Use Of Fossil Fuels Research Articles

A Comprehensive Review of CO2 Hydrogenation into Formate/Formic Acid Catalyzed by Whole Cell Bacteria.

The increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, primarily due to the use of fossil fuels, pose a significant threat to the environment and necessitate urgent action to mitigate climate change. Carbon capture and utilization technologies that can convert CO2 into economically valuable compounds have gained attention as potential solutions. Among these technologies, biocatalytic CO2 hydrogenation using bacterial whole cells shows promise for the efficient conversion of CO2 into formate, a valuable chemical compound. Although it was discovered nearly a century ago, comprehensive reviews focusing on the utilization of whole-cell bacteria as the biocatalyst in this area remain relatively limited. Therefore, this review provides an analysis of the progress, strategies, and key findings in this field. It covers the use of living cells, resting cells, or genetically modified bacteria as biocatalysts to convert CO2 into formate, either naturally or with the integration of electrochemical and protochemical techniques as sources of protons and electrons. By consolidating the current knowledge in this field, this review article aims to serve as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners interested in understanding the recent progress, challenges, and potential applications of bacterial whole cell catalyzed CO2 hydrogenation into formate.

Current Status of Green Hydrogen Production Technology: A Review

As a clean energy source, hydrogen not only helps to reduce the use of fossil fuels but also promotes the transformation of energy structure and sustainable development. This paper firstly introduces the development status of green hydrogen at home and abroad and then focuses on several advanced green hydrogen production technologies. Then, the advantages and shortcomings of different green hydrogen production technologies are compared. Among them, the future source of hydrogen tends to be electrolysis water hydrogen production. Finally, the challenges and application prospects of the development process of green hydrogen technology are discussed, and green hydrogen is expected to become an important part of realizing sustainable global energy development.

Assessment of Waste Animal Fats (WAFS) Biodiesel Production Potential as an Alternative Fuel for Zambia: A Case Study of Southern Province

The volatility in global fuel prices and the desire to reduce energy dependency on fossil fuels has necessitated the speeding up of alternative energy supply sources. Coupled to this is the global urgent need to reduce the accumulation of CO2 and green house gas (GHG) emissions as a result of fossil fuels production and use. Further, the mandate by united nations to move towards sustainably produced energy for the transportation, and power generation demands that we seek energy solutions that meet reduced negative impact on the environment. It is in this regard that this study seeks alternatives in waste animal fats (WAFs) biodiesel as an option that could meet the ever increasing demand for fossil fuel in the transport sector and power generation. For the transport sector and power generation , the biodiesel maybe blended with the fossil diesel in the approved ratios as stipulated by the Energy Regulation Board and the Zambia Bureau of Standards to help mitigate the net GHG and CO2 emissions. The biodiesel production in this study was based on the modified two-step process. These two steps involved passing the feedstock through esterification using sulphuric acid as catalyst and there after base catalysed using sodium hydroxide in a process referred to as transesterification. The resulting products in the esterification process are the esters and water whilst in the transesterification are the biodiesel and glycerol. The feedstock used are those of waste animal fats (WAFs) of cattle, pig and chicken that has been discarded from meat processing and animal slaughter houses. The feedstocks have been carefully selected based on the animals raised in the country with a bigger slaughtered population as well as reared. The population of animals reared and slaughtered annually are obtained from the Zambia Ministry of Agriculture animal population census records. Based on these records, the preferred feedstock sources where obtained. The study further 1. explored the economic potential of the biodiesel production for the Zambian government and beyond. 2. compared some of the characteristics of WAF biodiesel to that of imported fossil diesel 3. affirmed that WAF biodiesel has a very good impact in reducing environmental pollution as WAF dumping to land fills and the cost of disposal is reduced. Also,WAF biodiesel is bio-degradable. Thus, moving closer to an effective sustainable development as required by the united nations sustainability goals if full scale production is implemented in Zambia.

Numerical Modeling of the Fluids Petroleum Flow Through the Supersonic Separator

In the context of increasing concerns regarding the amplification of the thermal effects of climate change, the Council of the European Union has proposed the reduction (up to the elimination) of the use of fossil fuels. For this purpose, the implementation of new ecological (renewable) fuels is being analyzed to reduce the carbon dioxide footprint, natural gas being the transition fuel. Also, in the next period, an increase in the demand for methane, the exploitation of condensate deposits, those with natural gas mixed with acid gases (containing hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen), as well as oil deposits with associated natural gas, which will require their treatment (to eliminate saline or non-saline water, mechanical impurities, of condensate and acid gases). At the same time, the exploitation of offshore deposits in deep waters will be emphasized, which will lead to the location of treatment equipment on the seabed. The present work discusses the simulation of natural gas treatment processes, focusing on the separation from methane (in the supersonic field) of water, condensate, and acid gases.

