Study of lignocellulosic biomass ignition properties estimation from thermogravimetric analysis

In the last decade, the use of renewable resources has increased significantly in order to reduce the energetic dependence on fossil fuels, as they have an important contribution to the global warning and greenhouse gasses effect. Because of that, research on biofuels has been increased in the last years as its characteristics of use match those of the conventional fuel's: solid biomass can be used instead of coals, and biodiesel could replace diesel. Research on solid biomass ignition properties has been considerably developed because of the amount of industrial accidents related to the treatment and use of solid biomass (self-ignition, dust explosions, etc.). On the other hand, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is becoming and important characterization technique as it can be used to determine a wide spectrum of properties, such as kinetics, composition, proximate analysis, etc. This research aims to combine thermal analysis and ignition properties, by using the TGA to obtain the elemental composition of lignocellulosic biomass and compare those results to Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE) values test output, so a relation between composition and MIE can be found.To achieve this aim, biomass samples from different origins have been used: oil palm wastes (empty fruit bunches, mesocarp fiber and palm kernel shell), agricultural wastes (straw chops) and forestry wastes (wood chips and wood powder). Also, raw materials and torrefied biomass were compared. The hemicellulose/cellulose ratio was calculated and compared to different flammability properties, finding out that the greater the ratio and the lower the onset temperature (temperature at which the pyrolysis reaction accelerates), the lower was the minimum ignition energy. From this basis it was possible to define “tendency areas” that grouped the samples whose MIE values were similar. Three tendency areas were found: high minimum ignition energy, medium minimum ignition energy, and low ignition energy.     

酸性土壤条件下纳米氧化锌长期暴露对蕹菜生长和叶绿素荧光参数的影响

为了探明酸性土壤条件下纳米氧化锌（nano-ZnO）长期暴露对蕹菜的生理生态效应，通过盆栽实验，设置7个浓度系列的nano-ZnO，70 d后测定相对叶绿素含量、生长参数和叶绿素荧光参数。结果显示，随nano-ZnO浓度升高，蕹菜相对叶绿素含量和生长参数先缓慢增加后显著下降。nano-ZnO对蕹菜生物量在根部和冠部间的分配无显著影响。相对叶绿素含量与nano-ZnO浓度呈显著负相关（r=-0.879,p<0.001）。在nano-ZnO质量比为160 mg/kg时，光合有效辐射190μmol/(m²·s)诱导的激发能过剩，但过剩激发能可通过热耗散保护机制消耗，以避免发生光损伤。酸性土壤条件下，弱光诱导的蕹菜叶绿素荧光参数对nano-ZnO长期暴露不敏感，但蕹菜的生物量累积易受nano-ZnO长期暴露的影响。     

渗透胁迫下两种生物质能源植物的抗渗透胁迫能力及稳定碳同位素组成

本研究以麻疯树(Jatropha curcas L.)和油桐(Vernicia fordii H.)幼苗为材料,考察了麻疯树和油桐幼苗的生理指标和稳定碳同位素组成对渗透胁迫的响应情况。结果表明,麻疯树比油桐更具有抗渗透胁迫能力,主要体现在:随着渗透胁迫程度的加剧,麻疯树叶片相对含水量与叶绿素含量的下降幅度均小于油桐,脯氨酸含量和可溶性糖含量的增加幅度高于油桐,相对电导率的上升幅度小于油桐;随着渗透胁迫程度的加剧,两种植物幼苗叶片的δ13 C值也都显著升高,但是在同一渗透胁迫水平下,麻疯树幼苗叶片的δ13 C值较油桐高,表明其拥有较高的水分利用效率,能够在干旱胁迫下更好地生长,暗示着植物叶片的δ13 C值在一定情况下可以表征植物的抗旱性。     

Climatic and genetic controls of yields of switchgrass, a model bioenergy species

The U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard calls for 136 billion liters of renewable fuels production by 2022. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has emerged as a leading candidate to be developed as a bioenergy feedstock. To reach biofuel production goals in a sustainable manner, more information is needed to characterize potential production rates of switchgrass. We used switchgrass yield data and general additive models (GAMs) to model lowland and upland switchgrass yield as nonlinear functions of climate and environmental variables. We used the GAMs and a 39-year climate dataset to assess the spatio-temporal variability in switchgrass yield due to climate variables alone. Variables associated with fertilizer application, genetics, precipitation, and management practices were the most important for explaining variability in switchgrass yield. The relationship of switchgrass yield with climate variables was different for upland than lowland cultivars. The spatio-temporal analysis showed that considerable variability in switchgrass yields can occur due to climate variables alone. The highest switchgrass yields with the lowest variability occurred primarily in the Corn Belt region, suggesting that prime cropland regions are the best suited for a constant and high switchgrass biomass yield. Given that much lignocellulosic feedstock production will likely occur in regions with less suitable climates for agriculture, interannual variability in yields should be expected and incorporated into operational planning.     

