropha biodiesel-diesel-heptanol

The rising consumption of fossil fuels has lead to massive depletion of the petroleum reserves. The combustion of diesel has contributed to serious environmental problems which prove to be detrimental for human life and biodiversity. In order to meet the challenges of energy security and pollution control, researchers have come with ternary blends comprising of jatropha biodiesel-diesel-alcohol blend in different volumetric proportions. Ternary blends can serve the dual purpose of alternate and sustainable fuel for the modern transport sector. Besides, they offer huge potential in improving the engine performance and lowering the exhaust emissions. Biodiesel and alcohol are derived from renewable sources of agricultural feed stocks. The physical–chemical properties of both biodiesel and alcohol are similar to those of conventional diesel. Many studies have reflected that higher alcohols prove to be better additives than lower alcohols in biodiesel. The present work deals with the analysis of performance and emissions of diesel engine fueled with ternary blends. The preparation of four test fuel samples (ternary blends) were done, namely DBHep10 (D = 40%, B = 50%, Heptanol = 10%), DBHep20 (D = 40%, B = 40%, Heptanol = 20%), DBHep30 (D = 40%, B = 30%, Heptanol = 30%) and DBHep40 (D = 40%, B = 20%, Heptanol = 40%). The test fuels were tested in CRDI diesel engine at varied engine loads of 5 Nm, 10 Nm, 15 Nm and 20 Nm, while the engine speed was kept constant at 1800 rpm. The ternary blends resulted in higher BTE and lower BSFC with increased volumetric proportion of heptanol. The CO and UHC emissions were reduced for ternary blends than diesel, however NOx emission got increased. The use of heptanol up to 40% as additives in biodiesel-diesel blends showed huge potential as alternate and sustainable fuel.

Isoprene measurements to assess plant hydrocarbon emissions and the methylerythritol pathway.

Isoprene is the most abundant non-methane hydrocarbon emitted to the atmosphere and a target of biotechnology as a source of biofuels or chemical feedstock. Measurements of the amount of isoprene or the rate of production of isoprene are important for atmospheric chemistry, evaluating biotechnology processes, and can provide information on the capacity and regulation of the methyl erythritol 4-phosphate pathway found in plants and bacteria. In this chapter we discuss techniques, and their strengths and weaknesses, of methods in common use for measuring isoprene. There are many sources of isoprene for measurements including emissions from leaves and head space analysis of reactions involving recombinant enzymes or bacterial/fungal cultures. Similarly, there are a variety of detection methods including several mass spectrometer methods that are useful for examining rates of labeling of isoprene when carbon isotopes are used.

Co-liquefaction of sewage sludge with wheat straw in supercritical water – potential for integrating hydrothermal liquefaction with wastewater treatment plants

Sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) represents a source of feedstock for hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), which in turn offers a sustainable alternative to valorize this societal waste.