Investigation of thermal properties of ethylene glycol-based Williamson hybrid-nanofluid over stretchable/shrinking flat plate and their effects on solar panels

The global requirement for sustainable energy supply to enhance industrial productivity and reduce production costs has focused researchers’ attention to renewable energy in recent years. Solar energy mitigates the dangers connected with the use of fossil fuels in electricity generation. This work is set to evaluate the heat transmission capacities of Williamson hybrid nanofluid flow across a flat plate with viscous dissipation and heat source. The mathematical model explaining the flow interaction of Williamson hybrid nanofluid, combining viscous dissipation, heat source, and temperature-variation thermal conductivity and viscosity, is created using conservation laws. The specified system of non-linear coupled partial differential equations undergoes non-similarity transformation. The resulting non-dimensional model is solved using the bivariate spectral weighted residual method. The accuracy of the method is proven by comparing obtained results with those in the literature, and a good agreement is observed. Graphs are utilized to explain the thermophysical properties that are being considered. The results show that the fluid temperature rises when there is a source of heating and viscous dissipation. The velocity and the fluid parameter (We) have an inverse connection, whereas the temperature of the fluid has the opposite impact. Moreover, when nanoparticles are present, the thermal boundary layer rises along with the nanoparticles, thickening the velocity boundary layer and decreasing fluid velocity. Findings also show that for the Vd∈[0.1,0.5], the skin drag force and Nusselt number retard by 0.64%,14.06% for the shrinking sheet and 0.21%,6.57% for the stretching sheet respectively. In the same vein, an 100% surge in the porosity parameter escalate the skin friction coefficient by 19.13% and 26.91% and the Nusselt number by 4.92% and 2.06% respectively for both the contracting and elastic sheet. The findings in the research will provide more insight in the design and improvement of solar panel plate efficiency.

Evaluation of Energy Security Submits on Climate Change; Kyoto Protocol and Copenhagen Accord

The rise and incessant increase of Industrialization, modernization and advance technology have attributed to a greater challenge in contemporary international politics. It has brought about a shift in major discuss and study of international relations and politics from the anarchical nature of nation states to climate change. This research work focuses on the hypocrisy in United Nation, a case study of the Kyoto Protocol and Copenhagen submit. It highlights the various submit held to find solution to climate change, the discrepancy and hypocritical politics or decision in the United Nation, solutions agreed from various submit and as well the United nation contribution to climate change. It adopted a qualitative method of research with data’s from written literature and journals from different scholars and UN articles. Realism was adopted as theoretical frame work which shows that sates will go to any extents to defends her interest not minding the global disaster, which has influenced the decisions and as brought about rational and immoral decisions from some advance or rich nations. It concludes that, the hypocritical nature of some states has posed more threats to the issues at hand, due to the use of fossil fuels, every wealthy nation today became wealthy, the world's largest development agencies refuse to support the use of fossil fuels, which poor countries may employ to escape poverty at the insistence of wealthier nations not minding the fact that they contribute more to global emission than the poor nations. The study therefore recommends that, a legal frame work need to be set, nation states need to forget political and ideological differences and rather corporate to find solution to the gory situation. Lastly, advance countries who contributed more to global emission should be held accountable and should as well finance poor countries to implement the policies.

Productivity costs of the green energy transition in Africa

AbstractTransitioning to renewable energy generates tangible benefits in terms of the environment and emissions of greenhouse gases. However, the economic productivity costs of switching to clean energy cannot be overlooked, in addition to the large resource requirements, potential disruption in energy systems, risks of job losses, and emergence of new inequalities. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and quantify synergies and trade‐offs. This paper investigates the productivity cost of abandoning the use of fossil fuels in African countries, using econometric techniques applied to panel data, including the fully modified ordinary least square. The paper finds that, while renewable energy supply is beneficial to increase total factor productivity, in general, a shift toward a higher share of renewables in the power mix is not without productivity cost on the economy. The analysis accounts for other sources of productivity, such as human capital and the diffusion of embodied technology imported from abroad into local markets. The data also reveal that the energy transition could have heterogeneous effects depending on the regions' and countries' characteristics and stages of transition.