Self-ignition tendency of solid fuels: A gas emissions approach for early detection

Self-ignition of solid fuels storage is one of the main causes of human and economic losses. Additionally, each fire caused by this phenomenon emits an amount of toxic gases that contributes on the development of climate change. Nowadays, several methodologies are used in order to detect the self-ignition tendency of solid fuels, but they have as main disadvantages the amount of money and time that they require. The aim of this study is to propose a methodology of detection of incipient self-ignition of solid fuels through the measurement of gas emissions. This study compares existing methodologies to detect self-ignition tendency, such as TG, DSC or susceptibility, and to combustion related gas emission results. Different methods have been used to evaluate the results from the gas emission test, showing that interval and inflexion methods provide early detection of the self-heating process. With this methodology, it is possible to determine this process in advance with the equipment currently available in every industrial facility, reducing costs and improving efficiency.     

Experimental investigation of open core downdraft biomass gasifier for food processing industry

This paper deals with field related experience of a low temperature industrial heat application through biomass gasification. The gasification system is essentially consists of an open top down draft reactor lined with ceramic. The experiment reveals that 6.5 kg of liquefy petroleum gas (LPG) is fully replaced by 38 kg of sized wood on hourly basis. The maximum temperature attained was 367°C in 130 min at 100.7 Nm³ h⁻¹ gas flow rate. This system has resulted a saving of about 19.5 tons of LPG over 3,000 h of operation, implying a saving of about 33 tons of CO₂ emission, thus a promising candidate for clean development mechanism. Fuel economic analysis of gasifier system showed that the saving was about 13,850 US$ for 3,000 h of baking operation.     

生物质材料在重金属废水处理中的应用

可再生、低成本、有效且易从环境获取的生物质材料越来越多地用于去除废水中的重金属离子。本文着重介绍三大类生物质材料：Ⅰ、动物类（主要是甲壳素和壳聚糖衍生物）;Ⅱ、植物类（包括木质素、活性炭、竹炭、富含单宁的物质、农林废弃物等）;Ⅲ、微生物类（各种茵类等）,及其改性产物在处理有毒重金属废水方面的应用研究进展。     

水生植物生物能在苏州市CO2减排中的作用

苏州市的CO2排放量在逐年上升,CO2减排工作任务艰巨。开发无污染的新能源替代化石燃料是CO2减排的一种思路。苏州作为一个江南水乡城市,水资源丰富,水生植物生长旺盛。主要探讨了水生植物(包括藻类和水葫芦)生物能在苏州市CO2减排中的作用。通过粗略估算,藻类和水葫芦产生的年生物能(折算为标准煤)1 200.35万t,大约占苏州年总能耗的四分之一,即可以减少大约四分之一的CO2排放。因此,水生植物生物能在苏州市CO2减排中具有重要的作用。     

Combined Municipal Solid Waste and biomass system optimization for district energy applications

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) disposal has been a controversial issue in many countries over the past years, due to disagreement among the various stakeholders on the waste management policies and technologies to be adopted. One of the ways of treating/disposing MSW is energy recovery, as waste is considered to contain a considerable amount of bio-waste and therefore can lead to renewable energy production. The overall efficiency can be very high in the cases of co-generation or tri-generation. In this paper a model is presented, aiming to support decision makers in issues relating to Municipal Solid Waste energy recovery. The idea of using more fuel sources, including MSW and agricultural residue biomass that may exist in a rural area, is explored. The model aims at optimizing the system specifications, such as the capacity of the base-load Waste-to-Energy facility, the capacity of the peak-load biomass boiler and the location of the facility. Furthermore, it defines the quantity of each potential fuel source that should be used annually, in order to maximize the financial yield of the investment. The results of an energy tri-generation case study application at a rural area of Greece, using mixed MSW and biomass, indicate positive financial yield of investment. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is performed on the effect of the most important parameters of the model on the optimum solution, pinpointing the parameters of interest rate, investment cost and heating oil price, as those requiring the attention of the decision makers. Finally, the sensitivity analysis is enhanced by a stochastic analysis to determine the effect of the volatility of parameters on the robustness of the model and the solution obtained.     

Producing biogas from agricultural residues generated during phytoremediation process: Possibility,threshold, and challenges

In the past decades, a novel strategy has arisen, as required by time, to get a rational production of biogas from contaminated biomass, which may be, on purpose, harvested from contaminated soil phytoremediation process. The present review focuses on the possibility and potential of utilizing the agricultural residues generated during phytoremediation for production of biogas. As a general result of the studies compiled in this review, the harvested biomass can subsequently be utilized for the winning of biogas, and it provides a solution of waste disposal for phytoremediation technology. According to the analysis of previous results, not more than 1 mg/L of cadmium in fermenters shows promoting or at least no inhibitory effect on cumulative biogas yields. This strategy is promising for dealing with both environmental and energy problems in spite of many challenges in the coming future.