Technological Innovation, Trade Openness, Natural Resources, and Environmental Sustainability in Egypt and Turkey: Evidence from Load Capacity Factor and Inverted Load Capacity Factor with Fourier Functions

The environmental degradation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region leads to significant challenges regarding economic sustainability and the attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs). The extensive use of fossil fuels in the region, as well as rapid urbanization and economic growth, has led to significant carbon emissions, together with unprecedented ecological footprints compromising environmental sustainability. The study aims to elucidate the influence exerted by technological innovation, trade openness, and natural resources on environmental sustainability in Turkey and Egypt for the period 1990–2022. In assessing the empirical relations, the study employed the Fourier function incorporate estimation techniques, that is, Fourier ADF for unit root test, Fourier ARDL, and Fourier NARDL for long-run and short-run elasticities of technological innovation (TI), trade openness (TO,) and natural resources rent (NRR) on load capacity factor (LCF) and inverted LCF (ILCF); finally, the directional causality evaluate through Fourier TY causality test. The results revealed that both Turkey and Egypt have severe environmental problems due to their high carbon emissions and ecological footprints. Technological change and international trade separately negatively affect environmental sustainability; however, these negative impacts have mixed character. On the one hand, technology can improve efficiency and reduce ecological footprints by obviating the use of high-impact processes or allowing cleaner production systems. In the same vein, trade openness helps transfer green technologies more quickly, but it can also lead to unsustainable resource extraction and pollution. The findings of the paper propose that in order to move forward, Turkey and Egypt need strategic policy shifts to ensure environmental sustainability, including transitioning towards renewable energy from fossil fuels while bolstering their capacity for energy efficiency. Policymakers must balance economic development with environmental conservation to reduce the harmful effects of climate degradation and help safeguard continued economic survival in the face of increasing climatic instability. This research helps to inform policy and investment decisions about how the SDGs can be achieved and how they are relevant for sustainable development in the MENA region.

Biodiesel from Higher Alcohols for Removal of Crude Oil Spills from Coastal Sediments

Throughout the decades, the production, transport, and use of fossil fuels have led to numerous environmental concerns. Crude oil has caused catastrophic accidents after its spillage into the aqueous environment and accumulation on coastal sediments. To tackle this problem in a sustainable manner, researchers have used alternative remediation agents to extract these crude oil spills from the sediments. In this study, the biodiesels fatty acid methyl, ethyl, and butyl esters (FAME, FAEE, and FABE, respectively) were synthesized via transesterification reaction from waste cooking oil and corresponding alcohol in the presence of a catalyst, potassium hydroxide, and used as remediation agents for crude oil extraction. The influence of different experimental conditions on the crude-oil removal efficiency was studied (time of 1, 2, or 4 h; mass ratio of biodiesel to crude oil of 0.5:1, 1:1, or 2:1), with a simulation of coastal effects using a shaker. UV/Vis spectrophotometry was used to determine crude-oil separation efficiency based on the correlation of the residual crude-oil mass fraction and corresponding absorbance. The results show that FAME and FAEE were most effective in the removal of crude oil from sand (removing 88–89%), while FAEE and FABE extracted the most crude oil from gravel (removing 74–77%).

Analysis of greenhouse gas emissions using forest biomass as fuel in the drying process of agricultural crops

Greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, primarily resulting from the use of fossil fuels, have become an increasing concern regarding global warming. Given this scenario, it is necessary to develop actions that help reduce the gases emitted by different sectors. Forest biomass, as an alternative fuel, contributes to the sustainability of consuming sectors, as forests help remove carbon from the atmosphere, compensating for CO2 emissions, and it is also a source with excellent energy potential. Therefore, the present study aims to analyze gas emissions from the use of forest biomass as a renewable fuel during the drying process of agricultural crops, verifying whether the emissions comply with the limits established by legislation. The results indicate emission values exceeding the limits established by FEPAM Technical Guideline No. 001/2018, but in compliance with CONAMA Resolution No. 436/2011 for CO, with 1,439.61 mg/Nm³ for the Kepler furnace and 2,135.80 mg/Nm³ for the FOJS 24ª210V. Both are within the stipulated limits for NOx emissions, with 107.59 mg/Nm³ for the Kepler furnace and 127.34 mg/Nm³ for the FOJS 24ª210V. Forest biomass is an excellent alternative; however, it is important to conduct further studies to analyze the structural characteristics of furnaces, as well as the use of different types of biomasses, considering their physical and chemical characteristics, to achieve good efficiency while reducing gas emissions.

Design and Fabrication of a Wind and Hydropower Turbines

Abstract Nowadays, there is an increase in the use of fossil fuels in energy production and the increase in the pollutants of its combustion. Governments have reinforced over the past few years to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and reduce the pollution emitted by traditional methods of producing energy. By using hydropower and wind, energy can move away from the use of fossil fuels and negative effects. Therefore, hydropower and wind energy have been created that depend on renewable and environmentally safe energy. This work focused on building a device that integrates hydropower and wind energy together. This project focused on designing the combined between the hydropower and wind. Therefore, a model of a wind and hydropower turbine has been designed and fabricated. The idea of the paper is to develop a combined system between the wind and hydropower to generate the electricity. The system consists of a wind turbine and hydropower turbine. The wind one is on the top facing the winds directions and the hydropower part is inside the water to convert the water velocity to electricity. The wind turbine and hydropower turbine were connected. The idea behind that to ensure the wind turbine will not be stopped in working while there is no wind.

4E analysis of novel waste heat-driven combined cooling and power (CCP) systems based on modified Kalina-ejector refrigeration cycles

Global warming and environmental pollution are becoming increasingly severe problems due to the excessive use of fossil fuels. Recovering and utilizing waste heat from different energy systems can considered a sustainable solution to this destructive trend. This study proposes two modified Kalina cycle structures that use ejector refrigeration for combined cooling and power (CCP) generation in low-temperature waste heat. While to recover energy from a lean ammonia solution uses a two-phase expander. Thermodynamic analysis shows that the modified Kalina cycles E and F operate with a thermal efficiency of 0.3066 and 0.2557, respectively, representing a significant improvement of more than 123% and 86%, respectively, compared to the base cycle. Also, the exergy efficiency of the improved configurations E and F has been calculated as 0.083 and 0.089, respectively, showing an improvement of 53.8% and 64.8%, respectively, compared to the base cycle. The exergoeconomic analysis also revealed that the total capital cost rate for improved cycles E and F is estimated at 2.62 and 2.76 $/h, respectively. In addition, from an environmental perspective, the improved Kalina cycle F has proven to have a more eco-friendly performance with a pollution index of 0.2281 mPts/s. Moreover, a parametric study is conducted to investigate and analyze the effect of changes in significant performance parameters such as ammonia concentration, evaporator temperature, turbine inlet temperature and pressure, and turbine back-pressure for both presented modified cycles.

Optimizing CO2 Capture Efficiency: Harnessing IoT and Industry 4.0 for Precise Temperature Analysis in Packed Absorption Columns

The deployment of various technologies to mitigate climate change is crucial for developing techniques that advance climate action. Climate change is exacerbated by rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, deforestation, and the use of fossil fuels. Urgent measures are needed to enhance CO2 capture efficiency, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate action initiatives. This study investigates the influence of temperature variations in a packed absorption column on CO2 capture efficiency. By employing Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 principles, it facilitates precise data acquisition to monitor temperature fluctuations during experiments. Comparative evaluations under steady-state and saturation conditions provide critical insights for optimizing CO2 capture in post-combustion processes. Conducting exploratory analyses enhances system understanding and informs design and operational strategies for effective and sustainable CO2 capture. This research delves into the technical aspects of temperature optimization, emphasizing its significance for sustainable practices and the urgency of addressing climate change through innovative, technology-driven solutions.

Integrating autoencoder and decision tree models for enhanced energy consumption forecasting in microgrids: A meteorological data-driven approach in Djibouti

At this time, as the world and nations move to reduce the use of fossil fuels, research is oriented toward improving the energy consumption of people and buildings. Recent methods, mainly computing techniques such as deep learning, are proposed in the literature. This paper proposes a model that integrates the autoencoder with the decision tree model using six months of meteorological data, including solar radiation, wind speed, temperature, and other meteorological data. This study aims to advance the energy consumption prediction of loads connected to the microgrid. A case study of a microgrid park of a campus in Djibouti is presented to test the proposed model. Autoencoders were exploited to extract the main features of the meteorological data. Then the decision tree is proposed to predict the energy consumption using the resulting encoded features. The evaluation of the training of the autoencoder model gave a favorable result with a mean squared error of 0.002 and an R2 value of 0.99. Hyperparameter tuning scenarios facilitated the exploration of the decision tree model. Ensemble decision trees performed better than individual trees in this model, achieving a mean absolute error of 1.4 % and an R2 value of 0.997. It showed that hyperparameter tuning improved the results due to the best architecture fit for the decision tree. Moreover, the proposed model was validated by comparing it with the literature on KNN, SVR, and MLP models commonly used in microgrid energy management. The autoencoder decision tree outperformed other compared methods, achieving an explained variance of 0.997 and an MAE of 1.7 % in the standard decision tree regressor scenario. These results demonstrated the capabilities of machine learning and weather data. Combining an autoencoder and the decision tree model will open a new door to energy management improvement.

Improvement of the hydrogen evolution reaction and photocatalyst activity of ZiF-8 coated with RGO

The need for sustainable energy production is critical because of the considerable impact on the environment associated with the use of fossil fuels. In this study, we examine the physicochemical properties, photocatalytic performance, and electrochemical hydrogen evaluation of ZiF-8 coated with RGO, which were prepared using the ultrasonication method. All samples were examined with x-ray diffraction and exhibited a cubic phase. With an increase in RGO concentrations, the direct optical bandgap transition experienced a decline from 5.6 to 3.62 eV. As the concentration of RGO increased, a higher quantity of RGO was added resulting in the formation of a single layer of amorphous RGO on the surface. This layer of amorphous RGO played a key role in enhancing the electronic conductivity of the samples. The RGO coating effect on the photocatalytic performance since the efficiency of dye removal increased from 67% to 99% in 120 minutes. ZiF-8 combined with 8% RGO (ZiF-8@8%RGO) has a noticeably smaller arc radius compared to pure ZIF-8 and ZIF-8 with 4% RGO. The pure ZiF-8 is a typical n-type semiconductor. The ZiF-8@8%RGO demonstrated the highest rate of hydrogen evolution. These results suggest the feasibility of using ZiF-8@8%RGO for photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation.

Disaggregated Impact of Non-Renewable Energy Consumption on the Environmental Sustainability of the United States: A Novel Dynamic ARDL Approach

While there is a vast body of literature on environmental sustainability, the disaggregated impact of major non-renewable energy (NRE) consumption on the environmental sustainability of the United States (U.S.) is understudied, particularly in terms of using a load capacity factor (LCF) perspective. In this study, the above research gap is addressed using a dynamic autoregressive distributed lag (DYNARDL) model to analyze the heterogeneous impact of NRE consumption on the environmental sustainability of the U.S. from 1961 to 2022. Given the U.S.’s heavy reliance on energy consumption from NRE sources, this analysis provides an in-depth examination of the long-term effects of this energy consumption on the environment. Based on the analysis of the DYNARDL model, it is found that an increase of one unit of coal, natural gas, and petroleum energy consumption reduces environmental sustainability by 0.007, 0.006, and 0.008 units in the short-run and 0.006, 0.004, and 0.005 units in the long-run, respectively. However, one unit of nuclear energy consumption increases environmental sustainability by 0.007 units in the long-run. The kernel-based regularized system (KRLS) result reveals that coal and petroleum energy consumption have a significantly negative causal link with environmental sustainability, while nuclear energy consumption demonstrates a significant positive causal relationship. The research suggests the expansion of the use of nuclear energy by gradually reducing the utilization of coal and petroleum-based forms of energy, then natural gas, to improve environmental sustainability in the U.S., while considering the social and economic implications of efforts aimed at shifting away from the use of fossil fuels.

The role of the pulp and paper industry in achieving net zero U.S. CO2 emissions in 2050

The pulp and paper industry is energy-intensive, making up about 9 % of total United States industrial energy consumption and 2.5 % of U.S. industrial greenhouse gas emissions. The pulp and paper industry is unique among industrial sectors due to its existing reliance on waste biomass to generate energy for mill operations. Pulp and paper mills could theoretically offer opportunities for negative emissions through carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies along with use of biomass. In addition, the paper sector's use of low-temperature industrial heat creates opportunities for CO2 reductions through electrification technologies.We employ the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM) to evaluate decarbonization pathways for the pulp and paper sector in the United States, as well as the sector's role in a net zero scenario and impacts on the energy, land, and water sectors. The version of GCAM used in this study includes detailed representation of major industrial sectors, including the pulp and paper industry. Representation of the linkage between forest products and paper production allow us to account for upstream carbon emissions, sequestration, and land-use impacts.Preliminary results under a pathway to net zero U.S. CO2 emissions in 2050 show that the pulp and paper industry can reach net zero CO2 emissions before 2050, earlier than the overall energy system, and contribute negative emissions thereafter. Use of fossil fuels is significantly reduced by 2050, shifting to increased electricity use in process heat generation. Consumption of biomass energy in process heat also increases compared to the reference scenario. Though paper production decreases in the policy scenario in response to higher prices of wood products, a high carbon price can incentivize increased use of biomass with CCS and thus paper production. Negative emissions opportunities in the paper industry have impacts on the land sector. Increasing use of biomass accelerates the shift from unmanaged to managed forests, with associated tradeoffs between technological carbon sequestration and natural ecosystem services.

The Integration of Bio-Active Elements into Building Façades as a Sustainable Concept

Global warming and climate change are major concerns across multiple disciplines. Population growth, urbanization, and industrialization are significant contributing factors to such problems due to the escalating use of fossil fuels required to meet growing energy demands. The building sector uses the largest share of total global energy production and produces tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Emerging eco-friendly technologies, such as solar and wind energy harvesting, are being extensively explored; however, they are insufficient. Nature-inspired technologies could offer solutions to our problems. For instance, algae are microorganisms that use water, light, and CO2 to produce energy and sustain life, and the exploitation of these characteristics in a built environment is termed algae building technology, which is a very efficient and green application suitable for a sustainable future. Algae-integrated façades show great versatility through biomass and energy production, wastewater treatment, shading, and thermal and acoustic insulation. In this paper, algae will be introduced as a robust tool toward a greener and more sustainable future. Algae building technology and its implementation will be demonstrated. Furthermore, steps for applying this sustainable strategy in Egypt will be discussed.

Business Shakes Politics: Its Impact on Climate Policy

Irresponsible carbon emissions by businesses are the leading factor in climate change, which are threatening human civilisation. Global leaders did little to curb industrialists’ authoritarianism despite calls from all concerned. Many researchers believe that business has an important role behind policymakers’ inaction. In this context, the main objective of this research is to explore the impact of business on climate policy when they shake hands or embrace with politics. This qualitative study used content analysis to meet the objective using primary data from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Conference of Parties decisions, and so on and secondary literature from books, dissertations, journals, and others. This study demonstrates that businesses have vehemently opposed climate science since its inception. When the issue became political in the 1980s, animosity intensified as they feared climate regulations would harm their interests. So, initially, they attempted to negate climate science by portraying it as something unproven and promoting climate change as an opportunity for humanity. They additionally applied a variety of strategies like publishing books, periodicals, research articles, and newspaper articles, spreading media propaganda, and giving donations to mislead policymakers. As a result, climate policy formation and implementation are significantly delayed, and business interests are protected. This study implies that businesses will suffer if civilisation collapses due to the unwise use of fossil fuels. Therefore, all stakeholders must prioritise collective interests over individual ones. Otherwise, it will engulf everyone. Philosophy and Progress, Vol#73-74; No#1-2; Jan-Dec 2023 P 151-182

Study on biomass and polymer catalytic co-pyrolysis product characteristics using machine learning and shapley additive explanations (SHAP)

Biomass and polymer catalytic co-pyrolysis can convert waste into higher-quality fuels, thereby reducing the use of fossil fuels to some extent. However, this process is an extremely complex thermochemical conversion, influenced by numerous factors such as feedstock properties, operational variables, and catalyst. Currently, experimental methods require substantial time and resource investment. Machine learning (ML) can fit and match input and output features based on existing data, achieving extremely high accuracy in the co-pyrolysis process. This study applies advanced ML models to study the biomass and polymer catalytic co-pyrolysis process, with a focus on the yield of pyrolysis products and the variations of the oxygen-containing components in the pyrolysis oil. The best-performing model is used for feature analysis of the correlation between inputs and outputs, based on game theory SHAP analysis. The results indicate a significant negative correlation between the polymer addition ratio and the generation of oxygen-containing components during the co-pyrolysis process. The addition of catalysts promotes the generation of pyrolysis gas during co-pyrolysis but suppresses the yield of pyrolysis oil. Additionally, catalysts significantly inhibit the formation of oxygenates in the pyrolysis oil. The XGBR model shows the highest performance in predicting pyrolysis oil yield, achieving R2 values of 0.98 during training phase and 0.91 during testing phase. The GBR model performs well in predicting the oxygenate composition of pyrolysis oil from small datasets.